the merry adventures of robin hood-第37节

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〃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　best　save　thy　breath　to　cool　thy　pottage；　else　it　may　scald　thy　mouth。〃

〃Nay；〃　said　the　man　of　law　smoothly；　〃I　dare　swear　this　same　knight　will　never　come　to　settlement　this　day；　but　will　prove　recreant。　Nevertheless；　we　will　seek　some　means　to　gain　his　lands　from　him；　so　never　fear。〃

But　even　as　the　doctor　spoke；　there　came　a　sudden　clatter　of　horses'　hoofs　and　a　jingle　of　iron　mail　in　the　courtyard　below。　Then　up　spake　the　Prior　and　called　upon　one　of　the　brethren　that　sat　below　the　salt；　and　bade　him　look　out　of　the　window　and　see　who　was　below；　albeit　he　knew　right　well　it　could　be　none　but　Sir　Richard。

So　the　brother　arose　and　went　and　looked；　and　he　said；　〃I　see　below　a　score　of　stout　men…at…arms　and　a　knight　just　dismounting　from　his　horse。　He　is　dressed　in　long　robes　of　gray　which；　methinks；　are　of　poor　seeming；　but　the　horse　he　rideth　upon　hath　the　richest　coursing　that　ever　I　saw。　The　Knight　dismounts　and　they　come　this　way；　and　are　even　now　below　in　the　great　hall。〃

〃Lo；　see　ye　there　now；〃　quoth　Prior　Vincent。　　〃Here　ye　have　a　knight　with　so　lean　a　purse　as　scarce　to　buy　him　a　crust　of　bread　to　munch；　yet　he　keeps　a　band　of　retainers　and　puts　rich　trappings　upon　his　horse's　hide；　while　his　own　back　goeth　bare。　Is　it　not　well　that　such　men　should　be　brought　low？〃

〃But　art　thou　sure；〃　said　the　little　doctor　tremulously；　〃that　this　knight　will　do　us　no　harm？　　Such　as　he　are　fierce　when　crossed；　and　he　hath　a　band　of　naughty　men　at　his　heels。　Mayhap　thou　hadst　better　give　an　extension　of　his　debt。〃　Thus　he　spake；　for　he　was　afraid　Sir　Richard　might　do　him　a　harm。

〃Thou　needst　not　fear；〃　said　the　Prior；　looking　down　at　the　little　man　beside　him。　　〃This　knight　is　gentle　and　would　as　soon　think　of　harming　an　old　woman　as　thee。〃

As　the　Prior　finished；　a　door　at　the　lower　end　of　the　refectory　swung　open；　and　in　came　Sir　Richard；　with　folded　hands　and　head　bowed　upon　his　breast。　Thus　humbly　he　walked　slowly　up　the　hall；　while　his　men…at…arms　stood　about　the　door。　　When　he　had　come　to　where　the　Prior　sat；　he　knelt　upon　one　knee。　〃Save　and　keep　thee；　Sir　Prior；〃　said　he；　〃I　am　come　to　keep　my　day。〃

Then　the　first　word　that　the　Prior　said　to　him　was　〃Hast　thou　brought　my　money？〃

〃Alas！　　I　have　not　so　much　as　one　penny　upon　my　body；〃　said　the　Knight；　whereat　the　Prior's　eyes　sparkled。

〃Now；　thou　art　a　shrewd　debtor；　I　wot；〃　said　he。　Then；　〃Sir　Sheriff；　I　drink　to　thee。〃

But　still　the　Knight　kneeled　upon　the　hard　stones；　so　the　Prior　turned　to　him　again。　　〃What　wouldst　thou　have？〃　quoth　he　sharply。

At　these　words；　a　slow　red　mounted　into　the　Knight's　cheeks；　but　still　he　knelt。　　〃I　would　crave　thy　mercy；〃　said　he。　〃As　thou　hopest　for　Heaven's　mercy；　show　mercy　to　me。　Strip　me　not　of　my　lands　and　so　reduce　a　true　knight　to　poverty。〃

〃Thy　day　is　broken　and　thy　lands　forfeit；〃　said　the　man　of　law；　plucking　up　his　spirits　at　the　Knight's　humble　speech。

Quoth　Sir　Richard；　〃Thou　man　of　law；　wilt　thou　not　befriend　me　in　mine　hour　of　need？〃

