the merry adventures of robin hood-第15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！


o　soundly　cracked　the　crown　of　Eric　o'　Lincoln。〃　　Thus　the　people　talked　among　themselves；　until　at　last　it　reached　even　the　Sheriff's　ears。

And　now　each　man　stepped　forward　and　shot　in　turn；　but　though　each　shot　well；　Little　John　was　the　best　of　all；　for　three　times　he　struck　the　clout；　and　once　only　the　length　of　a　barleycorn　from　the　center。　　〃Hey　for　the　tall　archer！〃　shouted　the　crowd；　and　some　among　them　shouted；　〃Hey　for　Reynold　Greenleaf！〃　for　this　was　the　name　that　Little　John　had　called　himself　that　day。

Then　the　Sheriff　stepped　down　from　the　raised　seat　and　came　to　where　the　archers　stood；　while　all　doffed　their　caps　that　saw　him　coming。　He　looked　keenly　at　Little　John　but　did　not　know　him；　though　he　said；　after　a　while；　〃How　now；　good　fellow；　methinks　there　is　that　about　thy　face　that　I　have　seen　erewhile。〃

〃Mayhap　it　may　be　so；〃　quoth　Little　John；　〃for　often　have　I　seen　Your　Worship。〃　　And；　as　he　spoke；　he　looked　steadily　into　the　Sheriff's　eyes　so　that　the　latter　did　not　suspect　who　he　was。

〃A　brave　blade　art　thou；　good　friend；〃　said　the　Sheriff；　〃and　I　hear　that　thou　hast　well　upheld　the　skill　of　Nottinghamshire　against　that　of　Lincoln　this　day。　　What　may　be　thy　name；　good　fellow？〃

〃Men　do　call　me　Reynold　Greenleaf；　Your　Worship；〃　said　Little　John；　and　the　old　ballad　that　tells　of　this；　adds；　〃So；　in　truth；　was　he　a　green　leaf；　but　of　what　manner　of　tree　the　Sheriff　wotted　not。〃

〃Now；　Reynold　Greenleaf；〃　quoth　the　Sheriff；　〃thou　art　the　fairest　hand　at　the　longbow　that　mine　eyes　ever　beheld；　next　to　that　false　knave；　Robin　Hood；　from　whose　wiles　Heaven　forfend　me！　　Wilt　thou　join　my　service；　good　fellow？　Thou　shalt　be　paid　right　well；　for　three　suits　of　clothes　shalt　thou　have　a　year；　with　good　food　and　as　much　ale　as　thou　canst　drink；　and；　besides　this；　I　will　pay　thee　forty　marks　each　Michaelmastide。〃

〃Then　here　stand　I　a　free　man；　and　right　gladly　will　I　enter　thy　household；〃　said　Little　John；　for　he　thought　he　might　find　some　merry　jest；　should　he　enter　the　Sheriff's　service。

〃Fairly　hast　thou　won　the　fat　steers；〃　said　the　Sheriff；　〃and　〃hereunto　I　will　add　a　butt　of　good　March　beer；　for　joy　of　having　gotten　such　a　man；　for；　I　wot；　thou　shootest　as　fair　a　shaft　as　Robin　Hood　himself。〃

〃Then；〃　said　Little　John；　〃for　joy　of　having　gotten　myself　into　thy　service；　I　will　give　fat　steers　and　brown　ale　to　all　these　good　folk；　to　make　them　merry　withal。〃　　At　this　arose　a　great　shout；　many　casting　their　caps　aloft；　for　joy　of　the　gift。

Then　some　built　great　fires　and　roasted　the　steers；　and　others　broached　the　butt　of　ale；　with　which　all　made　themselves　merry。　Then；　when　they　had　eaten　and　drunk　as　much　as　they　could；　and　when　the　day　faded　and　the　great　moon　arose；　all　red　and　round；　over　the　spires　and　towers　of　Nottingham　Town；　they　joined　hands　and　danced　around　the　fires；　to　the　music　of　bagpipes　and　harps。　But　long　before　this　merrymaking　had　begun；　the　Sheriff　and　his　new　servant　Reynold　Greenleaf　were　in　the　Castle　of　Nottingham。



