the merry adventures of robin hood-第43节

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dows　was　waxing　long　and　green；　again　he　would　stand　still　and　listen　to　the　pretty　song　of　the　little　birds　in　the　thickets　or　hearken　to　the　clear　crow　of　the　cock　daring　the　sky　to　rain；　whereat　he　would　laugh；　for　it　took　but　little　to　tickle　Robin's　heart　into　merriment。　So　he　trudged　manfully　along；　ever　willing　to　stop　for　this　reason　or　for　that；　and　ever　ready　to　chat　with　such　merry　lasses　as　he　met　now　and　then。　　So　the　morning　slipped　along；　but　yet　he　met　no　beggar　with　whom　he　could　change　clothes。　Quoth　he；　〃If　I　do　not　change　my　luck　in　haste；　I　am　like　to　have　an　empty　day　of　it；　for　it　is　well　nigh　half　gone　already；　and；　although　I　have　had　a　merry　walk　through　the　countryside；　I　know　nought　of　a　beggar's　life。〃

Then；　after　a　while；　he　began　to　grow　hungry；　whereupon　his　mind　turned　from　thoughts　of　springtime　and　flowers　and　birds　and　dwelled　upon　boiled　capons；　Malmsey；　white　bread；　and　the　like；　with　great　tenderness。　Quoth　he　to　himself；　〃I　would　I　had　Willie　Wynkin's　wishing　coat；　I　know　right　well　what　I　should　wish　for；　and　this　it　should　be。〃　Here　he　marked　upon　the　fingers　of　his　left　hand　with　the　forefinger　of　his　right　hand　those　things　which　he　wished　for。　〃Firstly；　I　would　have　a　sweet　brown　pie　of　tender　larks；　mark　ye；　not　dry　cooked；　but　with　a　good　sop　of　gravy　to　moisten　it　withal。　Next；　I　would　have　a　pretty　pullet；　fairly　boiled；　with　tender　pigeons'　eggs；　cunningly　sliced；　garnishing　the　platter　around。　With　these　I　would　have　a　long；　slim　loaf　of　wheaten　bread　that　hath　been　baked　upon　the　hearth；　it　should　be　warm　from　the　fire；　with　glossy　brown　crust；　the　color　of　the　hair　of　mine　own　Maid　Marian；　and　this　same　crust　should　be　as　crisp　and　brittle　as　the　thin　white　ice　that　lies　across　the　furrows　in　the　early　winter's　morning。　These　will　do　for　the　more　solid　things；　but　with　these　I　must　have　three　potties；　fat　and　round；　one　full　of　Malmsey；　one　of　Canary；　and　one　brimming　full　of　mine　own　dear　lusty　sack。〃　Thus　spoke　Robin　to　himself；　his　mouth　growing　moist　at　the　corners　with　the　thoughts　of　the　good　things　he　had　raised　in　his　own　mind。

So；　talking　to　himself；　he　came　to　where　the　dusty　road　turned　sharply　around　the　hedge；　all　tender　with　the　green　of　the　coming　leaf；　and　there　he　saw　before　him　a　stout　fellow　sitting　upon　a　stile；　swinging　his　legs　in　idleness。　　All　about　this　lusty　rogue　dangled　divers　pouches　and　bags　of　different　sizes　and　kinds；　a　dozen　or　more；　with　great；　wide；　gaping　mouths；　like　a　brood　of　hungry　daws。　His　coat　was　gathered　in　at　his　waist；　and　was　patched　with　as　many　colors　as　there　are　stripes　upon　a　Maypole　in　the　springtide。　On　his　head　he　wore　a　great　tall　leathern　cap；　and　across　his　knees　rested　a　stout　quarterstaff　of　blackthorn；　full　as　long　and　heavy　as　Robin's。　As　jolly　a　beggar　was　he　as　ever　trod　the　lanes　and　byways　of　Nottinghamshire；　for　his　eyes　were　as　gray　as　slate；　and　snapped　and　twinkled　and　danced　with　merriment；　and　his　black　hair　curled　close　all　over　his　head　in　little　rings　of　kinkiness。

〃Halloa；　good　fellow；〃　quoth　Robin；　when　he　had　come　nigh　to　the　other；　〃what　art　thou　doing　here　this　merry　day；　when　the　flowers　are　peeping　and　the　buds　are　swelling？〃