〃Nay；〃　said　the　other；　〃I　hold　with　this　holy　Prior；　who　hath　paid　me　my　fees　in　hard　gold；　so　that　I　am　bounder　to　him。〃

〃Wilt　thou　not　be　my　friend；　Sir　Sheriff？〃　said　Sir　Richard。

〃Nay；　'fore　Heaven；〃　quoth　the　Sheriff　of　Nottingham；　〃this　is　no　business　of　mine；　yet　I　will　do　what　I　may；〃　and　he　nudged　the　Prior　beneath　the　cloth　with　his　knee。　〃Wilt　thou　not　ease　him　of　some　of　his　debts；　Sir　Prior？〃

At　this　the　Prior　smiled　grimly。　　〃Pay　me　three　hundred　pounds；　Sir　Richard；〃　said　he；　〃and　I　will　give　thee　quittance　of　thy　debt。〃

〃Thou　knowest；　Sir　Prior；　that　it　is　as　easy　for　me　to　pay　four　hundred　pounds　as　three　hundred；〃　said　Sir　Richard。　　〃But　wilt　thou　not　give　me　another　twelvemonth　to　pay　my　debt？〃

〃Not　another　day；〃　said　the　Prior　sternly。

〃And　is　this　all　thou　wilt　do　for　me？〃　asked　the　Knight。

〃Now；　out　upon　thee；　false　knight！〃　cried　the　Prior；　bursting　forth　in　anger。　〃Either　pay　thy　debt　as　I　have　said；　or　release　thy　land　and　get　thee　gone　from　out　my　hall。〃

Then　Sir　Richard　arose　to　his　feet。　　〃Thou　false；　lying　priest！〃　said　he　in　so　stern　a　voice　that　the　man　of　law　shrunk　affrighted；　〃I　am　no　false　knight；　as　thou　knowest　full　well；　but　have　even　held　my　place　in　the　press　and　the　tourney。　　Hast　thou　so　little　courtesy　that　thou　wouldst　see　a　true　knight　kneel　for　all　this　time；　or　see　him　come　into　thy　hall　and　never　offer　him　meat　or　drink？〃

Then　quoth　the　man　of　law　in　a　trembling　voice；　〃This　is　surely　an　ill　way　to　talk　of　matters　appertaining　to　business；　let　us　be　mild　in　speech。　What　wilt　thou　pay　this　knight；　Sir　Prior；　to　give　thee　release　of　his　land？〃

〃I　would　have　given　him　two　hundred　pounds；〃　quoth　the　Prior；　〃but　since　he　hath　spoken　so　vilely　to　my　teeth；　not　one　groat　over　one　hundred　pounds　will　he　get。〃

〃Hadst　thou　offered　me　a　thousand　pounds；　false　prior；〃　said　the　Knight；　〃thou　wouldst　not　have　got　an　inch　of　my　land。〃　Then　turning　to　where　his　men…at…arms　stood　near　the　door；　he　called；　〃Come　hither；〃　and　beckoned　with　his　finger；　whereupon　the　tallest　of　them　all　came　forward　and　handed　him　a　long　leathern　bag。　Sir　Richard　took　the　bag　and　shot　from　it　upon　the　table　a　glittering　stream　of　golden　money。　　〃Bear　in　mind；　Sir　Prior；〃　said　he；　〃that　thou　hast　promised　me　quittance　for　three　hundred　pounds。　Not　one　farthing　above　that　shalt　thou　get。〃　　So　saying；　he　counted　out　three　hundred　pounds　and　pushed　it　toward　the　Prior。

But　now　the　Prior's　hands　dropped　at　his　sides　and　the　Prior's　head　hung　upon　his　shoulder；　for　not　only　had　he　lost　all　hopes　of　the　land；　but　he　had　forgiven　the　Knight　one　hundred　pounds　of　his　debt　and　had　needlessly　paid　the　man　of　law　fourscore　angels。　To　him　he　turned；　and　quoth　he；　〃Give　me　back　my　money　that　thou　hast。〃

〃Nay；〃　cried　the　other　shrilly；　〃it　is　but　my　fee　that　thou　didst　pay　me；　and　thou　gettest　it　not　back　again。〃　And　he　hugged　his　gown　about　him。

