maid marian-第13节

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ing　at　the　broaching　of　the　last　butt　of　sack。　Harpiton　groaned　in　sympathy。　　The　little　friar　added；　that　he　knew　nothing　of　what　had　passed　since　till　he　heard　the　flames　roaring　at　his　elbow。

〃Take　him　away；　Harpiton；〃　said　the　prince；　〃fill　him　with　sack；　and　turn　him　out。〃

〃Never　mind　the　sack；〃　said　the　little　friar；　〃turn　me　out　at　once。〃

〃A　sad　chance；〃　said　Harpiton；　〃to　be　turned　out　without　sack。〃

But　what　Harpiton　thought　a　sad　chance　the　little　friar　thought　a　merry　one；　and　went　bounding　like　a　fat　buck　towards　the　abbey　of　Rubygill。

An　arrow；　with　a　letter　attached　to　it；　was　shot　into　the　camp；　and　carried　to　the　prince。　　The　contents　were　these：

〃Prince　John；I　do　not　consider　myself　to　have　resisted　lawful　authority　in　defending　my　castle　against　you；　seeing　that　you　are　at　present　in　a　state　of　active　rebellion　against　your　liege　sovereign　Richard：　and　if　my　provisions　had　not　failed　me；　I　would　have　maintained　it　till　doomsday。　　As　it　is；　I　have　so　well　disposed　my　combustibles　that　it　shall　not　serve　you　as　a　strong　hold　in　your　rebellion。　If　you　hunt　in　the　chases　of　Nottinghamshire；　you　may　catch　other　game　than　my　daughter。　　Both　she　and　I　are　content　to　be　houseless　for　a　time；　in　the　reflection　that　we　have　deserved　your　enmity；　and　the　friendship　of　Coeur…de…Lion。　〃FITZWATER。〃




CHAPTER　XI

　Tuck；　the　merry　friar；　who　many　a　sermon　made　　In　praise　of　Robin　Hood；　his　outlaws；　and　their　trade。　　DRAYTON。


The　baron；　with　some　of　his　retainers　and　all　the　foresters；　halted　at　daybreak　in　Sherwood　forest。　　The　foresters　quickly　erected　tents；　and　prepared　an　abundant　breakfast　of　venison　and　ale。

〃Now；　Lord　Fitzwater；〃　said　the　chief　forester；　〃recognise　your　son…in…law　that　was　to　have　been；　in　the　outlaw　Robin　Hood。〃

〃Ay；　ay；〃　said　the　baron；　〃I　have　recognised　you　long　ago。〃

〃And　recognise　your　young　friend　Gamwell；〃　said　the　second；　〃in　the　outlaw　Scarlet。〃

〃And　Little　John；　the　page；〃　said　the　third；　〃in　Little　John　the　outlaw。〃

〃And　Father　Michael；　of　Rubygill　Abbey；〃　said　the　friar；　〃in　Friar　Tuck；　of　Sherwood　forest。　　Truly；　I　have　a　chapel　here　hard　by；　in　the　shape　of　a　hollow　tree；　where　I　put　up　my　prayers　for　travellers；　and　Little　John　holds　the　plate　at　the　door；　for　good　praying　deserves　good　paying。〃

