the merry adventures of robin hood-第30节

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Meantime；　the　Friar　stood　watching　keenly　for　what　might　come　to　pass；　holding　in　his　fingers　the　while　a　pretty　silver　whistle；　such　as　knights　use　for　calling　their　hawks　back　to　their　wrists；　which　whistle　always　hung　at　his　girdle　along　with　his　rosary。

Scarcely　had　the　echo　of　the　last　note　of　Robin's　bugle　come　winding　back　from　across　the　river；　when　four　tall　men　in　Lincoln　green　came　running　around　the　bend　of　the　road；　each　with　a　bow　in　his　hand　and　an　arrow　ready　nocked　upon　the　string。

〃Ha！　　Is　it　thus；　thou　traitor　knave！〃　cried　the　Friar。　　〃Then；　marry；　look　to　thyself！〃　　So　saying；　he　straightway　clapped　the　hawk's　whistle　to　his　lips　and　blew　a　blast　that　was　both　loud　and　shrill。　　And　now　there　came　a　crackling　of　the　bushes　that　lined　the　other　side　of　the　road；　and　presently　forth　from　the　covert　burst　four　great；　shaggy　hounds。　〃At　'em；　Sweet　Lips！　　At　'em；　Bell　Throat！　　At　'em；　Beauty！　　At　'em；　Fangs！〃　cried　the　Friar；　pointing　at　Robin。

And　now　it　was　well　for　that　yeoman　that　a　tree　stood　nigh　him　beside　the　road；　else　had　he　had　an　ill　chance　of　it。　Ere　one　could　say　〃Gaffer　Downthedale〃　the　hounds　were　upon　him；　and　he　had　only　time　to　drop　his　sword　and　leap　lightly　into　the　tree；　around　which　the　hounds　gathered；　looking　up　at　him　as　though　he　were　a　cat　on　the　eaves。　　But　the　Friar　quickly　called　off　his　dogs。　〃At　'em！〃　cried　he；　pointing　down　the　road　to　where　the　yeomen　were　standing　stock　still　with　wonder　of　what　they　saw。　As　the　hawk　darts　down　upon　its　quarry；　so　sped　the　four　dogs　at　the　yeomen；　but　when　the　four　men　saw　the　hounds　so　coming；　all　with　one　accord；　saving　only　Will　Scarlet；　drew　each　man　his　goose　feather　to　his　ear　and　let　fly　his　shaft。

And　now　the　old　ballad　telleth　of　a　wondrous　thing　that　happened；　for　thus　it　says；　that　each　dog　so　shot　at　leaped　lightly　aside；　and　as　the　arrow　passed　him　whistling；　caught　it　in　his　mouth　and　bit　it　in　twain。　Now　it　would　have　been　an　ill　day　for　these　four　good　fellows　had　not　Will　Scarlet　stepped　before　the　others　and　met　the　hounds　as　they　came　rushing。　　〃Why；　how　now；　Fangs！〃　cried　he　sternly。　〃Down；　Beauty！　　Down；　sirrah！　　What　means　this？〃

At　the　sound　of　his　voice　each　dog　shrank　back　quickly　and　then　straightway　came　to　him　and　licked　his　hands　and　fawned　upon　him；　as　is　the　wont　of　dogs　that　meet　one　they　know。　　Then　the　four　yeomen　came　forward；　the　hounds　leaping　around　Will　Scarlet　joyously。　〃Why；　how　now！〃　cried　the　stout　Friar；　〃what　means　this？　Art　thou　wizard　to　turn　those　wolves　into　lambs？　　Ha！〃　cried　he；　when　they　had　come　still　nearer；　〃can　I　trust　mine　eyes？　What　means　it　that　I　see　young　Master　William　Gamwell　in　such　company？〃

〃Nay；　Tuck；〃　said　the　young　man；　as　the　four　came　forward　to　where　Robin　was　now　clambering　down　from　the　tree　in　which　he　had　been　roosting；　he　having　seen　that　all　danger　was　over　for　the　time；　〃nay；　Tuck；　my　name　is　no　longer　Will　Gamwell；　but　Will　Scarlet；　and　this　is　my　good　uncle；　Robin　Hood；　with　whom　I　am　abiding　just　now。〃

