the merry adventures of robin hood-第61节

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　and　put　fifty　back　into　the　purse。　This　he　handed　to　the　King。　　〃Here；　brother；〃　quoth　he；　〃take　this　half　of　thy　money；　and　thank　Saint　Martin；　on　whom　thou　didst　call　before；　that　thou　hast　fallen　into　the　hands　of　such　gentle　rogues　that　they　will　not　strip　thee　bare；　as　they　might　do。　　But　wilt　thou　not　put　back　thy　cowl？　For　I　would　fain　see　thy　face。〃

〃Nay；〃　said　the　King；　drawing　back；　〃I　may　not　put　back　my　cowl；　for　we　seven　have　vowed　that　we　will　not　show　our　faces　for　four　and　twenty　hours。〃　　；

〃Then　keep　them　covered　in　peace；〃　said　Robin；　〃and　far　be　it　from　me　to　make　you　break　your　vows。〃

So　he　called　seven　of　his　yeomen　and　bade　them　each　one　take　a　mule　by　the　bridle；　then；　turning　their　faces　toward　the　depths　of　the　woodlands；　they　journeyed　onward　until　they　came　to　the　open　glade　and　the　greenwood　tree。

Little　John；　with　threescore　yeomen　at　his　heels；　had　also　gone　forth　that　morning　to　wait　along　the　roads　and　bring　a　rich　guest　to　Sherwood　glade；　if　such　might　be　his　luck；　for　many　with　fat　purses　must　travel　the　roads　at　this　time；　when　such　great　doings　were　going　on　in　Nottinghamshire；　but　though　Little　John　and　so　many　others　were　gone；　Friar　Tuck　and　twoscore　or　more　stout　yeomen　were　seated　or　lying　around　beneath　the　great　tree；　and　when　Robin　and　the　others　came　they　leaped　to　their　feet　to　meet　him。

〃By　my　soul；〃　quoth　merry　King　Richard；　when　he　had　gotten　down　from　his　mule　and　stood　looking　about　him；　〃thou　hast　in　very　truth　a　fine　lot　of　young　men　about　thee；　Robin。　　Methinks　King　Richard　himself　would　be　glad　of　such　a　bodyguard。〃

〃These　are　not　all　of　my　fellows；〃　said　Robin　proudly；　〃for　threescore　more　of　them　are　away　on　business　with　my　good　right…hand　man；　Little　John。　　But；　as　for　King　Richard；　I　tell　thee；　brother；　there　is　not　a　man　of　us　all　but　would　pour　out　our　blood　like　water　for　him。　Ye　churchmen　cannot　rightly　understand　our　King；　but　we　yeomen　love　him　right　loyally　for　the　sake　of　his　brave　doings　which　are　so　like　our　own。〃

But　now　Friar　Tuck　came　bustling　up。　　〃Gi'　ye　good　den；　brothers；〃　said　he。　〃I　am　right　glad　to　welcome　some　of　my　cloth　in　this　naughty　place。　Truly；　methinks　these　rogues　of　outlaws　would　stand　but　an　ill　chance　were　it　not　for　the　prayers　of　Holy　Tuck；　who　laboreth　so　hard　for　their　well…being。〃　Here　he　winked　one　eye　slyly　and　stuck　his　tongue　into　his　cheek。

〃Who　art　thou；　mad　priest？〃　said　the　King　in　a　serious　voice；　albeit　he　smiled　beneath　his　cowl。

At　this　Friar　Tuck　looked　all　around　with　a　slow　gaze。　　〃Look　you　now；〃　quoth　he；　〃never　let　me　hear　you　say　again　that　I　am　no　patient　man。　Here　is　a　knave　of　a　friar　calleth　me　a　mad　priest；　and　yet　I　smite　him　not。　My　name　is　Friar　Tuck；　fellowthe　holy　Friar　Tuck。〃

〃There；　Tuck；〃　said　Robin；　〃thou　hast　said　enow。　　Prythee；　cease　thy　talk　and　bring　some　wine。　　These　reverend　men　are　athirst；　and　sin'　they　have　paid　so　richly　for　their　score　they　must　e'en　have　the　best。〃

