maid marian-第9节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


e　bones；　clapped　spurs　to　their　horses　and　fled　for　their　lives；　under　a　farewell　volley　of　arrows。

Sir　Ralph's　squire；　meanwhile；　was　glad　of　the　excuse　of　attending　his　master's　wound　to　absent　himself　from　the　battle；　and　put　the　poor　knight　to　a　great　deal　of　unnecessary　pain　by　making　as　long　a　business　as　possible　of　extracting　the　arrow；　which　he　had　not　accomplished　when　Matilda；　approaching；　extracted　it　with　great　facility；　and　bound　up　the　wound　with　her　scarf；　saying；　〃I　reclaim　my　arrow；　sir　knight；　which　struck　where　I　aimed　it；　to　admonish　you　to　desist　from　your　enterprise。　I　could　as　easily　have　lodged　it　in　your　heart。〃

〃It　did　not　need；〃　said　the　knight；　with　rueful　gallantry；　〃you　have　lodged　one　there　already。〃

〃If　you　mean　to　say　that　you　love　me；〃　said　Matilda；　〃it　is　more　than　I　ever　shall　you：　　but　if　you　will　show　your　love　by　no　further　interfering　with　mine；　you　will　at　least　merit　my　gratitude。〃

The　knight　made　a　wry　face　under　the　double　pain　of　heart　and　body　caused　at　the　same　moment　by　the　material　or　martial；　and　the　metaphorical　or　erotic　arrow；　of　which　the　latter　was　thus　barbed　by　a　declaration　more　candid　than　flattering；　but　he　did　not　choose　to　put　in　any　such　claim　to　the　lady's　gratitude　as　would　bar　all　hopes　of　her　love：　he　therefore　remained　silent；　and　the　lady　and　her　escort；　leaving　him　and　the　sheriff　to　the　care　of　the　squire；　rode　on　till　they　came　in　sight　of　Arlingford　Castle；　when　they　parted　in　several　directions。　The　friar　rode　off　alone；　and　after　the　foresters　had　lost　sight　of　him　they　heard　his　voice　through　the　twilight；　singing；

　A　staff；　a　staff；　of　a　young　oak　graff；　　　　　　That　is　both　stoure　and　stiff；　　Is　all　a　good　friar　can　needs　desire　　　　　　To　shrive　a　proud　sheriffe。　　And　thou；　fine　fellowe；　who　hast　tasted　so　　　　　　Of　the　forester's　greenwood　game；　　Wilt　be　in　no　haste　thy　time　to　waste　　　　　　In　seeking　more　taste　of　the　same：　　Or　this　can　I　read　thee；　and　riddle　thee　well；　　Thou　hadst　better　by　far　be　the　devil　in　hell；　　　　　　Than　the　sheriff　of　Nottinghame。




CHAPTER　VII

Now；　master　sheriff；　what's　your　will　with　me？　　Henry　IV。


Matilda　had　carried　her　point　with　the　baron　of　ranging　at　liberty　whithersoever　she　would；　under　her　positive　promise　to　return　home；　she　was　a　sort　of　prisoner　on　parole：　　she　had　obtained　this　indulgence　by　means　of　an　obsolete　habit　of　always　telling　the　truth　and　keeping　her　word；　which　our　enlightened　age　has　discarded　with　other　barbarisms；　but　which　had　the　effect　of　giving　her　father　so　much　confidence　in　her；　that　he　could　not　help　considering　her　word　a　better　security　than　locks　and　bars。

The　baron　had　been　one　of　the　last　to　hear　of　the　rumours　of　the　new　outlaws　of　Sherwood；　as　Matilda　had　taken　all　possible　precautions　to　keep　those　rumours　from　his　knowledge；　fearing　that　they　might　cause　the　interruption　of　her　greenwood　liberty；　and　it　was　only　during　her　absence　at　Gamwell　feast；　that　the　butler；　being　thrown　off　his　guard　by　liquor；　forgot　her　injunctions；　and　regaled　the　baron　with　a　long　story　of　the　right　merry　adventure　of　Robin　Hood　and　the　abbot　of　Doubleflask。

