the merry adventures of robin hood-第36节

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will　take　the　money　and　pay　my　debts；　and　in　a　year　and　a　day　hence　will　return　it　safe　either　to　thee　or　to　the　Lord　Bishop　of　Hereford。　　For　this　I　pledge　my　most　solemn　knightly　word。　　I　feel　free　to　borrow；　for　I　know　no　man　that　should　be　more　bound　to　aid　me　than　one　so　high　in　that　church　that　hath　driven　such　a　hard　bargain。〃　　〃Truly；　Sir　Knight；〃　quoth　Robin；　〃I　do　not　understand　those　fine　scruples　that　weigh　with　those　of　thy　kind；　but；　nevertheless；　it　shall　all　be　as　thou　dost　wish。　　But　thou　hadst　best　bring　the　money　to　me　at　the　end　of　the　year；　for　mayhap　I　may　make　better　use　of　it　than　the　Bishop。〃　　Thereupon；　turning　to　those　near　him；　he　gave　his　orders；　and　five　hundred　pounds　were　counted　out　and　tied　up　in　a　leathern　bag　for　Sir　Richard。　　The　rest　of　the　treasure　was　divided；　and　part　taken　to　the　treasurehouse　of　the　band；　and　part　put　by　with　the　other　things　for　the　Bishop。

Then　Sir　Richard　arose。　　〃I　cannot　stay　later；　good　friends；〃　said　he；　〃for　my　lady　will　wax　anxious　if　I　come　not　home；　so　I　crave　leave　to　depart。〃

Then　Robin　Hood　and　all　his　merry　men　arose；　and　Robin　said；　〃We　cannot　let　thee　go　hence　unattended；　Sir　Richard。〃

Then　up　spake　Little　John；　〃Good　master；　let　me　choose　a　score　of　stout　fellows　from　the　band；　and　let　us　arm　ourselves　in　a　seemly　manner　and　so　serve　as　retainers　to　Sir　Richard　till　he　can　get　others　in　our　stead。〃

〃Thou　hast　spoken　well；　Little　John；　and　it　shall　be　done；〃　said　Robin。

Then　up　spake　Will　Scarlet；　〃Let　us　give　him　a　golden　chain　to　hang　about　his　neck；　such　as　befits　one　of　his　blood；　and　also　golden　spurs　to　wear　at　his　heels。〃

Then　Robin　Hood　said；　〃Thou　hast　spoken　well；　Will　Scarlet；　and　it　shall　be　done。〃

Then　up　spake　Will　Stutely；　〃Let　us　give　him　yon　bale　of　rich　velvet　and　yon　roll　of　cloth　of　gold　to　take　home　to　his　noble　lady　wife　as　a　present　from　Robin　Hood　and　his　merry　men　all。〃

At　this　all　clapped　their　hands　for　joy；　and　Robin　said：　〃Thou　hast　well　spoken；　Will　Stutely；　and　it　shall　be　done。〃

Then　Sir　Richard　of　the　Lea　looked　all　around　and　strove　to　speak；　but　could　scarcely　do　so　for　the　feelings　that　choked　him；　at　last　he　said　in　a　husky；　trembling　voice；　〃Ye　shall　all　see；　good　friends；　that　Sir　Richard　o'　the　Lea　will　ever　remember　your　kindness　this　day。　And　if　ye　be　at　any　time　in　dire　need　or　trouble；　come　to　me　and　my　lady；　and　the　walls　of　Castle　Lea　shall　be　battered　down　ere　harm　shall　befall　you。　　I〃　He　could　say　nothing　further；　but　turned　hastily　away。

But　now　Little　John　and　nineteen　stout　fellows　whom　he　had　chosen　for　his　band；　came　forth　all　ready　for　the　journey。　Each　man　wore　upon　his　breast　a　coat　of　linked　mail；　and　on　his　head　a　cap　of　steel；　and　at　his　side　a　good　stout　sword。　A　gallant　show　they　made　as　they　stood　all　in　a　row。　Then　Robin　came　and　threw　a　chain　of　gold　about　Sir　Richard's　neck；　and　Will　Scarlet　knelt　and　buckled　the　golden　spurs　upon　his　heel；　and　now　Little　John　led　forward　Sir　Richard's　horse；　and　the　Knight　mounted。　　He　looked　down　at　Robin　for　a　little　time；　then　of　a　sudden　stooped　and　kissed　his　cheek。　All　the　forest　glades　rang　with　the　shout　that　went　up　as　the　Knight　and　the　yeomen　marched　off　through　the　woodland　with　glare　of　torches　and　gleam　of　steel；　and　so　were　gone。

