the merry adventures of robin hood-第51节

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At　this　all　shouted　aloud；　for　it　pleased　them　to　hear　Robin　speak　so　of　them。

Then　up　spake　Little　John。　　〃Good　friend　Tepus；〃　said　he；　〃I　want　not　those　harts　of　Dallen　Lea　that　yon　stout　judge　spoke　of　but　now；　for　in　truth　we　have　enow　and　more　than　enow　in　our　own　country。　Twoscore　and　ten　I　give　to　thee　for　thine　own　shooting；　and　five　I　give　to　each　band　for　their　pleasure。

At　this　another　great　shout　went　up；　and　many　tossed　their　caps　aloft；　and　swore　among　themselves　that　no　better　fellows　ever　walked　the　sod　than　Robin　Hood　and　his　stout　yeomen。

While　they　so　shouted　with　loud　voices；　a　tall　burly　yeoman　of　the　King's　guard　came　forward　and　plucked　Robin　by　the　sleeve。　〃Good　master；〃　quoth　he；　〃I　have　somewhat　to　tell　thee　in　thine　ear；　a　silly　thing；　God　wot；　for　one　stout　yeoman　to　tell　another；　but　a　young　peacock　of　a　page；　one　Richard　Partington；　was　seeking　thee　without　avail　in　the　crowd；　and；　not　being　able　to　find　thee；　told　me　that　he　bore　a　message　to　thee　from　a　certain　lady　that　thou　wottest　of。　This　message　he　bade　me　tell　thee　privily；　word　for　word；　and　thus　it　was。　Let　me　seeI　trust　I　have　forgot　it　notyea；　thus　it　was：　‘The　lion　growls。　　Beware　thy　head。'　　〃

〃Is　it　so？〃　quoth　Robin；　starting；　for　he　knew　right　well　that　it　was　the　Queen　sent　the　message；　and　that　she　spake　of　the　King's　wrath。　〃Now；　I　thank　thee；　good　fellow；　for　thou　hast　done　me　greater　service　than　thou　knowest　of　this　day。〃　　Then　he　called　his　three　yeomen　together　and　told　them　privately　that　they　had　best　be　jogging；　as　it　was　like　to　be　ill　for　them　so　nigh　merry　London　Town。　　So；　without　tarrying　longer；　they　made　their　way　through　the　crowd　until　they　had　come　out　from　the　press。　Then；　without　stopping；　they　left　London　Town　and　started　away　northward。



The　Chase　of　Robin　Hood

SO　ROBIN　HOOD　and　the　others　left　the　archery　range　at　Finsbury　Fields；　and；　tarrying　not；　set　forth　straightway　upon　their　homeward　journey。　It　was　well　for　them　that　they　did　so；　for　they　had　not　gone　more　than　three　or　four　miles　upon　their　way　when　six　of　the　yeomen　of　the　King's　guard　came　bustling　among　the　crowd　that　still　lingered；　seeking　for　Robin　and　his　men；　to　seize　upon　them　and　make　them　prisoners。　Truly；　it　was　an　ill…done　thing　in　the　King　to　break　his　promise；　but　it　all　came　about　through　the　Bishop　of　Hereford's　doing；　for　thus　it　happened：

After　the　King　left　the　archery　ground；　he　went　straightway　to　his　cabinet；　and　with　him　went　the　Bishop　of　Hereford　and　Sir　Robert　Lee；　but　the　King　said　never　a　word　to　these　two；　but　sat　gnawing　his　nether　lip；　for　his　heart　was　galled　within　him　by　what　had　happened。　At　last　the　Bishop　of　Hereford　spoke；　in　a　low；　sorrowful　voice：　〃It　is　a　sad　thing；　Your　Majesty；　that　this　knavish　outlaw　should　be　let　to　escape　in　this　wise；　for；　let　him　but　get　back　to　Sherwood　Forest　safe　and　sound；　and　he　may　snap　his　fingers　at　king　and　king's　men。〃