The　baron　was　one　morning；　as　usual；　cutting　his　way　valorously　through　a　rampart　of　cold　provision；　when　his　ears　were　suddenly　assailed　by　a　tremendous　alarum；　and　sallying　forth；　and　looking　from　his　castle　wall；　he　perceived　a　large　party　of　armed　men　on　the　other　side　of　the　moat；　who　were　calling　on　the　warder　in　the　king's　name　to　lower　the　drawbridge　and　raise　the　portcullis；　which　had　both　been　secured　by　Matilda's　order。　The　baron　walked　along　the　battlement　till　he　came　opposite　to　these　unexpected　visitors；　who；　as　soon　as　they　saw　him；　called　out；　〃Lower　the　drawbridge；　in　the　king's　name。〃

〃For　what；　in　the　devil's　name？〃　said　the　baron。

〃The　sheriff　of　Nottingham；〃　said　one；　〃lies　in　bed　grievously　bruised；　and　many　of　his　men　are　wounded；　and　several　of　them　slain；　and　Sir　Ralph　Montfaucon；　knight；　is　sore　wounded　in　the　arm；　and　we　are　charged　to　apprehend　William　Gamwell　the　younger；　of　Gamwell　Hall；　and　father　Michael　of　Rubygill　Abbey；　and　Matilda　Fitzwater　of　Arlingford　Castle；　as　agents　and　accomplices　in　the　said　breach　of　the　king's　peace。〃

〃Breach　of　the　king's　fiddlestick！〃　answered　the　baron。　〃What　do　you　mean　by　coming　here　with　your　cock　and　bull；　stories　of　my　daughter　grievously　bruising　the　sheriff　of　Nottingham？　　You　are　a　set　of　vagabond　rascals　in　disguise；　and　I　hear；　by　the　bye；　there　is　a　gang　of　thieves　that　has　just　set　up　business　in　Sherwood　Forest：　a　pretty　presence；　indeed；　to　get　into　my　castle　with　force　and　arms；　and　make　a　famine　in　my　buttery；　and　a　drought　in　my　cellar；　and　a　void　in　my　strong　box；　and　a　vacuum　in　my　silver　scullery。〃

〃Lord　Fitzwater；〃　cried　one；　〃take　heed　how　you　resist　lawful　authority：　we　will　prove　ourselves〃

〃You　will　prove　yourselves　arrant　knaves；　I　doubt　not；〃　answered　the　baron；　〃but；　villains；　you　shall　be　more　grievously　bruised　by　me　than　ever　was　the　sheriff　by　my　daughter　（a　pretty　tale　truly！）；　if　you　do　not　forthwith　avoid　my　territory。〃

By　this　time　the　baron's　men　had　flocked　to　the　battlements；　with　long…bows　and　cross…bows；　slings　and　stones；　and　Matilda　with　her　bow　and　quiver　at　their　head。　The　assailants；　finding　the　castle　so　well　defended；　deemed　it　expedient　to　withdraw　till　they　could　return　in　greater　force；　and　rode　off　to　Rubygill　Abbey；　where　they　made　known　their　errand　to　the　father　abbot；　who；　having　satisfied　himself　of　their　legitimacy；　and　conned　over　the　allegations；　said　that　doubtless　brother　Michael　had　heinously　offended；　but　it　was　not　for　the　civil　law　to　take　cognizance　of　the　misdoings　of　a　holy　friar；　that　he　would　summon　a　chapter　of　monks；　and　pass　on　the　offender　a　sentence　proportionate　to　his　offence。　The　ministers　of　civil　justice　said　that　would　not　do。　The　abbot　said　it　would　do　and　should；　and　bade　them　not　provoke　the　meekness　of　his　catholic　charity　to　lay　them　under　the　curse　of　Rome。　　This　threat　had　its　effect；　and　the　party　rode　off　to　Gamwell…Hall；　where　they　found　the　Gamwells　and　their　men　just　sitting　down　to　dinner；　which　they　saved　them　the　trouble　of　eating　by　consuming　it　in　the　king's　name　themselves；　having　first　seized　and　bound　young　Gamwell；　all　which　they　accomplished　by　dint　of　superior　numbers；　in　despite　of　a　most　vigorous　stand　made　by　the　Gamwellites　in　defence　of　their　young　master　and　their　provisions。

