the merry adventures of robin hood-第12节

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ss　that　hath　a　liking　for　a　good　tight　butcher　I　charge　nought　but　one　fair　kiss；　for　I　like　her　custom　the　best　of　all。〃

Then　all　began　to　stare　and　wonder　and　crowd　around；　laughing；　for　never　was　such　selling　heard　of　in　all　Nottingham　Town；　but　when　they　came　to　buy　they　found　it　as　he　had　said；　for　he　gave　goodwife　or　dame　as　much　meat　for　one　penny　as　they　could　buy　elsewhere　for　three；　and　when　a　widow　or　a　poor　woman　came　to　him；　he　gave　her　flesh　for　nothing；　but　when　a　merry　lass　came　and　gave　him　a　kiss；　he　charged　not　one　penny　for　his　meat；　and　many　such　came　to　his　stall；　for　his　eyes　were　as　blue　as　the　skies　of　June；　and　he　laughed　merrily；　giving　to　each　full　measure。　Thus　he　sold　his　meat　so　fast　that　no　butcher　that　stood　near　him　could　sell　anything。

Then　they　began　to　talk　among　themselves；　and　some　said；　〃This　must　be　some　thief　who　has　stolen　cart；　horse；　and　meat〃；　but　others　said；　〃Nay；　when　did　ye　ever　see　a　thief　who　parted　with　his　goods　so　freely　and　merrily？　　This　must　be　some　prodigal　who　hath　sold　his　father's　land；　and　would　fain　live　merrily　while　the　money　lasts。〃　And　these　latter　being　the　greater　number；　the　others　came　round；　one　by　one　to　their　way　of　thinking。

Then　some　of　the　butchers　came　to　him　to　make　his　acquaintance。　〃Come；　brother；〃　quoth　one　who　was　the　head　of　them　all；　〃we　be　all　of　one　trade；　so　wilt　thou　go　dine　with　us？　For　this　day　the　Sheriff　hath　asked　all　the　Butcher　Guild　to　feast　with　him　at　the　Guild　Hall。　　There　will　be　stout　fare　and　much　to　drink；　and　that　thou　likest；　or　I　much　mistake　thee。〃

〃Now；　beshrew　his　heart；〃　quoth　jolly　Robin；　〃that　would　deny　a　butcher。　And；　moreover；　I　will　go　dine　with　you　all；　my　sweet　lads；　and　that　as　fast　as　I　can　hie。〃　　Whereupon；　having　sold　all　his　meat；　he　closed　his　stall　and　went　with　them　to　the　great　Guild　Hall。

There　the　Sheriff　had　already　come　in　state；　and　with　him　many　butchers。　When　Robin　and　those　that　were　with　him　came　in；　all　laughing　at　some　merry　jest　he　had　been　telling　them；　those　that　were　near　the　Sheriff　whispered　to　him；　〃Yon　is　a　right　mad　blade；　for　he　hath　sold　more　meat　for　one　penny　this　day　than　we　could　sell　for　three；　and　to　whatsoever　merry　lass　gave　him　a　kiss　he　gave　meat　for　nought。〃　And　others　said；　〃He　is　some　prodigal　that　hath　sold　his　land　for　silver　and　gold；　and　meaneth　to　spend　all　right　merrily。〃

Then　the　Sheriff　called　Robin　to　him；　not　knowing　him　in　his　butcher's　dress；　and　made　him　sit　close　to　him　on　his　right　hand；　for　he　loved　a　rich　young　prodigalespecially　when　he　thought　that　he　might　lighten　that　prodigal's　pockets　into　his　own　most　worshipful　purse。　So　he　made　much　of　Robin；　and　laughed　and　talked　with　him　more　than　with　any　of　the　others。

At　last　the　dinner　was　ready　to　be　served　and　the　Sheriff　bade　Robin　say　grace；　so　Robin　stood　up　and　said；　〃Now　Heaven　bless　us　all　and　eke　good　meat　and　good　sack　within　this　house；　and　may　all　butchers　be　and　remain　as　honest　men　as　I　am。〃

At　this　all　laughed；　the　Sheriff　loudest　of　all；　for　he　said　to　himself；　〃Surely　this　is　indeed　some　prodigal；　and　perchance　I　may　empty　his　purse　of　some　of　the　money　that　the　fool　throweth　about　so　freely。〃　Then　he　spake　aloud　to　Robin；　saying；　〃Thou　art　a　jolly　young　blade；　and　I　love　thee　mightily〃；　and　he　smote　Robin　upon　the　shoulder。