〃I　am　in　fine　company；〃　said　the　baron。

〃In　the　very　best　of　company；〃　said　the　friar；　〃in　the　high　court　of　Nature；　and　in　the　midst　of　her　own　nobility。　Is　it　not　so？　　This　goodly　grove　is　our　palace：　the　oak　and　the　beech　are　its　colonnade　and　its　canopy：　the　sun　and　the　moon　and　the　stars　are　its　everlasting　lamps：　the　grass；　and　the　daisy；　and　the　primrose；　and　the　violet；　are　its　many…coloured　floor　of　green；　white；　yellow；　and　blue；　the　may…flower；　and　the　woodbine；　and　the　eglantine；　and　the　ivy；　are　its　decorations；　its　curtains；　and　its　tapestry：　　the　lark；　and　the　thrush；　and　the　linnet；　and　the　nightingale；　are　its　unhired　minstrels　and　musicians。　　Robin　Hood　is　king　of　the　forest　both　by　dignity　of　birth　and　by　virtue　of　his　standing　army：　to　say　nothing　of　the　free　choice　of　his　people；　which　he　has　indeed；　but　I　pass　it　by　as　an　illegitimate　basis　of　power。　He　holds　his　dominion　over　the　forest；　and　its　horned　multitude　of　citizen…deer；　and　its　swinish　multitude　or　peasantry　of　wild　boars；　by　right　of　conquest　and　force　of　arms。　He　levies　contributions　among　them　by　the　free　consent　of　his　archers；　their　virtual　representatives。　　If　they　should　find　a　voice　to　complain　that　we　are　'tyrants　and　usurpers　to　kill　and　cook　them　up　in　their　assigned　and　native　dwelling…place；'　we　should　most　convincingly　admonish　them；　with　point　of　arrow；　that　they　have　nothing　to　do　with　our　laws　but　to　obey　them。　Is　it　not　written　that　the　fat　ribs　of　the　herd　shall　be　fed　upon　by　the　mighty　in　the　land？　　And　have　not　they　withal　my　blessing？　my　orthodox；　canonical；　and　archiepiscopal　blessing？　Do　I　not　give　thanks　for　them　when　they　are　well　roasted　and　smoking　under　my　nose？　　What　title　had　William　of　Normandy　to　England；　that　Robin　of　Locksley　has　not　to　merry　Sherwood？　　William　fought　for　his　claim。　　So　does　Robin。　　With　whom；　both？　　With　any　that　would　or　will　dispute　it。　　William　raised　contributions。　So　does　Robin。　　From　whom；　both？　　From　all　that　they　could　or　can　make　pay　them。　　Why　did　any　pay　them　to　William？　　Why　do　any　pay　them　to　Robin？　　For　the　same　reason　to　both：　because　they　could　not　or　cannot　help　it。　　They　differ　indeed；　in　this；　that　William　took　from　the　poor　and　gave　to　the　rich；　and　Robin　takes　from　the　rich　and　gives　to　the　poor：　　and　therein　is　Robin　illegitimate；　though　in　all　else　he　is　true　prince。　Scarlet　and　John；　are　they　not　peers　of　the　forest？　lords　temporal　of　Sherwood？　　And　am　not　I　lord　spiritual？　　Am　I　not　archbishop？　Am　I　not　pope？　　Do　I　not　consecrate　their　banner　and　absolve　their　sins？　　Are　not　they　state；　and　am　not　I　church？　Are　not　they　state　monarchical；　and　am　not　I　church　militant？　Do　I　not　excommunicate　our　enemies　from　venison　and　brawn；　and　by　'r　Lady；　when　need　calls；　beat　them　down　under　my　feet？　The　state　levies　tax；　and　the　church　levies　tithe。　Even　so　do　we。　　Mass；　we　take　all　at　once。　　What　then？　It　is　tax　by　redemption　and　tithe　by　commutation。　Your　William　and　Richard　can　cut　and　come　again；　but　our　Robin　deals　with　slippery　subjects　that　come　not　twice　to　his　exchequer。　What　need　we　then　to　constitute　a　court；　except　a　fool　and　a　laureate？　For　the　fool；　his　only　use　is　to　make　false　knaves　merry　by　art；　and　we　are　true　men　and　are　merry　by　nature。　　For　the　laureate；　his　only　office　is　to　find　virtues　in　those　who　have　none；　and　to　drink　sack　for　his　pains。　　We　have　quite　virtue　enough　to　need　him　not；　and　can　drink　our　sack　for　ourselves。〃　〃Well　preached；　friar；〃　said　Robin　Hood：　　〃yet　there　is　one　thing　wanting　to　constitute　a　court；　and　that　is　a　queen。　And　now；　lovely　Matilda；　look　round　upon　these　sylvan　shades　where　we　have　so　often　roused　the　stag　from　his　ferny　covert。　The　rising　sun　smiles　upon　us　through　the　stems　of　that　beechen　knoll。　Shall　I　take　your　hand；　Matilda；　in　the　presence　of　this　my　court？　Shall　I　crown　you　with　our　wild…wood　coronal；　and　hail　you　queen　of　the　forest？　　Will　you　be　the　queen　Matilda　of　your　own　true　king　Robin？〃

