the merry adventures of robin hood-第54节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


ever　trod　the　woodlands。〃

〃Thou　wilt　play　madman；　wilt　thou？〃　said　the　leader　of　the　band。　〃Here；　Giles；　fetch　a　cord　and　bind　this　knave's　hands　behind　him。　I　warrant　we　will　bring　his　wits　back　to　him　again　when　we　get　him　safe　before　our　good　Bishop　at　Tutbury　Town。〃　　Thereupon　they　tied　the　Cobbler's　hands　behind　him；　and　led　him　off　with　a　rope；　as　the　farmer　leads　off　the　calf　he　hath　brought　from　the　fair。　Robin　stood　looking　after　them；　and　when　they　were　gone　he　laughed　till　the　tears　rolled　down　his　cheeks；　for　he　knew　that　no　harm　would　befall　the　honest　fellow；　and　he　pictured　to　himself　the　Bishop's　face　when　good　Quince　was　brought　before　him　as　Robin　Hood。　　Then；　turning　his　steps　once　more　to　the　eastward；　he　stepped　out　right　foot　foremost　toward　Nottinghamshire　and　Sherwood　Forest。

But　Robin　Hood　had　gone　through　more　than　he　wotted　of。　His　journey　from　London　had　been　hard　and　long；　and　in　a　se'ennight　he　had　traveled　sevenscore　and　more　of　miles。　　He　thought　now　to　travel　on　without　stopping　until　he　had　come　to　Sherwood；　but　ere　he　had　gone　a　half　a　score　of　miles　he　felt　his　strength　giving　way　beneath　him　like　a　river　bank　which　the　waters　have　undermined。　He　sat　him　down　and　rested；　but　he　knew　within　himself　that　he　could　go　no　farther　that　day；　for　his　feet　felt　like　lumps　of　lead；　so　heavy　were　they　with　weariness。　　Once　more　he　arose　and　went　forward；　but　after　traveling　a　couple　of　miles　he　was　fain　to　give　the　matter　up；　so；　coming　to　an　inn　just　then；　he　entered　and　calling　the　landlord；　bade　him　show　him　to　a　room；　although　the　sun　was　only　then　just　sinking　in　the　western　sky。　There　were　but　three　bedrooms　in　the　place；　and　to　the　meanest　of　these　the　landlord　showed　Robin　Hood；　but　little　Robin　cared　for　the　looks　of　the　place；　for　he　could　have　slept　that　night　upon　a　bed　of　broken　stones。　　So；　stripping　off　his　clothes　without　more　ado；　he　rolled　into　the　bed　and　was　asleep　almost　ere　his　head　touched　the　pillow。

Not　long　after　Robin　had　so　gone　to　his　rest　a　great　cloud　peeped　blackly　over　the　hills　to　the　westward。　　Higher　and　higher　it　arose　until　it　piled　up　into　the　night　like　a　mountain　of　darkness。　All　around　beneath　it　came　ever　and　anon　a　dull　red　flash；　and　presently　a　short　grim　mutter　of　the　coming　thunder　was　heard。　Then　up　rode　four　stout　burghers　of　Nottingham　Town；　for　this　was　the　only　inn　within　five　miles'　distance；　and　they　did　not　care　to　be　caught　in　such　a　thunderstorm　as　this　that　was　coming　upon　them。　Leaving　their　nags　to　the　stableman；　they　entered　the　best　room　of　the　inn；　where　fresh　green　rushes　lay　all　spread　upon　the　floor；　and　there　called　for　the　goodliest　fare　that　the　place　afforded。　After　having　eaten　heartily　they　bade　the　landlord　show　them　to　their　rooms；　for　they　were　aweary；　having　ridden　all　the　way　from　Dronfield　that　day。　So　off　they　went；　grumbling　at　having　to　sleep　two　in　a　bed；　but　their　troubles　on　this　score；　as　well　as　all　others；　were　soon　lost　in　the　quietness　of　sleep。

