the merry adventures of robin hood(罗宾汉奇遇记)-第15节

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the　second　bout。

Then　for　the　third　time　they　came　together；　and　at　first　Eric　strove
to　be　wary；　as　he　had　been　before；　but；　growing　mad　at　finding
himself　so　foiled；　he　lost　his　wits　and　began　to　rain　blows　so
fiercely　and　so　fast　that　they　rattled　like　hail　on　penthouse　roof；
but；　in　spite　of　all；　he　did　not　reach　within　Little　John's　guard。
Then　at　last　Little　John　saw　his　chance　and　seized　it　right　cleverly。
Once　more；　with　a　quick　blow；　he　rapped　Eric　beside　the　head；
and　ere　he　could　regain　himself；　Little　John　slipped　his　right　hand
down　to　his　left　and；　with　a　swinging　blow；　smote　the　other　so　sorely
upon　the　crown　that　down　he　fell　as　though　he　would　never　move　again。

Then　the　people　shouted　so　loud　that　folk　came　running　from　all
about　to　see　what　was　the　ado；　while　Little　John　leaped　down　from
the　stand　and　gave　the　staff　back　to　him　that　had　lent　it　to　him。
And　thus　ended　the　famous　bout　between　Little　John　and　Eric　o'
Lincoln　of　great　renown。

But　now　the　time　had　come　when　those　who　were　to　shoot　with　the
longbow　were　to　take　their　places；　so　the　people　began　flocking
to　the　butts　where　the　shooting　was　to　be。　　Near　the　target；
in　a　good　place；　sat　the　Sheriff　upon　a　raised　dais；　with　many
gentlefolk　around　him。　　When　the　archers　had　taken　their　places；
the　herald　came　forward　and　proclaimed　the　rules　of　the　game；
and　how　each　should　shoot　three　shots；　and　to　him　that　should
shoot　the　best　the　prize　of　two　fat　steers　was　to　belong。
A　score　of　brave　shots　were　gathered　there；　and　among　them　some
of　the　keenest　hands　at　the　longbow　in　Lincoln　and　Nottinghamshire；
and　among　them　Little　John　stood　taller　than　all　the　rest。
〃Who　is　yon　stranger　clad　all　in　scarlet？〃　said　some；　and　others
answered；　〃It　is　he　that　hath　but　now　so　soundly　cracked　the　crown
of　Eric　o'　Lincoln。〃　　Thus　the　people　talked　among　themselves；
until　at　last　it　reached　even　the　Sheriff's　ears。

And　now　each　man　stepped　forward　and　shot　in　turn；　but　though　each　shot　well；
Little　John　was　the　best　of　all；　for　three　times　he　struck　the　clout；　and　once
only　the　length　of　a　barleycorn　from　the　center。　　〃Hey　for　the　tall　archer！〃
shouted　the　crowd；　and　some　among　them　shouted；　〃Hey　for　Reynold　Greenleaf！〃
for　this　was　the　name　that　Little　John　had　called　himself　that　day。

Then　the　Sheriff　stepped　down　from　the　raised　seat　and　came　to　where
the　archers　stood；　while　all　doffed　their　caps　that　saw　him　coming。
He　looked　keenly　at　Little　John　but　did　not　know　him；　though　he　said；
after　a　while；　〃How　now；　good　fellow；　methinks　there　is　that　about　thy
face　that　I　have　seen　erewhile。〃

〃Mayhap　it　may　be　so；〃　quoth　Little　John；　〃for　often　have　I　seen
Your　Worship。〃　　And；　as　he　spoke；　he　looked　steadily　into　the　Sheriff's
eyes　so　that　the　latter　did　not　suspect　who　he　was。

〃A　brave　blade　art　thou；　good　friend；〃　said　the　Sheriff；　〃and　I　hear
that　thou　hast　well　upheld　the　skill　of　Nottinghamshire　against
that　of　Lincoln　this　day。　　What　may　be　thy　name；　good　fellow？〃

〃Men　do　call　me　Reynold　Greenleaf；　Your　Worship；〃　said　Little　John；
and　the　old　ballad　that　tells　of　this；　adds；　〃So；　in　truth；　was　he　a
green　leaf；　but　of　what　manner　of　tree　the　Sheriff　wotted　not。〃