Then　Robin　laughed　loudly　too。　　〃Yea；〃　quoth　he；　〃I　know　thou　dost　love　a　jolly　blade；　for　didst　thou　not　have　jolly　Robin　Hood　at　thy　shooting　match　and　didst　thou　not　gladly　give　him　a　bright　golden　arrow　for　his　own？〃

At　this　the　Sheriff　looked　grave　and　all　the　guild　of　butchers　too；　so　that　none　laughed　but　Robin；　only　some　winked　slyly　at　each　other。

〃Come；　fill　us　some　sack！〃　cried　Robin。　　〃Let　us　e'er　be　merry　while　we　may；　for　man　is　but　dust；　and　he　hath　but　a　span　to　live　here　till　the　worm　getteth　him；　as　our　good　gossip　Swanthold　sayeth；　so　let　life　be　merry　while　it　lasts；　say　I。　Nay；　never　look　down　i'　the　mouth；　Sir　Sheriff。　　Who　knowest　but　that　thou　mayest　catch　Robin　Hood　yet；　if　thou　drinkest　less　good　sack　and　Malmsey；　and　bringest　down　the　fat　about　thy　paunch　and　the　dust　from　out　thy　brain。　Be　merry；　man。〃

Then　the　Sheriff　laughed　again；　but　not　as　though　he　liked　the　jest；　while　the　butchers　said；　one　to　another；　〃Before　Heaven；　never　have　we　seen　such　a　mad　rollicking　blade。　　Mayhap；　though；　he　will　make　the　Sheriff　mad。〃

〃How　now；　brothers；〃　cried　Robin；　〃be　merry！　nay；　never　count　over　your　farthings；　for　by　this　and　by　that　I　will　pay　this　shot　myself；　e'en　though　it　cost　two　hundred　pounds。　So　let　no　man　draw　up　his　lip；　nor　thrust　his　forefinger　into　his　purse；　for　I　swear　that　neither　butcher　nor　Sheriff　shall　pay　one　penny　for　this　feast。〃

〃Now　thou　art　a　right　merry　soul；〃　quoth　the　Sheriff；　〃and　I　wot　thou　must　have　many　a　head　of　horned　beasts　and　many　an　acre　of　land；　that　thou　dost　spend　thy　money　so　freely。〃

〃Ay；　that　have　I；〃　quoth　Robin；　laughing　loudly　again；　〃five　hundred　and　more　horned　beasts　have　I　and　my　brothers；　and　none　of　them　have　we　been　able　to　sell；　else　I　might　not　have　turned　butcher。　As　for　my　land；　I　have　never　asked　my　steward　how　many　acres　I　have。〃

At　this　the　Sheriff's　eyes　twinkled；　and　he　chuckled　to　himself。　〃Nay；　good　youth；〃　quoth　he；　〃if　thou　canst　not　sell　thy　cattle；　it　may　be　I　will　find　a　man　that　will　lift　them　from　thy　hands；　perhaps　that　man　may　be　myself；　for　I　love　a　merry　youth　and　would　help　such　a　one　along　the　path　of　life。　　Now　how　much　dost　thou　want　for　thy　horned　cattle？〃

〃Well；〃　quoth　Robin；　〃they　are　worth　at　least　five　hundred　pounds。〃

〃Nay；〃　answered　the　Sheriff　slowly；　and　as　if　he　were　thinking　within　himself；　〃well　do　I　love　thee；　and　fain　would　I　help　thee　along；　but　five　hundred　pounds　in　money　is　a　good　round　sum；　besides　I　have　it　not　by　me。　Yet　I　will　give　thee　three　hundred　pounds　for　them　all；　and　that　in　good　hard　silver　and　gold。〃

〃Now　thou　old　miser！〃　quoth　Robin；　〃well　thou　knowest　that　so　many　horned　cattle　are　worth　seven　hundred　pounds　and　more；　and　even　that　is　but　small　for　them；　and　yet　thou；　with　thy　gray　hairs　and　one　foot　in　the　grave；　wouldst　trade　upon　the　folly　of　a　wild　youth。〃