Then　the　other　winked　one　eye　and　straightway　trolled　forth　in　a　merry　voice：

　　　　　〃_I　sit　upon　the　stile；　　　　　　And　I　sing　a　little　while　　As　I　wait　for　my　own　true　dear；　O；　　　　　　For　the　sun　is　shining　bright；　　　　　　And　the　leaves　are　dancing　light；　　And　the　little　fowl　sings　she　is　near；　O_。


〃And　so　it　is　with　me；　bully　boy；　saving　that　my　doxy　cometh　not。〃

〃Now　that　is　a　right　sweet　song；〃　quoth　Robin；　〃and；　were　I　in　the　right　mind　to　listen　to　thee；　I　could　bear　well　to　hear　more；　but　I　have　two　things　of　seriousness　to　ask　of　thee；　so　listen；　I　prythee。〃

At　this　the　jolly　Beggar　cocked　his　head　on　one　side；　like　a　rogue　of　a　magpie。　　Quoth　he；　〃I　am　an　ill　jug　to　pour　heavy　things　into；　good　friend；　and；　if　I　mistake　not；　thou　hast　few　serious　words　to　spare　at　any　time。〃

〃Nay；〃　quoth　jolly　Robin；　〃what　I　would　say　first　is　the　most　serious　of　all　thoughts　to　me；　to　wit；　‘Where　shall　I　get　somewhat　to　eat　and　drink？'　〃

〃Sayst　thou　so？〃　quoth　the　Beggar。　　〃Marry；　I　make　no　such　serious　thoughts　upon　the　matter。　　I　eat　when　I　can　get　it；　and　munch　my　crust　when　I　can　get　no　crumb；　likewise；　when　there　is　no　ale　to　be　had　I　wash　the　dust　from　out　my　throat　with　a　trickle　of　cold　water。　　I　was　sitting　here；　as　thou　camest　upon　me；　bethinking　myself　whether　I　should　break　my　fast　or　no。　I　do　love　to　let　my　hunger　grow　mightily　keen　ere　I　eat；　for　then　a　dry　crust　is　as　good　to　me　as　a　venison　pasty　with　suet　and　raisins　is　to　stout　King　Harry。　　I　have　a　sharp　hunger　upon　me　now；　but　methinks　in　a　short　while　it　will　ripen　to　a　right　mellow　appetite。〃

〃Now；　in　good　sooth；〃　quoth　merry　Robin；　laughing；　〃thou　hast　a　quaint　tongue　betwixt　thy　teeth。　　But　hast　thou　truly　nought　but　a　dry　crust　about　thee？　Methinks　thy　bags　and　pouches　are　fat　and　lusty　for　such　thin　fare。〃

〃Why；　mayhap　there　is　some　other　cold　fare　therein；〃　said　the　Beggar　slyly。

〃And　hast　thou　nought　to　drink　but　cold　water？〃　said　Robin。

〃Never　so　much　as　a　drop；〃　quoth　the　Beggar。　　〃Over　beyond　yon　clump　of　trees　is　as　sweet　a　little　inn　as　ever　thou　hast　lifted　eyelid　upon；　but　I　go　not　thither；　for　they　have　a　nasty　way　with　me。　Once；　when　the　good　Prior　of　Emmet　was　dining　there；　the　landlady　set　a　dear　little　tart　of　stewed　crabs　and　barley　sugar　upon　the　window　sill　to　cool；　and；　seeing　it　there；　and　fearing　it　might　be　lost；　I　took　it　with　me　till　that　I　could　find　the　owner　thereof。　Ever　since　then　they　have　acted　very　ill　toward　me；　yet　truth　bids　me　say　that　they　have　the　best　ale　there　that　ever　rolled　over　my　tongue。〃

At　this　Robin　laughed　aloud。　　〃Marry；〃　quoth　he；　〃they　did　ill　toward　thee　for　thy　kindness。　　But　tell　me　truly；　what　hast　thou　in　thy　pouches？〃

〃Why；〃　quoth　the　Beggar；　peeping　into　the　mouths　of　his　bags；　〃I　find　here　a　goodly　piece　of　pigeon　pie；　wrapped　in　a　cabbage　leaf　to　hold　the　gravy。　Here　I　behold　a　dainty　streaked　piece　of　brawn；　and　here　a　fair　lump　of　white　bread。　　Here　I　find　four　oaten　cakes　and　a　cold　knuckle　of　ham。　　Ha！　　In　sooth；　'tis　strange；　but　here　I　behold　six　eggs　that　must　have　come　by　accident　from　some　poultry　yard　hereabouts。　They　are　raw；　but　roasted　upon　the　coals　and　spread　with　a　piece　of　butter　that　I　see〃