〃Now；　Reynold　Greenleaf；〃　quoth　the　Sheriff；　〃thou　art　the　fairest　hand　at
the　longbow　that　mine　eyes　ever　beheld；　next　to　that　false　knave；　Robin　Hood；
from　whose　wiles　Heaven　forfend　me！　　Wilt　thou　join　my　service；　good　fellow？
Thou　shalt　be　paid　right　well；　for　three　suits　of　clothes　shalt　thou　have
a　year；　with　good　food　and　as　much　ale　as　thou　canst　drink；　and；　besides　this；
I　will　pay　thee　forty　marks　each　Michaelmastide。〃

〃Then　here　stand　I　a　free　man；　and　right　gladly　will　I　enter　thy　household；〃
said　Little　John；　for　he　thought　he　might　find　some　merry　jest；
should　he　enter　the　Sheriff's　service。

〃Fairly　hast　thou　won　the　fat　steers；〃　said　the　Sheriff；
〃and　〃hereunto　I　will　add　a　butt　of　good　March　beer；　for　joy
of　having　gotten　such　a　man；　for；　I　wot；　thou　shootest　as　fair
a　shaft　as　Robin　Hood　himself。〃

〃Then；〃　said　Little　John；　〃for　joy　of　having　gotten　myself　into　thy　service；
I　will　give　fat　steers　and　brown　ale　to　all　these　good　folk；　to　make　them
merry　withal。〃　　At　this　arose　a　great　shout；　many　casting　their　caps　aloft；
for　joy　of　the　gift。

Then　some　built　great　fires　and　roasted　the　steers；　and　others
broached　the　butt　of　ale；　with　which　all　made　themselves　merry。
Then；　when　they　had　eaten　and　drunk　as　much　as　they　could；
and　when　the　day　faded　and　the　great　moon　arose；　all　red　and　round；
over　the　spires　and　towers　of　Nottingham　Town；　they　joined　hands
and　danced　around　the　fires；　to　the　music　of　bagpipes　and　harps。
But　long　before　this　merrymaking　had　begun；　the　Sheriff　and　his
new　servant　Reynold　Greenleaf　were　in　the　Castle　of　Nottingham。



How　Little　John　Lived　at　the　Sheriff's

THUS　LITTLE　JOHN　entered　into　the　Sheriff's　service　and
found　the　life　he　led　there　easy　enough；　for　the　Sheriff
made　him　his　right…hand　man　and　held　him　in　great　favor。
He　sat　nigh　the　Sheriff　at　meat；　and　he　ran　beside　his　horse　when
he　went　a…hunting；　so　that；　what　with　hunting　and　hawking　a　little；
and　eating　rich　dishes　and　drinking　good　sack；　and　sleeping　until
late　hours　in　the　morning；　he　grew　as　fat　as　a　stall…fed　ox。
Thus　things　floated　easily　along　with　the　tide；　until　one　day
when　the　Sheriff　went　a…hunting；　there　happened　that　which　broke
the　smooth　surface　of　things。