Then　up　spake　the　Bishop　of　Hereford　in　a　mournful　voice；　〃I；　too；　must　be　jogging；　good　fellow；　for　the　night　waxes　late。〃

But　Robin　laid　his　hand　upon　the　Bishop's　arm　and　stayed　him。　〃Be　not　so　hasty；　Lord　Bishop；〃　said　he。　　〃Three　days　hence　Sir　Richard　must　pay　his　debts　to　Emmet；　until　that　time　thou　must　be　content　to　abide　with　me　lest　thou　breed　trouble　for　the　Knight。　　I　promise　thee　that　thou　shalt　have　great　sport；　for　I　know　that　thou　art　fond　of　hunting　the　dun　deer。　　Lay　by　thy　mantle　of　melancholy；　and　strive　to　lead　a　joyous　yeoman　life　for　three　stout　days。　I　promise　thee　thou　shalt　be　sorry　to　go　when　the　time　has　come。〃

So　the　Bishop　and　his　train　abided　with　Robin　for　three　days；　and　much　sport　his　lordship　had　in　that　time；　so　that；　as　Robin　had　said；　when　the　time　had　come　for　him　to　go　he　was　sorry　to　leave　the　greenwood。　At　the　end　of　three　days　Robin　set　him　free；　and　sent　him　forth　from　the　forest　with　a　guard　of　yeomen　to　keep　freebooters　from　taking　what　was　left　of　the　packs　and　bundles。

But；　as　the　Bishop　rode　away；　he　vowed　within　himself　that　he　would　sometime　make　Robin　rue　the　day　that　he　stopped　him　in　Sherwood。

But　now　we　shall　follow　Sir　Richard；　so　listen；　and　you　shall　hear　what　befell　him；　and　how　he　paid　his　debts　at　Emmet　Priory；　and　likewise　in　due　season　to　Robin　Hood。



How　Sir　Richard　of　the　Lea　Paid　His　Debts

THE　LONG　HIGHWAY　stretched　straight　on；　gray　and　dusty　in　the　sun。　On　either　side　were　dikes　full　of　water　bordered　by　osiers；　and　far　away　in　the　distance　stood　the　towers　of　Emmet　Priory　with　tall　poplar　trees　around。

Along　the　causeway　rode　a　knight　with　a　score　of　stout　men…at…arms　behind　him。　　The　Knight　was　clad　in　a　plain；　long　robe　of　gray　serge；　gathered　in　at　the　waist　with　a　broad　leathern　belt；　from　which　hung　a　long　dagger　and　a　stout　sword。　But　though　he　was　so　plainly　dressed　himself；　the　horse　he　rode　was　a　noble　barb；　and　its　trappings　were　rich　with　silk　and　silver　bells。

So　thus　the　band　journeyed　along　the　causeway　between　the　dikes；　till　at　last　they　reached　the　great　gate　of　Emmet　Priory。　　There　the　Knight　called　to　one　of　his　men　and　bade　him　knock　at　the　porter's　lodge　with　the　heft　of　his　sword。

The　porter　was　drowsing　on　his　bench　within　the　lodge；　but　at　the　knock　he　roused　himself　and；　opening　the　wicket；　came　hobbling　forth　and　greeted　the　Knight；　while　a　tame　starling　that　hung　in　a　wicker　cage　within　piped　out；　〃_In　coelo　quies！　In　coelo　quies！_〃　such　being　the　words　that　the　poor　old　lame　porter　had　taught　him　to　speak。

〃Where　is　thy　prior？〃　asked　the　Knight　of　the　old　porter。

〃He　is　at　meat；　good　knight；　and　he　looketh　for　thy　coming；〃　quoth　the　porter；　〃for；　if　I　mistake　not；　thou　art　Sir　Richard　of　the　Lea。〃

〃I　am　Sir　Richard　of　the　Lea；　then　I　will　go　seek　him　forthwith；〃　said　the　Knight。