At　this　the　Sheriff　looked　grimly　at　Robin。　　〃Nay；〃　quoth　Robin；　〃look　not　on　me　as　though　thou　hadst　sour　beer　in　thy　mouth；　man。　I　will　take　thine　offer；　for　I　and　my　brothers　do　need　the　money。　We　lead　a　merry　life；　and　no　one　leads　a　merry　life　for　a　farthing；　so　I　will　close　the　bargain　with　thee。　　But　mind　that　thou　bringest　a　good　three　hundred　pounds　with　thee；　for　I　trust　not　one　that　driveth　so　shrewd　a　bargain。〃

〃I　will　bring　the　money；〃　said　the　Sheriff。　　〃But　what　is　thy　name；　good　youth？〃

〃Men　call　me　Robert　o'　Locksley；〃　quoth　bold　Robin。

〃Then；　good　Robert　o'　Locksley；〃　quoth　the　Sheriff；　〃I　will　come　this　day　to　see　thy　horned　beasts。　　But　first　my　clerk　shall　draw　up　a　paper　in　which　thou　shalt　be　bound　to　the　sale；　for　thou　gettest　not　my　money　without　I　get　thy　beasts　in　return。〃

Then　Robin　Hood　laughed　again。　　〃So　be　it；〃　he　said；　smiting　his　palm　upon　the　Sheriff's　hand。　　〃Truly　my　brothers　will　be　thankful　to　thee　for　thy　money。〃

Thus　the　bargain　was　closed；　but　many　of　the　butchers　talked　among　themselves　of　the　Sheriff；　saying　that　it　was　but　a　scurvy　trick　to　beguile　a　poor　spendthrift　youth　in　this　way。

The　afternoon　had　come　when　the　Sheriff　mounted　his　horse　and　joined　Robin　Hood；　who　stood　outside　the　gateway　of　the　paved　court　waiting　for　him；　for　he　had　sold　his　horse　and　cart　to　a　trader　for　two　marks。　Then　they　set　forth　upon　their　way；　the　Sheriff　riding　upon　his　horse　and　Robin　running　beside　him。　　Thus　they　left　Nottingham　Town　and　traveled　forward　along　the　dusty　highway；　laughing　and　jesting　together　as　though　they　had　been　old　friends。　　But　all　the　time　the　Sheriff　said　within　himself；　〃Thy　jest　to　me　of　Robin　Hood　shall　cost　thee　dear；　good　fellow；　even　four　hundred　pounds；　thou　fool。〃　For　he　thought　he　would　make　at　least　that　much　by　his　bargain。

So　they　journeyed　onward　till　they　came　within　the　verge　of　Sherwood　Forest；　when　presently　the　Sheriff　looked　up　and　down　and　to　the　right　and　to　the　left　of　him；　and　then　grew　quiet　and　ceased　his　laughter。　〃Now；〃　quoth　he；　〃may　Heaven　and　its　saints　preserve　us　this　day　from　a　rogue　men　call　Robin　Hood。〃

Then　Robin　laughed　aloud。　　〃Nay；〃　said　he；　〃thou　mayst　set　thy　mind　at　rest；　for　well　do　I　know　Robin　Hood　and　well　do　I　know　that　thou　art　in　no　more　danger　from　him　this　day　than　thou　art　from　me。〃

At　this　the　Sheriff　looked　askance　at　Robin；　saying　to　himself；　〃I　like　not　that　thou　seemest　so　well　acquainted　with　this　bold　outlaw；　and　I　wish　that　I　were　well　out　of　Sherwood　Forest。〃

But　still　they　traveled　deeper　into　the　forest　shades；　and　the　deeper　they　went；　the　more　quiet　grew　the　Sheriff。　　At　last　they　came　to　where　the　road　took　a　sudden　bend；　and　before　them　a　herd　of　dun　deer　went　tripping　across　the　path。　　Then　Robin　Hood　came　close　to　the　Sheriff　and　pointing　his　finger；　he　said；　〃These　are　my　horned　beasts；　good　Master　Sheriff。　　How　dost　thou　like　them？　Are　they　not　fat　and　fair　to　see？〃

At　this　the　Sheriff　drew　rein　quickly。　　〃Now　fellow；〃　quoth　he；　〃I　would　I　were　well　out　of　this　forest；　fo