And　now　came　the　first　gust　of　wind；　rushing　past　the　place；　clapping　and　banging　the　doors　and　shutters；　smelling　of　the　coming　rain；　and　all　wrapped　in　a　cloud　of　dust　and　leaves。　As　though　the　wind　had　brought　a　guest　along　with　it；　the　door　opened　of　a　sudden　and　in　came　a　friar　of　Emmet　Priory；　and　one　in　high　degree；　as　was　shown　by　the　softness　and　sleekness　of　his　robes　and　the　richness　of　his　rosary。　　He　called　to　the　landlord；　and　bade　him　first　have　his　mule　well　fed　and　bedded　in　the　stable；　and　then　to　bring　him　the　very　best　there　was　in　the　house。　So　presently　a　savory　stew　of　tripe　and　onions；　with　sweet　little　fat　dumplings；　was　set　before　him；　likewise　a　good　stout　pottle　of　Malmsey；　and　straightway　the　holy　friar　fell　to　with　great　courage　and　heartiness；　so　that　in　a　short　time　nought　was　left　but　a　little　pool　of　gravy　in　the　center　of　the　platter；　not　large　enow　to　keep　the　life　in　a　starving　mouse。

In　the　meantime　the　storm　broke。　　Another　gust　of　wind　went　rushing　by；　and　with　it　fell　a　few　heavy　drops　of　rain；　which　presently　came　rattling　down　in　showers；　beating　against　the　casements　like　a　hundred　little　hands。　Bright　flashes　of　lightning　lit　up　every　raindrop；　and　with　them　came　cracks　of　thunder　that　went　away　rumbling　and　bumping　as　though　Saint　Swithin　were　busy　rolling　great　casks　of　water　across　rough　ground　overhead。　The　womenfolks　screamed；　and　the　merry　wags　in　the　taproom　put　their　arms　around　their　waists　to　soothe　them　into　quietness。

At　last　the　holy　friar　bade　the　landlord　show　him　to　his　room；　but　when　he　heard　that　he　was　to　bed　with　a　cobbler；　he　was　as　ill　contented　a　fellow　as　you　could　find　in　all　England；　nevertheless　there　was　nothing　for　it；　and　he　must　sleep　there　or　nowhere；　so；　taking　up　his　candle；　he　went　off；　grumbling　like　the　now　distant　thunder。　When　he　came　to　the　room　where　he　was　to　sleep　he　held　the　light　over　Robin　and　looked　at　him　from　top　to　toe；　then　he　felt　better　pleased；　for；　instead；　of　a　rough；　dirty…bearded　fellow；　he　beheld　as　fresh　and　clean　a　lad　as　one　could　find　in　a　week　of　Sundays；　so；　slipping　off　his　clothes；　he　also　huddled　into　the　bed；　where　Robin；　grunting　and　grumbling　in　his　sleep；　made　room　for　him。　Robin　was　more　sound　asleep；　I　wot；　than　he　had　been　for　many　a　day；　else　he　would　never　have　rested　so　quietly　with　one　of　the　friar's　sort　so　close　beside　him。　　As　for　the　friar；　had　he　known　who　Robin　Hood　was；　you　may　well　believe　he　would　almost　as　soon　have　slept　with　an　adder　as　with　the　man　he　had　for　a　bedfellow。