How　Little　John　Lived　at　the　Sheriff's

THUS　LITTLE　JOHN　entered　into　the　Sheriff's　service　and　found　the　life　he　led　there　easy　enough；　for　the　Sheriff　made　him　his　right…hand　man　and　held　him　in　great　favor。　He　sat　nigh　the　Sheriff　at　meat；　and　he　ran　beside　his　horse　when　he　went　a…hunting；　so　that；　what　with　hunting　and　hawking　a　little；　and　eating　rich　dishes　and　drinking　good　sack；　and　sleeping　until　late　hours　in　the　morning；　he　grew　as　fat　as　a　stall…fed　ox。　Thus　things　floated　easily　along　with　the　tide；　until　one　day　when　the　Sheriff　went　a…hunting；　there　happened　that　which　broke　the　smooth　surface　of　things。

This　morning　the　Sheriff　and　many　of　his　men　set　forth　to　meet　certain　lords；　to　go　a…hunting。　He　looked　all　about　him　for　his　good　man；　Reynold　Greenleaf；　but；　not　finding　him；　was　vexed；　for　he　wished　to　show　Little　John's　skill　to　his　noble　friends。　　As　for　Little　John；　he　lay　abed；　snoring　lustily；　till　the　sun　was　high　in　the　heavens。　At　last　he　opened　his　eyes　and　looked　about　him　but　did　not　move　to　arise。　Brightly　shone　the　sun　in　at　the　window；　and　all　the　air　was　sweet　with　the　scent　of　woodbine　that　hung　in　sprays　about　the　wall　without；　for　the　cold　winter　was　past　and　spring　was　come　again；　and　Little　John　lay　still；　thinking　how　sweet　was　everything　on　this　fair　morn。　Just　then　he　heard；　faint　and　far　away；　a　distant　bugle　note　sounding　thin　and　clear。　　The　sound　was　small；　but；　like　a　little　pebble　dropped　into　a　glassy　fountain；　it　broke　all　the　smooth　surface　of　his　thoughts；　until　his　whole　soul　was　filled　with　disturbance。　　His　spirit　seemed　to　awaken　from　its　sluggishness；　and　his　memory　brought　back　to　him　all　the　merry　greenwood　lifehow　the　birds　were　singing　blithely　there　this　bright　morning；　and　how　his　loved　companions　and　friends　were　feasting　and　making　merry；　or　perhaps　talking　of　him　with　sober　speech；　for　when　he　first　entered　the　Sheriff's　service　he　did　so　in　jest；　but　the　hearthstone　was　warm　during　the　winter；　and　the　fare　was　full；　and　so　he　had　abided；　putting　off　from　day　to　day　his　going　back　to　Sherwood；　until　six　long　months　had　passed。　　But　now　he　thought　of　his　good　master　and　of　Will　Stutely；　whom　he　loved　better　than　anyone　in　all　the　world；　and　of　young　David　of　Doncaster；　whom　he　had　trained　so　well　in　all　manly　sports；　till　there　came　over　his　heart　a　great　and　bitter　longing　for　them　all；　so　that　his　eyes　filled　with　tears。　Then　he　said　aloud；　〃Here　I　grow　fat　like　a　stall…fed　ox　and　all　my　manliness　departeth　from　me　while　I　become　a　sluggard　and　dolt。　But　I　will　arouse　me　and　go　back　to　mine　own　dear　friends　once　more；　and　never　will　I　leave　them　again　till　life　doth　leave　my　lips。〃　So　saying；　he　leaped　from　bed；　for　he　hated　his　sluggishness　now。

When　he　came　downstairs　he　saw　the　Steward　standing　near　the　pantry　door　a　great；　fat　man；　with　a　huge　bundle　of　keys　hanging　to　his　girdle。　Then　Little　John　said；　〃Ho；　Master　Steward；　a　hungry　man　am　I；　for　nought　have　I　had　for　all　this　blessed　morn。　　Therefore；　give　me　to　eat。〃