〃Truly；　good　master；〃　said　the　Friar；　looking　somewhat　abashed　and　reaching　out　his　great　palm　to　Robin；　〃I　ha'　oft　heard　thy　name　both　sung　and　spoken　of；　but　I　never　thought　to　meet　thee　in　battle。　I　crave　thy　forgiveness；　and　do　wonder　not　that　I　found　so　stout　a　man　against　me。〃

〃Truly；　most　holy　father；〃　said　Little　John；　〃I　am　more　thankful　than　e'er　I　was　in　all　my　life　before　that　our　good　friend　Scarlet　knew　thee　and　thy　dogs。　　I　tell　thee　seriously　that　I　felt　my　heart　crumble　away　from　me　when　I　saw　my　shaft　so　miss　its　aim；　and　those　great　beasts　of　thine　coming　straight　at　me。〃

〃Thou　mayst　indeed　be　thankful；　friend；〃　said　the　Friar　gravely。　〃But；　Master　Will；　how　cometh　it　that　thou　dost　now　abide　in　Sherwood？〃

〃Why；　Tuck；　dost　thou　not　know　of　my　ill　happening　with　my　father's　steward？〃　answered　Scarlet。

〃Yea；　truly；　yet　I　knew　not　that　thou　wert　in　hiding　because　of　it。　Marry；　the　times　are　all　awry　when　a　gentleman　must　lie　hidden　for　so　small　a　thing。〃

〃But　we　are　losing　time；〃　quoth　Robin；　〃and　I　have　yet　to　find　that　same　Curtal　Friar。〃

〃Why；　uncle；　thou　hast　not　far　to　go；〃　said　Will　Scarlet；　pointing　to　the　Friar；　〃for　there　he　stands　beside　thee。〃

〃How？〃　quoth　Robin；　〃art　thou　the　man　that　I　have　been　at　such　pains　to　seek　all　day；　and　have　got　such　a　ducking　for？〃

〃Why；　truly；〃　said　the　Friar　demurely；　〃some　do　call　me　the　Curtal　Friar　of　Fountain　Dale；　others　again　call　me　in　jest　the　Abbot　of　Fountain　Abbey；　others　still　again　call　me　simple　Friar　Tuck。〃

〃I　like　the　last　name　best；〃　quoth　Robin；　〃for　it　doth　slip　more　glibly　off　the　tongue。　　But　why　didst　thou　not　tell　me　thou　wert　he　I　sought；　instead　of　sending　me　searching　for　black　moonbeams？〃

〃Why；　truly；　thou　didst　not　ask　me；　good　master；〃　quoth　stout　Tuck；　〃but　what　didst　thou　desire　of　me？〃

〃Nay；〃　quoth　Robin；　〃the　day　groweth　late；　and　we　cannot　stand　longer　talking　here。　　Come　back　with　us　to　Sherwood；　and　I　will　unfold　all　to　thee　as　we　travel　along。〃

So；　without　tarrying　longer；　they　all　departed；　with　the　stout　dogs　at　their　heels；　and　wended　their　way　back　to　Sherwood　again；　but　it　was　long　past　nightfall　ere　they　reached　the　greenwood　tree。

Now　listen；　for　next　I　will　tell　how　Robin　Hood　compassed　the　happiness　of　two　young　lovers；　aided　by　the　merry　Friar　Tuck　of　Fountain　Dale。



Robin　Hood　Compasses　a　Marriage

AND　NOW　had　come　the　morning　when　fair　Ellen　was　to　be　married；　and　on　which　merry　Robin　had　sworn　that　Allan　a　Dale　should；　as　it　were；　eat　out　of　the　platter　that　had　been　filled　for　Sir　Stephen　of　Trent。　　Up　rose　Robin　Hood；　blithe　and　gay；　up　rose　his　merry　men　one　and　all；　and　up　rose　last　of　all　stout　Friar　Tuck；　winking　the　smart　of　sleep　from　out　his　eyes。　Then；　while　the　air　seemed　to　brim　over　with　the　song　of　many　birds；　all　blended　together　and　all　joying　in　the　misty　morn；　each　man　raved　face　and　hands　in　the　leaping　brook；　and　so　the　day　began。