〃Now；　Sir　Prior；〃　quoth　Sir　Richard；　〃I　have　held　my　day　and　paid　all　the　dues　demanded　of　me；　so；　as　there　is　no　more　betwixt　us；　I　leave　this　vile　place　straightway。〃　So　saying；　he　turned　upon　his　heel　and　strode　away。

All　this　time　the　Sheriff　had　been　staring　with　wide…open　eyes　and　mouth　agape　at　the　tall　man…at…arms；　who　stood　as　though　carved　out　of　stone。　At　last　he　gasped　out；　〃Reynold　Greenleaf！〃

At　this；　the　tall　man…at…arms；　who　was　no　other　than　Little　John；　turned；　grinning；　to　the　Sheriff。　　〃I　give　thee　good　den；　fair　gossip；〃　quoth　he。　〃I　would　say；　sweet　Sheriff；　that　I　have　heard　all　thy　pretty　talk　this　day；　and　it　shall　be　duly　told　unto　Robin　Hood。　　So；　farewell　for　the　nonce；　till　we　meet　again　in　Sherwood　Forest。〃　　Then　he；　also；　turned　and　followed　Sir　Richard　down　the　hall；　leaving　the　Sheriff；　all　pale　and　amazed；　shrunk　together　upon　his　chair。

A　merry　feast　it　was　to　which　Sir　Richard　came；　but　a　sorry　lot　he　left　behind　him；　and　little　hunger　had　they　for　the　princely　food　spread　before　them。　Only　the　learned　doctor　was　happy；　for　he　had　his　fee。


Now　a　twelvemonth　and　a　day　passed　since　Prior　Vincent　of　Emmet　sat　at　feast；　and　once　more　the　mellow　fall　of　another　year　had　come。　But　the　year　had　brought　great　change；　I　wot；　to　the　lands　of　Sir　Richard　of　the　Lea；　for；　where　before　shaggy　wild　grasses　grew　upon　the　meadow　lands；　now　all　stretch　away　in　golden　stubble；　betokening　that　a　rich　and　plentiful　crop　had　been　gathered　therefrom。　A　year　had　made　a　great　change　in　the　castle；　also；　for；　where　were　empty　moats　and　the　crumbling　of　neglect；　all　was　now　orderly　and　well　kept。

Bright　shone　the　sun　on　battlement　and　tower；　and　in　the　blue　air　overhead　a　Hock　of　clattering　jackdaws　flew　around　the　gilded　weather　vane　and　spire。　　Then；　in　the　brightness　of　the　morning；　the　drawbridge　fell　across　the　moat　with　a　rattle　and　clank　of　chains；　the　gate　of　the　castle　swung　slowly　open；　and　a　goodly　array　of　steel…clad　men…at…arms；　with　a　knight　all　clothed　in　chain　mail；　as　white　as　frost　on　brier　and　thorn　of　a　winter　morning；　came　flashing　out　from　the　castle　courtyard。　In　his　hand　the　Knight　held　a　great　spear；　from　the　point　of　which　fluttered　a　blood…red　pennant　as　broad　as　the　palm　of　one's　hand。　So　this　troop　came　forth　from　the　castle；　and　in　the　midst　of　them　walked　three　pack　horses　laden　with　parcels　of　divers　shapes　and　kinds。

Thus　rode　forth　good　Sir　Richard　of　the　Lea　to　pay　his　debt　to　Robin　Hood　this　bright　and　merry　morn。　Along　the　highway　they　wended　their　way；　with　measured　tramp　of　feet　and　rattle　and　jingle　of　sword　and　harness。　Onward　they　marched　till　they　came　nigh　to　Denby；　where；　from　the　top　of　a　hill；　they　saw；　over　beyond　the　town；　many　gay　flags　and　streamers　floating　in　the　bright　air。　Then　Sir　Richard　turned　to　the　man…at…arms　nearest　to　him。　〃What　is　toward　yonder　at　Denby　today？〃　quoth　he。

〃Please　Your　Worship；〃　answered　the　man…at…arms；　〃a　merry　fair　is　held　there　today；　and　a　great　wrestling　match；　to　which　many　folk　have　come；　for　a　prize　hath　been　offered　of　a　pipe　of　red　wine；　a　fair　golden　ring；　and　a　pair　of　gloves；　all　of　which　go　to