the merry adventures of robin hood-第7节

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may　befall　thee　as　well　as　all　the　thieving　knaves　in　Nottinghamshire。　　When　the　flood　cometh　it　sweepeth　away　grain　as　well　as　chaff。〃

Then　the　Sheriff　turned　away　with　a　sore　and　troubled　heart；　and　sadly　he　rued　his　fine　show　of　retainers；　for　he　saw　that　the　King　was　angry　because　he　had　so　many　men　about　him　and　yet　could　not　enforce　the　laws。　　So；　as　they　all　rode　slowly　back　to　Nottingham；　the　Sheriff　was　thoughtful　and　full　of　care。　Not　a　word　did　he　speak　to　anyone；　and　no　one　of　his　men　spoke　to　him；　but　all　the　time　he　was　busy　devising　some　plan　to　take　Robin　Hood。

〃Aha！〃　cried　he　suddenly；　smiting　his　hand　upon　his　thigh　〃I　have　it　now！　Ride　on；　my　merry　men　all；　and　let　us　get　back　to　Nottingham　Town　as　speedily　as　we　may。　　And　mark　well　my　words：　　before　a　fortnight　is　passed；　that　evil　knave　Robin　Hood　will　be　safely　clapped　into　Nottingham　gaol。〃

But　what　was　the　Sheriff's　plan？

As　a　usurer　takes　each　one　of　a　bag　of　silver　angels；　feeling　each　coin　to　find　whether　it　be　clipped　or　not；　so　the　Sheriff；　as　all　rode　slowly　and　sadly　back　toward　Nottingham；　took　up　thought　after　thought　in　turn；　feeling　around　the　edges　of　each　but　finding　in　every　one　some　flaw。　At　last　he　thought　of　the　daring　soul　of　jolly　Robin　and　how；　as　he　the　Sheriff　knew；　he　often　came　even　within　the　walls　of　Nottingham。

〃Now；〃　thought　the　Sheriff；　〃could　I　but　persuade　Robin　nigh　to　Nottingham　Town　so　that　I　could　find　him；　I　warrant　I　would　lay　hands　upon　him　so　stoutly　that　he　would　never　get　away　again。〃　Then　of　a　sudden　it　came　to　him　like　a　flash　that　were　he　to　proclaim　a　great　shooting　match　and　offer　some　grand　prize；　Robin　Hood　might　be　overpersuaded　by　his　spirit　to　come　to　the　butts；　and　it　was　this　thought　which　caused　him　to　cry　〃Aha！〃　and　smite　his　palm　upon　his　thigh。

So；　as　soon　as　he　had　returned　safely　to　Nottingham；　he　sent　messengers　north　and　south；　and　east　and　west；　to　proclaim　through　town；　hamlet；　and　countryside；　this　grand　shooting　match；　and　everyone　was　bidden　that　could　draw　a　longbow；　and　the　prize　was　to　be　an　arrow　of　pure　beaten　gold。

When　Robin　Hood　first　heard　the　news　of　this　he　was　in　Lincoln　Town；　and　hastening　back　to　Sherwood　Forest　he　soon　called　all　his　merry　men　about　him　and　spoke　to　them　thus：

〃Now　hearken；　my　merry　men　all；　to　the　news　that　I　have　brought　from　Lincoln　Town　today。　　Our　friend　the　Sheriff　of　Nottingham　hath　proclaimed　a　shooting　match；　and　hath　sent　messengers　to　tell　of　it　through　all　the　countryside；　and　the　prize　is　to　be　a　bright　golden　arrow。　Now　I　fain　would　have　one　of　us　win　it；　both　because　of　the　fairness　of　the　prize　and　because　our　sweet　friend　the　Sheriff　hath　offered　it。　So　we　will　take　our　bows　and　shafts　and　go　there　to　shoot；　for　I　know　right　well　that　merriment　will　be　a…going。　What　say　ye；　lads？〃