〃Peace；　good　friend！〃　cried　Robin；　holding　up　his　hand。　　〃Thou　makest　my　poor　stomach　quake　with　joy　for　what　thou　tellest　me　so　sweetly。　If　thou　wilt　give　me　to　eat；　I　will　straightway　hie　me　to　that　little　inn　thou　didst　tell　of　but　now；　and　will　bring　a　skin　of　ale　for　thy　drinking　and　mine。〃

〃Friend；　thou　hast　said　enough；〃　said　the　Beggar；　getting　down　from　the　stile。　　〃I　will　feast　thee　with　the　best　that　I　have　and　bless　Saint　Cedric　for　thy　company。　　But；　sweet　chuck；　I　prythee　bring　three　quarts　of　ale　at　least；　one　for　thy　drinking　and　two　for　mine；　for　my　thirst　is　such　that　methinks　I　can　drink　ale　as　the　sands　of　the　River　Dee　drink　salt　water。〃

So　Robin　straightway　left　the　Beggar；　who；　upon　his　part；　went　to　a　budding　lime　bush　back　of　the　hedge；　and　there　spread　his　feast　upon　the　grass　and　roasted　his　eggs　upon　a　little　fagot　fire；　with　a　deftness　gained　by　long　labor　in　that　line。　After　a　while　back　came　Robin　bearing　a　goodly　skin　of　ale　upon　his　shoulder；　which　he　laid　upon　the　grass。　　Then；　looking　upon　the　feast　spread　upon　the　groundand　a　fair　sight　it　was　to　look　upon　he　slowly　rubbed　his　hand　over　his　stomach；　for　to　his　hungry　eyes　it　seemed　the　fairest　sight　that　he　had　beheld　in　all　his　life。

〃Friend；〃　said　the　Beggar；　〃let　me　feel　the　weight　of　that　skin。

〃Yea；　truly；〃　quoth　Robin；　〃help　thyself；　sweet　chuck；　and　meantime　let　me　see　whether　thy　pigeon　pie　is　fresh　or　no。〃

So　the　one　seized　upon　the　ale　and　the　other　upon　the　pigeon　pie；　and　nothing　was　heard　for　a　while　but　the　munching　of　food　and　the　gurgle　of　ale　as　it　left　the　skin。

At　last；　after　a　long　time　had　passed　thus；　Robin　pushed　the　food　from　him　and　heaved　a　great　sigh　of　deep　content；　for　he　felt　as　though　he　had　been　made　all　over　anew。

〃And　now；　good　friend；〃　quoth　he；　leaning　upon　one　elbow；　〃I　would　have　at　thee　about　that　other　matter　of　seriousness　of　which　I　spoke　not　long　since。〃

〃How！〃　said　the　Beggar　reproachfully；　〃thou　wouldst　surely　not　talk　of　things　appertaining　to　serious　affairs　upon　such　ale　as　this！〃

〃Nay；〃　quoth　Robin；　laughing。　　〃I　would　not　check　thy　thirst；　sweet　friend；　drink　while　I　talk　to　thee。　　Thus　it　is：　I　would　have　thee　know　that　I　have　taken　a　liking　to　thy　craft　and　would　fain　have　a　taste　of　a　beggar's　life　mine　own　self。〃

Said　the　Beggar；　〃I　marvel　not　that　thou　hast　taken　a　liking　to　my　manner　of　life；　good　fellow；　but　‘to　like'　and　‘to　do'　are　two　matters　of　different　sorts。　　I　tell　thee；　friend；　one　must　serve　a　long　apprenticeship　ere　one　can　learn　to　be　even　so　much　as　a　clapper…dudgeon；　much　less　a　crank　or　an　Abraham…man。＇3＇　I　tell　thee；　lad；　thou　art　too　old　to　enter　upon　that　which　it　may　take　thee　years　to　catch　the　hang　of。〃


＇3＇　Classes　of　traveling　mendicants　that　infested　England　as　late　as　the　middle　of　the　seventeenth　century。　V