〃Now；〃　quoth　Robin；　when　they　had　broken　their　fast；　and　each　man　had　eaten　his　fill；　〃it　is　time　for　us　to　set　forth　upon　the　undertaking　that　we　have　in　hand　for　today。　　I　will　choose　me　one　score　of　my　good　men　to　go　with　me；　for　I　may　need　aid；　and　thou；　Will　Scarlet；　wilt　abide　here　and　be　the　chief　while　I　am　gone。〃　　Then　searching　through　all　the　band；　each　man　of　whom　crowded　forward　eager　to　be　chosen；　Robin　called　such　as　he　wished　by　name；　until　he　had　a　score　of　stout　fellows；　the　very　flower　of　his　yeomanrie。　Besides　Little　John　and　Will　Stutely　were　nigh　all　those　famous　lads　of　whom　I　have　already　told　you。　　Then；　while　those　so　chosen　ran　leaping；　full　of　joy；　to　arm　themselves　with　bow　and　shaft　and　broadsword；　Robin　Hood　stepped　aside　into　the　covert；　and　there　donned　a　gay；　beribboned　coat　such　as　might　have　been　worn　by　some　strolling　minstrel；　and　slung　a　harp　across　his　shoulder；　the　better　to　carry　out　that　part。

All　the　band　stared　and　many　laughed；　for　never　had　they　seen　their　master　in　such　a　fantastic　guise　before。

〃Truly；〃　quoth　Robin；　holding　up　his　arms　and　looking　down　at　himself；　〃I　do　think　it　be　somewhat　of　a　gay；　gaudy；　grasshopper　dress；　but　it　is　a　pretty　thing　for　all　that；　and　doth　not　ill　befit　the　turn　of　my　looks；　albeit　I　wear　it　but　for　the　nonce。　But　stay；　Little　John；　here　are　two　bags　that　I　would　have　thee　carry　in　thy　pouch　for　the　sake　of　safekeeping。　I　can　ill　care　for　them　myself　beneath　this　motley。〃

〃Why；　master；〃　quoth　Little　John；　taking　the　bags　and　weighing　them　in　his　hand；　〃here　is　the　chink　of　gold。〃

〃Well；　what　an　there　be；〃　said　Robin；　〃it　is　mine　own　coin　and　the　band　is　none　the　worse　for　what　is　there。　　Come；　busk　ye；　lads；〃　and　he　turned　quickly　away。　　〃Get　ye　ready　straightway。〃　Then　gathering　the　score　together　in　a　close　rank；　in　the　midst　of　which　were　Allan　a　Dale　and　Friar　Tuck；　he　led　them　forth　upon　their　way　from　the　forest　shades。

So　they　walked　on　for　a　long　time　till　they　had　come　out　of　Sherwood　and　to　the　vale　of　Rotherstream。　　Here　were　different　sights　from　what　one　saw　in　the　forest；　hedgerows；　broad　fields　of　barley　corn；　pasture　lands　rolling　upward　till　they　met　the　sky　and　all　dotted　over　with　flocks　of　white　sheep；　hayfields　whence　came　the　odor　of　new…mown　hay　that　lay　in　smooth　swathes　over　which　skimmed　the　swifts　in　rapid　flight；　such　they　saw；　and　different　was　it；　I　wot；　from　the　tangled　depths　of　the　sweet　woodlands；　but　full　as　fair。　Thus　Robin　led　his　band；　walking　blithely　with　chest　thrown　out　and　head　thrown　back；　snuffing　the　odors　of　the　gentle　breeze　that　came　drifting　from　over　the　hayfields。

〃Truly；〃　quoth　he；　〃the　dear　world　is　as　fair　here　as　in　the　woodland　shades。　Who　calls　it　a　vale　of　tears？　　Methinks　it　is　but　the　darkness　in　our　minds　that　bringeth　gloom　to　the　world。　　For　what　sayeth　that　merry　song　thou　singest；　Little　John？　　Is　it　not　thus？

　〃_For　when　my　love's　eyes　do　thine；　do　thine；　　　　　　And　when　her　lips　smile　so　rare；　　The　day　it　is　jocund　and　fine；　so　fine；　　　　　　Though　let　it　be　wet　or　be　fair　　And　when　the　stout　ale　is　all　flowing　so　fast；　　Our　sorrows　and　troubles　are　things　of　the　past_。〃


〃Nay；〃　said　Friar　Tuck　piously；　〃ye　do　think　of　profane　things　and　of　nought　else；　yet；　truly；　there　be　better　saf