At　these　words　the　King　raised　his　eyes　and　looked　grimly　upon　the　Bishop。　　〃Sayst　thou　so？〃　quoth　he。　　〃Now；　I　will　show　thee；　in　good　time；　how　much　thou　dost　err；　for；　when　the　forty　days　are　past　and　gone；　I　will　seize　upon　this　thieving　outlaw；　if　I　have　to　tear　down　all　of　Sherwood　to　find　him。　Thinkest　thou　that　the　laws　of　the　King　of　England　are　to　be　so　evaded　by　one　poor　knave　without　friends　or　money？〃

Then　the　Bishop　spoke　again；　in　his　soft；　smooth　voice：

〃Forgive　my　boldness；　Your　Majesty；　and　believe　that　I　have　nought　but　the　good　of　England　and　Your　Majesty's　desirings　at　heart；　but　what　would　it　boot　though　my　gracious　lord　did　root　up　every　tree　of　Sherwood？　　Are　there　not　other　places　for　Robin　Hood's　hiding？　Cannock　Chase　is　not　far　from　Sherwood；　and　the　great　Forest　of　Arden

is　not　far　from　Cannock　Chase。　　Beside　these　are　many　other　woodlands　in　Nottingham　and　Derby；　Lincoln　and　York；　amid　any　of　which　Your　Majesty　might　as　well　think　to　seize　upon　Robin　Hood　as　to　lay　finger　upon　a　rat　among　the　dust　and　broken　things　of　a　garret。　Nay；　my　gracious　lord；　if　he　doth　once　plant　foot　in　the　woodland；　he　is　lost　to　the　law　forever。〃

At　these　words　the　King　tapped　his　fingertips　upon　the　table　beside　him　with　vexation。　　〃What　wouldst　thou　have　me　do；　Bishop？〃　quoth　he。　〃Didst　thou　not　hear　me　pledge　my　word　to　the　Queen？　　Thy　talk　is　as　barren　as　the　wind　from　the　bellows　upon　dead　coals。〃

〃Far　be　it　from　me；〃　said　the　cunning　Bishop；　〃to　point　the　way　to　one　so　clear…sighted　as　Your　Majesty；　but；　were　I　the　King　of　England；　I　should　look　upon　the　matter　in　this　wise：　I　have　promised　my　Queen；　let　us　say；　that　for　forty　days　the　cunningest　rogue　in　all　England　shall　have　freedom　to　come　and　go；　but；　lo！　　I　find　this　outlaw　in　my　grasp；　shall　I；　then；　foolishly　cling　to　a　promise　so　hastily　given？　Suppose　that　I　had　promised　to　do　Her　Majesty's　bidding；　whereupon　she　bade　me　to　slay　myself；　should　I；　then；　shut　mine　eyes　and　run　blindly　upon　my　sword？　　Thus　would　I　argue　within　myself。　　Moreover；　I　would　say　unto　myself；　a　woman　knoweth　nought　of　the　great　things　appertaining　to　state　government；　and；　likewise；　I　know　a　woman　is　ever　prone　to　take　up　a　fancy；　even　as　she　would　pluck　a　daisy　from　the　roadside；　and　then　throw　it　away　when　the　savor　is　gone；　therefore；　though　she　hath　taken　a　fancy　to　this　outlaw；　it　will　soon　wane　away　and　be　forgotten。　As　for　me；　I　have　the　greatest　villain　in　all　England　in　my　grasp；　shall　I；　then；　open　my　hand　and　let　him　slip　betwixt　my　fingers？　Thus；　Your　Majesty；　would　I　say　to　myself；　were　I　the　King　of　England。〃　　So　the　Bishop　talked；　and　the　King　lent　his　ear　to　his　evil　counsel；　until；　after　a　while；　he　turned　to　Sir　Robert　Lee　and　bade　him　send　six　of　the　yeomen　of　the　guard　to　take　Robin　Hood　and　his　three　men　prisoners。