So　the　night　passed　comfortably　enough；　but　at　the　first　dawn　of　day　Robin　opened　his　eyes　and　turned　his　head　upon　the　pillow。　Then　how　he　gaped　and　how　he　stared；　for　there　beside　him　lay　one　all　shaven　and　shorn；　so　that　he　knew　that　it　must　be　a　fellow　in　holy　orders。　He　pinched　himself　sharply；　but；　finding　he　was　awake；　sat　up　in　bed；　while　the　other　slumbered　as　peacefully　as　though　he　were　safe　and　sound　at　home　in　Emmet　Priory。　　〃Now；〃　quoth　Robin　to　himself；　〃I　wonder　how　this　thing　hath　dropped　into　my　bed　during　the　night。〃　So　saying；　he　arose　softly；　so　as　not　to　waken　the　other；　and　looking　about　the　room　he　espied　the　friar's　clothes　lying　upon　a　bench　near　the　wall。　　First　he　looked　at　the　clothes；　with　his　head　on　one　side；　and　then　he　looked　at　the　friar　and　slowly　winked　one　eye。　Quoth　he；　〃Good　Brother　What…e'er…thy…name…may…be；　as　thou　hast　borrowed　my　bed　so　freely　I'll　e'en　borrow　thy　clothes　in　return。〃　So　saying；　he　straightway　donned　the　holy　man's　garb；　but　kindly　left　the　cobbler's　clothes　in　the　place　of　it。　　Then　he　went　forth　into　the　freshness　of　the　morning；　and　the　stableman　that　was　up　and　about　the　stables　opened　his　eyes　as　though　he　saw　a　green　mouse　before　him；　for　such　men　as　the　friars　of　Emmet　were　not　wont　to　be　early　risers；　but　the　man　bottled　his　thoughts；　and　only　asked　Robin　whether　he　wanted　his　mule　brought　from　the　stable。

〃Yea；　my　son；〃　quoth　Robinalbeit　he　knew　nought　of　the　mule〃and　bring　it　forth　quickly；　I　prythee；　for　I　am　late　and　must　be　jogging。〃　So　presently　the　stableman　brought　forth　the　mule；　and　Robin　mounted　it　and　went　on　his　way　rejoicing。

As　for　the　holy　friar；　when　he　arose　he　was　in　as　pretty　a　stew　as　any　man　in　all　the　world；　for　his　rich；　soft　robes　were　gone；　likewise　his　purse　with　ten　golden　pounds　in　it；　and　nought　was　left　but　patched　clothes　and　a　leathern　apron。　　He　raged　and　swore　like　any　layman；　but　as　his　swearing　mended　nothing　and　the　landlord　could　not　aid　him；　and　as；　moreover；　he　was　forced　to　be　at　Emmet　Priory　that　very　morning　upon　matters　of　business；　he　was　fain　either　to　don　the　cobbler's　clothes　or　travel　the　road　in　nakedness。　So　he　put　on　the　clothes；　and；　still　raging　and　swearing　vengeance　against　all　the　cobblers　in　Derbyshire；　he　set　forth　upon　his　way　afoot；　but　his　ills　had　not　yet　done　with　him；　for　he　had　not　gone　far　ere　he　fell　into　the　hands　of　the　King's　men；　who　marched　him　off；　willy…nilly；　to　Tutbury　Town　and　the　Bishop　of　Hereford。　　In　vain　he　swore　he　was　a　holy　man；　and　showed　his　shaven　crown；　off　he　must　go；　for　nothing　would　do　but　that　he　was　Robin　Hood。

Meanwhile　merry　Robin　rode　along　contentedly；　passing　safely　by　two　bands　of　the　King's　men；　until　his　heart　began　to　dance　within　him　because　of　the　nearness　of　Sherwood；　so　he　traveled　ever　on　to　the　eastward；　till；　of　a　sudden；　he　met　a　noble　knight　in　a　shady　lane。　Then　Robin　checked　his　mule　quickly　and　leaped　from　off　its　back。　〃Now；　well　met；　Sir　Richard　of　the　Lea；〃　cried　he；　〃for　rather　than　any　other　man　in　England　would　I　see　thy　good　face　this　day！〃　Then　he　told　Sir　Richard　all　the　happenings　that　had　befallen　him；　and　that　now　at　last　he　felt　himself　safe；　being　so　nigh　to　Sherwood　again。　But　when　Robin　had　done；　Sir　Richard　shook　his　head　sadly。　〃Thou　art　in　greater　danger　now；　Robin；　than　thou　hast　yet　been；〃　said　he；　〃for　before　thee　lie　bands　of　the　Sheriff's　men　blocking　every　road　and　letting　none　pass　through　the　lines　without　examining　them　closely。　　I　myself　know　this；　having　passed　them　but　now。　Before　thee　lie　the　Sheriffs　men　and　behind　thee　the　King's　men；　and　thou　canst　not　hope　to　pass　either　way；　for　by　this　time　they　will　know　of　thy　disguise　and　will　be