Then　young　David　of　Doncaster　spoke　up　and　said；　〃Now　listen；　I　pray　thee；　good　master；　unto　what　I　say。　　I　have　come　straight　from　our　friend　Eadom　o'　the　Blue　Boar；　and　there　I　heard　the　full　news　of　this　same　match。　But；　master；　I　know　from　him；　and　he　got　it　from　the　Sheriff's　man　Ralph　o'　the　Scar；　that　this　same　knavish　Sheriff　hath　but　laid　a　trap　for　thee　in　this　shooting　match　and　wishes　nothing　so　much　as　to　see　thee　there。　So　go　not；　good　master；　for　I　know　right　well　he　doth　seek　to　beguile　thee；　but　stay　within　the　greenwood　lest　we　all　meet　dole　and　woe。〃

〃Now；〃　quoth　Robin；　〃thou　art　a　wise　lad　and　keepest　thine　ears　open　and　thy　mouth　shut；　as　becometh　a　wise　and　crafty　woodsman。　But　shall　we　let　it　be　said　that　the　Sheriff　of　Nottingham　did　cow　bold　Robin　Hood　and　sevenscore　as　fair　archers　as　are　in　all　merry　England？　　Nay；　good　David；　what　thou　tellest　me　maketh　me　to　desire　the　prize　even　more　than　I　else　should　do。　But　what　sayeth　our　good　gossip　Swanthold？　　Is　it　not　‘A　hasty　man　burneth　his　mouth；　and　the　fool　that　keepeth　his　eyes　shut　falleth　into　the　pit'？　Thus　he　says；　truly；　therefore　we　must　meet　guile　with　guile。　　Now　some　of　you　clothe　yourselves　as　curtal　friars；　and　some　as　rustic　peasants；　and　some　as　tinkers；　or　as　beggars；　but　see　that　each　man　taketh　a　good　bow　or　broadsword；　in　case　need　should　arise。　　As　for　myself；　I　will　shoot　for　this　same　golden　arrow；　and　should　I　win　it；　we　will　hang　it　to　the　branches　of　our　good　greenwood　tree　for　the　joy　of　all　the　band。　How　like　you　the　plan；　my　merry　men　all？〃

Then　〃Good；　good！〃　cried　all　the　band　right　heartily。

A　fair　sight　was　Nottingham　Town　on　the　day　of　the　shooting　match。　All　along　upon　the　green　meadow　beneath　the　town　wall　stretched　a　row　of　benches；　one　above　the　other；　which　were　for　knight　and　lady；　squire　and　dame；　and　rich　burghers　and　their　wives；　for　none　but　those　of　rank　and　quality　were　to　sit　there。　At　the　end　of　the　range；　near　the　target；　was　a　raised　seat　bedecked　with　ribbons　and　scarfs　and　garlands　of　flowers；　for　the　Sheriff　of　Nottingham　and　his　dame。　　The　range　was　twoscore　paces　broad。　At　one　end　stood　the　target；　at　the　other　a　tent　of　striped　canvas；　from　the　pole　of　which　fluttered　many…colored　flags　and　streamers。　In　this　booth　were　casks　of　ale；　free　to　be　broached　by　any　of　the　archers　who　might　wish　to　quench　their　thirst。

Across　the　range　from　where　the　seats　for　the　better　folk　were　raised　was　a　railing　to　keep　the　poorer　people　from　crowding　in　front　of　the　target。　　Already；　while　it　was　early；　the　benches　were　beginning　to　fill　with　people　of　quality；　who　kept　constantly　arriving　in　little　carts　or　upon　palfreys　that　curveted　gaily　to　the　merry　tinkle　of　silver　bells　at　bridle　reins。　With　these　came　also　the　poorer　folk；　who　sat　or　lay　upon　the　green　grass　near　the　railing　that　kept　them　from　off　the　range。　In　the　great　tent　the　archers　were　gathering　by　twos　and　threes；　some　talking　loudly　of　the　fair　shots　each　man　had　made　in　his　day；　some　looking　well　to　their　bows；　drawing　a　string　betwixt　the　fingers　to　see　that　there　was　no　fray　upon　it；　or　inspecting　arrows；　shutting　one　eye　and　peering　down　a　shaft　to　see　that　it　was　not　warped；　but　straight　and　true；　for　neither　bow　nor　shaft　should　fail　at　such　a　time　and　for　such　a　prize。　And　never　was　such　a　company　of　yeomen　as　were　gathered　at　Nottingham　Town　that　day；　for　the　very　best　archers　of　merry　England　had　come　to　this　shooting　match。　There　was　Gill　o'　the　Red　Cap；　the　Sheriff's　own　head　archer；　and　Diccon　Cruikshank　of　Lincoln　Town；　and　Adam　o'　the　Dell；　a　man　of　Tamworth；　of　threescore　years　and　more；　yet　hale　and　lusty　still；　who　in　his　time　had　shot　in　the　famous　match　at　Woodstock；　and　had　there　beaten　that　renowned　archer；　Clym　o'　the　Clough。　　And　many　more　famous　men　of　the　longbow　were　there；　whose　names　have　been　handed　down　to　us　in　goodly　ballads　of　the　olden　time。