Friar　Tuck　bridled　at　being　so　checked　in　his　speech；　nevertheless　he　went　straightway　to　do　Robin's　bidding；　so　presently　a　great　crock　was　brought；　and　wine　was　poured　out　for　all　the　guests　and　for　Robin　Hood。　　Then　Robin　held　his　cup　aloft。　〃Stay！〃　cried　he。　　〃Tarry　in　your　drinking　till　I　give　you　a　pledge。　Here　is　to　good　King　Richard　of　great　renown；　and　may　all　enemies　to　him　be　confounded。〃

Then　all　drank　the　King's　health；　even　the　King　himself。　〃Methinks；　good　fellow；〃　said　he；　〃thou　hast　drunk　to　thine　own　confusion。〃

〃Never　a　whit；〃　quoth　merry　Robin；　〃for　I　tell　thee　that　we　of　Sherwood　are　more　loyal　to　our　lord　the　King　than　those　of　thine　order。　We　would　give　up　our　lives　for　his　benefiting；　while　ye　are　content　to　lie　snug　in　your　abbeys　and　priories　let　reign　who　will。〃

At　this　the　King　laughed。　　Quoth　he；　〃Perhaps　King　Richard's　welfare　is　more　to　me　than　thou　wottest　of；　fellow。　　But　enough　of　that　matter。　We　have　paid　well　for　our　fare；　so　canst　thou　not　show　us　some　merry　entertainment？　　I　have　oft　heard　that　ye　are　wondrous　archers；　wilt　thou　not　show　us　somewhat　of　your　skill？〃

〃With　all　my　heart；〃　said　Robin；　〃we　are　always　pleased　to　show　our　guests　all　the　sport　that　is　to　be　seen。　　As　Gaffer　Swanthold　sayeth；　‘　'Tis　a　hard　heart　that　will　not　give　a　caged　starling　of　the　best'；　and　caged　starlings　ye　are　with　us。　　Ho；　lads！　　Set　up　a　garland　at　the　end　of　the　glade。〃

Then；　as　the　yeomen　ran　to　do　their　master's　bidding；　Tuck　turned　to　one　of　the　mock　friars。　　〃Hearest　thou　our　master？〃　quoth　he；　with　a　sly　wink。　〃Whenever　he　cometh　across　some　poor　piece　of　wit　he　straightway　layeth　it　on　the　shoulders　of　this　Gaffer　Swantholdwhoever　he　may　be　so　that　the　poor　goodman　goeth　traveling　about　with　all　the　odds　and　ends　and　tags　and　rags　of　our　master's　brain　packed　on　his　back。〃　Thus　spake　Friar　Tuck；　but　in　a　low　voice　so　that　Robin　could　not　hear　him；　for　he　felt　somewhat　nettled　at　Robin's　cutting　his　talk　so　short。

In　the　meantime　the　mark　at　which　they　were　to　shoot　was　set　up　at　sixscore　paces　distance。　　It　was　a　garland　of　leaves　and　flowers　two　spans　in　width；　which　same　was　hung　upon　a　stake　in　front　of　a　broad　tree　trunk。　〃There；〃　quoth　Robin；　〃yon　is　a　fair　mark；　lads。　　Each　of　you　shoot　three　arrows　thereat；　and　if　any　fellow　misseth　by　so　much　as　one　arrow；　he　shall　have　a　buffet　of　Will　Scarlet's　fist。〃

〃Hearken　to　him！〃　quoth　Friar　Tuck。　　〃Why；　master；　thou　dost　bestow　buffets　from　thy　strapping　nephew　as　though　they　were　love　taps　from　some　bouncing　lass。　　I　warrant　thou　art　safe　to　hit　the　garland　thyself；　or　thou　wouldst　not　be　so　free　of　his　cuffing。〃

First　David　of　Doncaster　shot；　and　lodged　all　three　of　his　arrows　within　the　garland。　　〃Well　done；　David！〃　cried　Robin；　〃thou　hast　saved　thine　ears　from　a　warming　this　day。〃　Next　Midge；　the　Miller；　shot；　and　he；　also；　lodged　his　arrows　in　the　garland。　　Then　followed　Wat；　the　Tinker；　but　alas　for　him！　For　one　of　his　shafts　missed　the　mark　by　the　breadth　of　two　fingers。