The　baron；　meanwhile；　after　the　ministers　of　justice　had　departed；　interrogated　Matilda　concerning　the　alleged　fact　of　the　grievous　bruising　of　the　sheriff　of　Nottingham。　　Matilda　told　him　the　whole　history　of　Gamwell　feast；　and　of　their　battle　on　the　bridge；　which　had　its　origin　in　a　design　of　the　sheriff　of　Nottingham　to　take　one　of　the　foresters　into　custody。

〃Ay！　ay！〃　said　the　baron；　〃and　I　guess　who　that　forester　was；　but　truly　this　friar　is　a　desperate　fellow。　　I　did　not　think　there　could　have　been　so　much　valour　under　a　grey　frock。　And　so　you　wounded　the　knight　in　the　arm。　　You　are　a　wild　girl；　Mawd；a　chip　of　the　old　block；　Mawd。　　A　wild　girl；　and　a　wild　friar；　and　three　or　four　foresters；　wild　lads　all；　to　keep　a　bridge　against　a　tame　knight；　and　a　tame　sheriff；　and　fifty　tame　varlets；　by　this　light；　the　like　was　never　heard！　But　do　you　know；　Mawd；　you　must　not　go　about　so　any　more；　sweet　Mawd：　　you　must　stay　at　home；　you　must　ensconce；　for　there　is　your　tame　sheriff　on　the　one　hand；　that　will　take　you　perforce；　and　there　is　your　wild　forester　on　the　other　hand；　that　will　take　you　without　any　force　at　all；　Mawd：　　your　wild　forester；　Robin；　cousin　Robin；　Robin　Hood　of　Sherwood　Forest；　that　beats　and　binds　bishops；　spreads　nets　for　archbishops；　and　hunts　a　fat　abbot　as　if　he　were　a　buck：　　excellent　game；　no　doubt；　but　you　must　hunt　no　more　in　such　company。　　I　see　it　now：　truly　I　might　have　guessed　before　that　the　bold　outlaw　Robin；　the　most　courteous　Robin；　the　new　thief　of　Sherwood　Forest；　was　your　lover；　the　earl　that　has　been：　　I　might　have　guessed　it　before；　and　what　led　you　so　much　to　the　woods；　but　you　hunt　no　more　in　such　company。　　No　more　May　games　and　Gamwell　feasts。　My　lands　and　castle　would　be　the　forfeit　of　a　few　more　such　pranks；　and　I　think　they　are　as　well　in　my　hands　as　the　king's；　quite　as　well。〃

〃You　know；　father；〃　said　Matilda；　〃the　condition　of　keeping　me　at　home：　I　get　out　if　I　can；　and　not　on　parole。〃

〃Ay！　ay！〃　said　the　baron；　〃if　you　can；　very　true：　watch　and　ward；　Mawd；　watch　and　ward　is　my　word：　　if　you　can；　is　yours。　　The　mark　is　set；　and　so　start　fair。〃

The　baron　would　have　gone　on　in　this　way　for　an　hour；　but　the　friar　made　his　appearance　with　a　long　oak　staff　in　his　hand；　singing；

　Drink　and　sing；　and　eat　and　laugh；　　　　　　And　so　go　forth　to　battle：　　For　the　top　of　a　skull　and　the　end　of　a　staff　　　　　　Do　make　a　ghostly　rattle。


〃Ho！　ho！　friar！〃　said　the　baron〃singing　friar；　laughing　friar；　roaring　friar；　fighting　friar；　hacking　friar；　thwacking　friar；　cracking；　cracking；　cracking　friar；　joke…cracking；　bottle…cracking；　skull…cracking　friar！〃

〃And　ho！　ho！〃　said　the　friar；〃bold　baron；　old　baron；　sturdy　baron；　wordy　baron；　long　baron；　strong　baron；　mighty　baron；　flighty　baron；　mazed　baron；　crazed　baron；　hacked　ba