Then　the　Steward　looked　grimly　at　him　and　rattled　the　keys　in　his　girdle；　for　he　hated　Little　John　because　he　had　found　favor　with　the　Sheriff。　　〃So；　Master　Reynold　Greenleaf；　thou　art　anhungered；　art　thou？〃　quoth　he。　　〃But；　fair　youth；　if　thou　livest　long　enough；　thou　wilt　find　that　he　who　getteth　overmuch　sleep　for　an　idle　head　goeth　with　an　empty　stomach。　For　what　sayeth　the　old　saw；　Master　Greenleaf？　　Is　it　not　‘The　late　fowl　findeth　but　ill　faring'？〃

〃Now；　thou　great　purse　of　fat！〃　cried　Little　John；　〃I　ask　thee　not　for　fool's　wisdom；　but　for　bread　and　meat。　Who　art　thou；　that　thou　shouldst　deny　me　to　eat？　By　Saint　Dunstan；　thou　hadst　best　tell　me　where　my　breakfast　is；　if　thou　wouldst　save　broken　bones！〃

〃Thy　breakfast；　Master　Fireblaze；　is　in　the　pantry；〃　answered　the　Steward。

〃Then　fetch　it　hither！〃　cried　Little　John；　who　waxed　angry　by　this　time。

〃Go　thou　and　fetch　it　thine　own　self；〃　quoth　the　Steward。　　〃Am　I　thy　slave；　to　fetch　and　carry　for　thee？〃

〃I　say；　go　thou；　bring　it　me！〃

〃I　say；　go　thou；　fetch　it　for　thyself！〃

〃Ay；　marry；　that　will　I；　right　quickly！〃　quoth　Little　John　in　a　rage。　And；　so　saying；　he　strode　to　the　pantry　and　tried　to　open　the　door　but　found　it　locked；　whereat　the　Steward　laughed　and　rattled　his　keys。　Then　the　wrath　of　Little　John　boiled　over；　and；　lifting　his　clenched　fist；　he　smote　the　pantry　door；　bursting　out　three　panels　and　making　so　large　an　opening　that　he　could　easily　stoop　and　walk　through　it。

When　the　Steward　saw　what　was　done；　he　waxed　mad　with　rage；　and；　as　Little　John　stooped　to　look　within　the　pantry；　he　seized　him　from　behind　by　the　nape　of　the　neck；　pinching　him　sorely　and　smiting　him　over　the　head　with　his　keys　till　the　yeoman's　ears　rang　again。　　At　this　Little　John　turned　upon　the　Steward　and　smote　him　such　a　buffet　that　the　fat　man　fell　to　the　floor　and　lay　there　as　though　he　would　never　move　again。　〃There；〃　quoth　Little　John；　〃think　well　of　that　stroke　and　never　keep　a　good　breakfast　from　a　hungry　man　again。〃

So　saying；　he　crept　into　the　pantry　and　looked　about　him　to　see　if　he　could　find　something　to　appease　his　hunger。　He　saw　a　great　venison　pasty　and　two　roasted　capons；　beside　which　was　a　platter　of　plover's　eggs；　moreover；　there　was　a　flask　of　sack　and　one　of　canarya　sweet　sight　to　a　hungry　man。　These　he　took　down　from　the　shelves　and　placed　upon　a　sideboard；　and　prepared　to　make　himself　merry。

Now　the　Cook；　in　the　kitchen　across　the　courtyard；　heard　the　loud　talking　between　Little　John　and　the　Steward；　and　also　the　blow　that　Little　John　struck　the　other；　so　he　came　running　across　the　court　and　up　the　stairway　to　where　the　Steward's　pantry　was；　bearing　in　his　hands　the　spit　with　the　roast　still　upon　it。　Meanwhile　the　Steward　had　gathered　his　wits　about　him　and　risen　to　his　feet；　so　that　when　the　Cook　came　to　the　Steward's　pantry　he　saw　him　glowering　through　the　broken　door　at　Little　John；　who　was　making　ready　for　a　good　repast；　as　one　dog　glowers　at　another　that　has　a　bone。　　When　the　Steward　saw　the　Cook；　he　came　to　him；　and；　putting　one　arm　over　his　shoulder；　〃Alas；　sweet　friend！〃　quoth　hefor　the　Cook　was　a　tall；　stout　man〃seest　thou　what　that　vile　knave　Reynold　Greenleaf　hat