〃Come　hither；　fellow；〃　said　Will　Scarlet；　in　his　soft；　gentle　voice；　〃I　owe　thee　somewhat　that　I　would　pay　forthwith。〃　Then　Wat；　the　Tinker；　came　forward　and　stood　in　front　of　Will　Scarlet；　screwing　up　his　face　and　shutting　his　eyes　tightly；　as　though　he　already　felt　his　ears　ringing　with　the　buffet。　Will　Scarlet　rolled　up　his　sleeve；　and；　standing　on　tiptoe　to　give　the　greater　swing　to　his　arm；　he　struck　with　might　and　main。　〃WHOOF！〃　came　his　palm　against　the　Tinker's　head；　and　down　went　stout　Wat　to　the　grass；　heels　over　head；　as　the　wooden　image　at　the　fair　goes　down　when　the　skillful　player　throws　a　cudgel　at　it。　Then；　as　the　Tinker　sat　up　upon　the　grass；　rubbing　his　ear　and　winking　and　blinking　at　the　bright　stars　that　danced　before　his　eyes；　the　yeomen　roared　with　mirth　till　the　forest　rang。　As　for　King　Richard；　he　laughed　till　the　tears　ran　down　his　cheeks。　Thus　the　band　shot；　each　in　turn；　some　getting　off　scot　free；　and　some　winning　a　buffet　that　always　sent　them　to　the　grass。　　And　now；　last　of　all；　Robin　took　his　place；　and　all　was　hushed　as　he　shot。　The　first　shaft　he　shot　split　a　piece　from　the　stake　on　which　the　garland　was　hung；　the　second　lodged　within　an　inch　of　the　other。　〃By　my　halidom；〃　said　King　Richard　to　himself；　〃I　would　give　a　thousand　pounds　for　this　fellow　to　be　one　of　my　guard！〃　And　now；　for　the　third　time　Robin　shot；　but；　alas　for　him！　The　arrow　was　ill…feathered；　and；　wavering　to　one　side；　it　smote　an　inch　outside　the　garland。

At　this　a　great　roar　went　up；　those　of　the　yeomen　who　sat　upon　the　grass　rolling　over　and　over　and　shouting　with　laughter；　for　never　before　had　they　seen　their　master　so　miss　his　mark；　but　Robin　flung　his　bow　upon　the　ground　with　vexation。　〃Now；　out　upon　it！〃　cried　he。　　〃That　shaft　had　an　ill　feather　to　it；　for　I　felt　it　as　it　left　my　fingers。　　Give　me　a　clean　arrow；　and　I　will　engage　to　split　the　wand　with　it。〃

At　these　words　the　yeomen　laughed　louder　than　ever。　〃Nay；　good　uncle；〃　said　Will　Scarlet　in　his　soft；　sweet　voice；　〃thou　hast　had　thy　fair　chance　and　hast　missed　thine　aim　out　and　out。　I　swear　the　arrow　was　as　good　as　any　that　hath　been　loosed　this　day。　Come　hither；　I　owe　thee　somewhat；　and　would　fain　pay　it。〃

〃Go；　good　master；〃　roared　Friar　Tuck；　〃and　may　my　blessing　go　with　thee。　Thou　hast　bestowed　these　love　taps　of　Will　Scarlet's　with　great　freedom。　It　were　pity　an　thou　gottest　not　thine　own　share。〃

〃It　may　not　be；〃　said　merry　Robin。　　〃I　am　king　here；　and　no　subject　may　raise　hand　against　the　king。　　But　even　our　great　King　Richard　may　yield　to　the　holy　Pope　without　shame；　and　even　take　a　tap　from　him　by　way　of　penance；　therefore　I　will　yield　myself　to　this　holy　friar；　who　seemeth　to　be　one　in　authority；　and　will　take　my　punishment　from　him。〃　Thus　saying；　he　turned　to　the　King；　〃I　prythee；　brother；　wilt　thou　take　my　punishing　into　thy　holy　hands？〃

〃With　all　my　heart；〃　quoth　merry　King　Richard；　rising　from　where　he　was　sitting。　　〃I　owe　thee　somewhat　for　having　lifted　a　heavy　weight　of　fifty　pounds　from　my　purse。　So　make　room　for　him　on　the　green；　lads。〃

〃An　thou　makest　me　tumble；〃　quoth　Robin；　〃I　will　freely　give　thee　back　thy　fifty　pounds；　but　I　tell　thee；　brother；　if　thou　makest　me　not　feel　grass　all　along　my　back；　I　will　take　every　farthing