Matilda　smiled　assent。

〃Not　Matilda；〃　said　the　friar：　　〃the　rules　of　our　holy　alliance　require　new　birth。　　We　have　excepted　in　favour　of　Little　John；　because　he　is　great　John；　and　his　name　is　a　misnomer。　I　sprinkle；　not　thy　forehead　with　water；　but　thy　lips　with　wine；　and　baptize　thee　MARIAN。〃

〃Here　is　a　pretty　conspiracy；〃　exclaimed　the　baron。　〃Why；　you　villanous　friar；　think　you　to　nickname　and　marry　my　daughter　before　my　face　with　impunity？〃

〃Even　so；　bold　baron；〃　said　the　friar；　〃we　are　strongest　here。　Say　you；　might　overcomes　right？　　I　say　no。　　There　is　no　right　but　might：　and　to　say　that　might　overcomes　right　is　to　say　that　right　overcomes　itself：　an　absurdity　most　palpable。　　Your　right　was　the　stronger　in　Arlingford；　and　ours　is　the　stronger　in　Sherwood。　　Your　right　was　right　as　long　as　you　could　maintain　it；　so　is　ours。　　So　is　King　Richard's；　with　all　deference　be　it　spoken；　and　so　is　King　Saladin's；　and　their　two　mights　are　now　committed　in　bloody　fray；　and　that　which　overcomes　will　be　right；　just　as　long　as　it　lasts；　and　as　far　as　it　reaches。　And　now　if　any　of　you　know　any　just　impediment〃

〃Fire　and　fury；〃　said　the　baron。

〃Fire　and　fury；〃　said　the　friar；　〃are　modes　of　that　might　which　constitutes　right；　and　are　just　impediments　to　any　thing　against　which　they　can　be　brought　to　bear。　　They　are　our　good　allies　upon　occasion；　and　would　declare　for　us　now　if　you　should　put　them　to　the　test。〃

〃Father；〃　said　Matilda；　〃you　know　the　terms　of　our　compact：　from　the　moment　you　restrained　my　liberty；　you　renounced　your　claim　to　all　but　compulsory　obedience。　　The　friar　argues　well。　Right　ends　with　might。　　Thick　walls；　dreary　galleries；　and　tapestried　chambers；　were　indifferent　to　me　while　I　could　leave　them　at　pleasure；　but　have　ever　been　hateful　to　me　since　they　held　me　by　force。　　May　I　never　again　have　roof　but　the　blue　sky；　nor　canopy　but　the　green　leaves；　nor　barrier　but　the　forest…bounds；　with　the　foresters　to　my　train；　Little　John　to　my　page；　Friar　Tuck　to　my　ghostly　adviser；　and　Robin　Hood　to　my　liege　lord。　I　am　no　longer　lady　Matilda　Fitzwater；　of　Arlingford　Castle；　but　plain　Maid　Marian；　of　Sherwood　Forest。〃

〃Long　live　Maid　Marian！〃　re…echoed　the　foresters。

〃Oh　false　girl！〃　said　the　baron；　〃do　you　renounce　your　name　and　parentage？〃

〃Not　my　parentage；〃　said　Marian；　〃but　my　name　indeed：　do　not　all　maids　renounce　it　at　the　altar？〃

〃The　altar！〃　said　the　baron：　　〃grant　me　patience！　what　do　you　mean　by　the　altar？〃

〃Pile　green　turf；〃　said　the　friar；　〃wreathe　it　with　flowers；　and　crown　it　with　fruit；　and　we　will　show　the　noble　baron　what　we　mean　by　the　altar。〃

The　foresters　did　as　the　friar　directed。

〃Now；　Little　John；〃　said　the　friar；　〃on　with　the　cloak　of　the　abbot　of　Doubleflask。　　I　appoint　thee　my　clerk：　thou　art　here　duly　elected　in　full　mote。〃

〃I　wish　you　were　all　in　full　moat　together；〃　said　the　baron；　〃and　smooth　wall　on　both　sides。〃

〃Punnest　thou？〃　said　the　friar。　　〃A　heinous　anti…christian　offence