This　morning　the　Sheriff　and　many　of　his　men　set　forth　to　meet
certain　lords；　to　go　a…hunting。　He　looked　all　about　him　for　his　good　man；
Reynold　Greenleaf；　but；　not　finding　him；　was　vexed；　for　he　wished
to　show　Little　John's　skill　to　his　noble　friends。　　As　for　Little　John；
he　lay　abed；　snoring　lustily；　till　the　sun　was　high　in　the　heavens。
At　last　he　opened　his　eyes　and　looked　about　him　but　did　not　move　to　arise。
Brightly　shone　the　sun　in　at　the　window；　and　all　the　air　was　sweet
with　the　scent　of　woodbine　that　hung　in　sprays　about　the　wall　without；
for　the　cold　winter　was　past　and　spring　was　come　again；　and　Little　John
lay　still；　thinking　how　sweet　was　everything　on　this　fair　morn。
Just　then　he　heard；　faint　and　far　away；　a　distant　bugle　note　sounding
thin　and　clear。　　The　sound　was　small；　but；　like　a　little　pebble　dropped
into　a　glassy　fountain；　it　broke　all　the　smooth　surface　of　his　thoughts；
until　his　whole　soul　was　filled　with　disturbance。　　His　spirit　seemed
to　awaken　from　its　sluggishness；　and　his　memory　brought　back　to　him
all　the　merry　greenwood　lifehow　the　birds　were　singing　blithely　there
this　bright　morning；　and　how　his　loved　companions　and　friends　were
feasting　and　making　merry；　or　perhaps　talking　of　him　with　sober　speech；
for　when　he　first　entered　the　Sheriff's　service　he　did　so　in　jest；
but　the　hearthstone　was　warm　during　the　winter；　and　the　fare　was　full；
and　so　he　had　abided；　putting　off　from　day　to　day　his　going　back
to　Sherwood；　until　six　long　months　had　passed。　　But　now　he　thought
of　his　good　master　and　of　Will　Stutely；　whom　he　loved　better　than　anyone
in　all　the　world；　and　of　young　David　of　Doncaster；　whom　he　had　trained
so　well　in　all　manly　sports；　till　there　came　over　his　heart　a　great
and　bitter　longing　for　them　all；　so　that　his　eyes　filled　with　tears。
Then　he　said　aloud；　〃Here　I　grow　fat　like　a　stall…fed　ox　and　all　my
manliness　departeth　from　me　while　I　become　a　sluggard　and　dolt。
But　I　will　arouse　me　and　go　back　to　mine　own　dear　friends　once　more；
and　never　will　I　leave　them　again　till　life　doth　leave　my　lips。〃
So　saying；　he　leaped　from　bed；　for　he　hated　his　sluggishness　now。

When　he　came　downstairs　he　saw　the　Steward　standing　near　the　pantry　door
a　great；　fat　man；　with　a　huge　bundle　of　keys　hanging　to　his　girdle。
Then　Little　John　said；　〃Ho；　Master　Steward；　a　hungry　man　am　I；　for　nought
have　I　had　for　all　this　blessed　morn。　　Therefore；　give　me　to　eat。〃

Then　the　Steward　looked　grimly　at　him　and　rattled　the　keys
in　his　girdle；　for　he　hated　Little　John　because　he　had　found
favor　with　the　Sheriff。　　〃So；　Master　Reynold　Greenleaf；
thou　art　anhungered；　art　thou？〃　quoth　he。　　〃But；　fair　youth；
if　thou　livest　long　enough；　thou　wilt　find　that　he　who　getteth
overmuch　sleep　for　an　idle　head　goeth　with　an　empty　stomach。
For　what　sayeth　the　old　saw；　Master　Greenleaf？　　Is　it　not　‘The
late　fowl　findeth　but　ill　faring'？〃

〃Now；　thou　great　purse　of　fat！〃　cried　Little　John；　〃I　ask
thee　not　for　fool's　wisdom；　but　for　bread　and　meat。
Who　art　thou；　that　thou　shouldst　deny　me　to　eat？
By　Saint　Dunstan；　thou　hadst　best　tell　me　where　my　breakfast　is；
if　thou　wouldst　save　broken　bones！〃

〃Thy　breakfast；　Master　Fireblaze；　is　in　the　pantry；〃　answered　the　Steward。

〃Then　fetch　it　hither！〃　cried　Little　John；　who　waxed　angry　by　this　time。

〃Go　thou　and　fetch　it　thine　own　self；〃　quoth　the　Steward。　　〃Am　I　thy　slave；
to　fetch　and　carry　for　thee？〃

〃I　say；　go　thou；　bring　it　me！〃

〃I　say；　go　thou；　fetch　it　for　thyself！〃

〃Ay；　marry；　that　will　I；　right　quickly！〃　quoth　Little　John　in　a　rage。
And；　so　saying；　he　strode　to　the　pantry　and　tried　to　open　the　door
but　found　it　locked；　whereat　the　Steward　laughed　and　rattled　his　keys。
Then　the　wrath　of　Little　John　boiled　over；　and；　liftin