〃But　shall　I　not　send　thy　horse　to　stable？〃　said　the　porter。　〃By　Our　Lady；　it　is　the　noblest　nag；　and　the　best　harnessed；　that　e'er　I　saw　in　all　my　life　before。〃　　And　he　stroked　the　horse's　flank　with　his　palm。

〃Nay；〃　quoth　Sir　Richard；　〃the　stables　of　this　place　are　not　for　me；　so　make　way；　I　prythee。〃　　So　saying；　he　pushed　forward；　and；　the　gates　being　opened；　he　entered　the　stony　courtyard　of　the　Priory；　his　men　behind　him。　In　they　came　with　rattle　of　steel　and　clashing　of　swords；　and　ring　of　horses'　feet　on　cobblestones；　whereat　a　flock　of　pigeons　that　strutted　in　the　sun　flew　with　flapping　wings　to　the　high　eaves　of　the　round　towers。


While　the　Knight　was　riding　along　the　causeway　to　Emmet；　a　merry　feast　was　toward　in　the　refectory　there。　　The　afternoon　sun　streamed　in　through　the　great　arched　windows　and　lay　in　broad　squares　of　light　upon　the　stone　floor　and　across　the　board　covered　with　a　snowy　linen　cloth；　whereon　was　spread　a　princely　feast。　At　the　head　of　the　table　sat　Prior　Vincent　of　Emmet　all　clad　in　soft　robes　of　fine　cloth　and　silk；　on　his　head　was　a　black　velvet　cap　picked　out　with　gold；　and　around　his　neck　hung　a　heavy　chain　of　gold；　with　a　great　locket　pendant　therefrom。　Beside　him；　on　the　arm　of　his　great　chair；　roosted　his　favorite　falcon；　for　the　Prior　was　fond　of　the　gentle　craft　of　hawking。　On　his　right　hand　sat　the　Sheriff　of　Nottingham　in　rich　robes　of　purple　all　trimmed　about　with　fur；　and　on　his　left　a　famous　doctor　of　law　in　dark　and　sober　garb。　　Below　these　sat　the　high　cellarer　of　Emmet；　and　others　chief　among　the　brethren。

Jest　and　laughter　passed　around；　and　all　was　as　merry　as　merry　could　be。　The　wizened　face　of　the　man　of　law　was　twisted　into　a　wrinkled　smile；　for　in　his　pouch　were　fourscore　golden　angels　that　the　Prior　had　paid　him　in　fee　for　the　case　betwixt　him　and　Sir　Richard　of　the　Lea。　　The　learned　doctor　had　been　paid　beforehand；　for　he　had　not　overmuch　trust　in　the　holy　Vincent　of　Emmet。

Quoth　the　Sheriff　of　Nottingham；　〃But　art　thou　sure；　Sir　Prior；　that　thou　hast　the　lands　so　safe？〃

〃Ay；　marry；〃　said　Prior　Vincent；　smacking　his　lips　after　a　deep　draught　of　wine；　〃I　have　kept　a　close　watch　upon　him；　albeit　he　was　unawares　of　the　same；　and　I　know　right　well　that　he　hath　no　money　to　pay　me　withal。〃

〃Ay；　true；〃　said　the　man　of　law　in　a　dry；　husky　voice；　〃his　land　is　surely　forfeit　if　he　cometh　not　to　pay；　but；　Sir　Prior；　thou　must　get　a　release　beneath　his　sign　manual；　or　else　thou　canst　not　hope　to　hold　the　land　without　trouble　from　him。〃

〃Yea；〃　said　the　Prior；　〃so　thou　hast　told　me　ere　now；　but　I　know　that　this　knight　is　so　poor　that　he　will　gladly　sign　away　his　lands　for　two　hundred　pounds　of　hard　money。

Then　up　spake　the　high　cellarer；　〃Methinks　it　is　a　shame　to　so　drive　a　misfortunate　knight　to　the　ditch。　　I　think　it　sorrow　that　the　noblest　estate　in　Derbyshire　should　so　pass　away　from　him　for　a　paltry　five　hundred　pounds。　　Truly；　I〃

〃How　now；〃　broke　in　the　Prior　in　a　quivering　voice；　his　eyes　glistening　and　his　cheeks　red　with　anger；　〃dost　thou　prate　to　my　very　beard；　sirrah？　By　Saint　Hubert；　thou　hadst　bes