But　now　all　the　benches　were　filled　with　guests；　lord　and　lady；　burgher　and　dame；　when　at　last　the　Sheriff　himself　came　with　his　lady；　he　riding　with　stately　mien　upon　his　milk…white　horse　and　she　upon　her　brown　filly。　　Upon　his　head　he　wore　a　purple　velvet　cap；　and　purple　velvet　was　his　robe；　all　trimmed　about　with　rich　ermine；　his　jerkin　and　hose　were　of　sea…green　silk；　and　his　shoes　of　black　velvet；　the　pointed　toes　fastened　to　his　garters　with　golden　chains。　　A　golden　chain　hung　about　his　neck；　and　at　his　collar　was　a　great　carbuncle　set　in　red　gold。　His　lady　was　dressed　in　blue　velvet；　all　trimmed　with　swan's　down。　So　they　made　a　gallant　sight　as　they　rode　along　side　by　side；　and　all　the　people　shouted　from　where　they　crowded　across　the　space　from　the　gentlefolk；　so　the　Sheriff　and　his　lady　came　to　their　place；　where　men…at…arms；　with　hauberk　and　spear；　stood　about；　waiting　for　them。

Then　when　the　Sheriff　and　his　dame　had　sat　down；　he　bade　his　herald　wind　upon　his　silver　horn；　who　thereupon　sounded　three　blasts　that　came　echoing　cheerily　back　from　the　gray　walls　of　Nottingham。　　Then　the　archers　stepped　forth　to　their　places；　while　all　the　folks　shouted　with　a　mighty　voice；　each　man　calling　upon　his　favorite　yeoman。　　〃Red　Cap！〃　cried　some；　〃Cruikshank！〃　cried　others；　〃Hey　for　William　o'　Leslie！〃　shouted　others　yet　again；　while　ladies　waved　silken　scarfs　to　urge　each　yeoman　to　do　his　best。

Then　the　herald　stood　forth　and　loudly　proclaimed　the　rules　of　the　game　as　follows：

〃Shoot　each　man　from　yon　mark；　which　is　sevenscore　yards　and　ten　from　the　target。　　One　arrow　shooteth　each　man　first；　and　from　all　the　archers　shall　the　ten　that　shooteth　the　fairest　shafts　be　chosen　for　to　shoot　again。　Two　arrows　shooteth　each　man　of　these　ten；　then　shall　the　three　that　shoot　the　fairest　shafts　be　chosen　for　to　shoot　again。　　Three　arrows　shooteth　each　man　of　those　three；　and　to　him　that　shooteth　the　fairest　shafts　shall　the　prize　be　given。〃

Then　the　Sheriff　leaned　forward；　looking　keenly　among　the　press　of　archers　to　find　whether　Robin　Hood　was　among　them；　but　no　one　was　there　clad　in　Lincoln　green；　such　as　was　worn　by　Robin　and　his　band。　〃Nevertheless；〃　said　the　Sheriff　to　himself；　〃he　may　still　be　there；　and　I　miss　him　among　the　crowd　of　other　men。　But　let　me　see　when　but　ten　men　shoot；　for　I　wot　he　will　be　among　the　ten；　or　I　know　him　not。〃

And　now　the　archers　shot；　each　man　in　turn；　and　the　good　folk　never　saw　such　archery　as　was　done　that　day。　　Six　arrows　were　within　the　clout