Now　Sir　Robert　Lee　was　a　gentle　and　noble　knight；　and　he　felt　grieved　to　the　heart　to　see　the　King　so　break　his　promise；　nevertheless；　he　said　nothing；　for　he　saw　how　bitterly　the　King　was　set　against　Robin　Hood；　but　he　did　not　send　the　yeomen　of　the　guard　at　once；　but　went　first　to　the　Queen；　and　told　her　all　that　had　passed；　and　bade　her　send　word　to　Robin　of　his　danger。　This　he　did　not　for　the　well…being　of　Robin　Hood；　but　because　he　would　save　his　lord's　honor　if　he　could。　　Thus　it　came　about　that　when；　after　a　while；　the　yeomen　of　the　guard　went　to　the　archery　field；　they　found　not　Robin　and　the　others；　and　so　got　no　cakes　at　that　fair。

The　afternoon　was　already　well…nigh　gone　when　Robin　Hood；　Little　John；　Will；　and　Allan　set　forth　upon　their　homeward　way；　trudging　along　merrily　through　the　yellow　slanting　light；　which　speedily　changed　to　rosy　red　as　the　sun　sank　low　in　the　heavens。　　The　shadows　grew　long；　and　finally　merged　into　the　grayness　of　the　mellow　twilight。　The　dusty　highway　lay　all　white　betwixt　the　dark　hedgerows；　and　along　it　walked　four　fellows　like　four　shadows；　the　pat　of　their　feet　sounding　loud；　and　their　voices；　as　they　talked；　ringing　clear　upon　the　silence　of　the　air。　The　great　round　moon　was　floating　breathlessly　up　in　the　eastern　sky　when　they　saw　before　them　the　twinkling　lights　of　Barnet　Town；　some　ten　or　twelve　miles　from　London。　　Down　they　walked　through　the　stony　streets　and　past　the　cosy　houses　with　overhanging　gables；　before　the　doors　of　which　sat　the　burghers　and　craftsmen　in　the　mellow　moonlight；　with　their　families　about　them；　and　so　came　at　last；　on　the　other　side　of　the　hamlet；　to　a　little　inn；　all　shaded　with　roses　and　woodbines。　Before　this　inn　Robin　Hood　stopped；　for　the　spot　pleased　him　well。　Quoth　he；　〃Here　will　we　take　up　our　inn　and　rest　for　the　night；　for　we　are　well　away　from　London　Town　and　our　King's　wrath。　Moreover；　if　I　mistake　not；　we　will　find　sweet　faring　within。　What　say　ye；　lads？〃

〃In　sooth；　good　master；〃　quoth　Little　John；　〃thy　bidding　and　my　doing　ever　fit　together　like　cakes　and　ale。　Let　us　in；　I　say　also。〃

Then　up　spake　Will　Scarlet：　　〃I　am　ever　ready　to　do　what　thou　sayest；　uncle；　yet　I　could　wish　that　we　were　farther　upon　our　way　ere　we　rest　for　the　night。　Nevertheless；　if　thou　thinkest　best；　let　us　in　for　the　night；　say　I　also。〃

So　in　they　went　and　called　for　the　best　that　the　place　afforded。　Then　a　right　good　feast　was　set　before　them；　with　two　stout　bottles　of　old　sack　to　wash　it　down　withal。　　These　things　were　served　by　as　plump　and　buxom　a　lass　as　you　could　find　in　all　the　land；　so　that　Little　John；　who　always　had　an　eye　for　a　fair　lass；　even　when　meat　and　drink　were　by；　stuck　his　arms　akimbo　and　fixed　his　eyes　upon　her；　winking　sweetly　whenever　he　saw　her　looking　toward　him。　Then　you　should　have　seen　how　the　lass　twittered　with　laughter；　and　how　she　looked　at　Little　John　out　of　the　corners　of　her　eyes；　a　dimple　coming　in　either　cheek；　for　the　fellow　had　always　a　taking　way　with　the　womenfolk。

So　the　feast　passed　merrily；　and　never　had　that　inn　seen　such　lusty　feeders　as　these　four　stout　fellows；　but　at　last　they　were　done　their　eating；　though　it　seemed　as　though　they　never　would　have　ended；　and　sat　loitering　over　the　sack。　As　they　so　sat；　the　landlord　came　in　of　a　sudden；　and　said　that　there　was　one　at　the　door；　a　certain　young　esquire；　Richard　Partington；　of　the　Queen's　household；　who　wished　to　see　the　lad　in　blue；　and　speak　with　him；　without　loss　of　time。　So　R