the merry adventures of robin hood(罗宾汉奇遇记)-第31节

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AND　NOW　had　come　the　morning　when　fair　Ellen　was　to　be　married；
and　on　which　merry　Robin　had　sworn　that　Allan　a　Dale　should；
as　it　were；　eat　out　of　the　platter　that　had　been　filled
for　Sir　Stephen　of　Trent。　　Up　rose　Robin　Hood；　blithe　and　gay；
up　rose　his　merry　men　one　and　all；　and　up　rose　last　of　all　stout
Friar　Tuck；　winking　the　smart　of　sleep　from　out　his　eyes。
Then；　while　the　air　seemed　to　brim　over　with　the　song　of　many　birds；
all　blended　together　and　all　joying　in　the　misty　morn；　each　man
raved　face　and　hands　in　the　leaping　brook；　and　so　the　day　began。

〃Now；〃　quoth　Robin；　when　they　had　broken　their　fast；　and　each　man　had　eaten
his　fill；　〃it　is　time　for　us　to　set　forth　upon　the　undertaking　that　we　have
in　hand　for　today。　　I　will　choose　me　one　score　of　my　good　men　to　go　with　me；
for　I　may　need　aid；　and　thou；　Will　Scarlet；　wilt　abide　here　and　be　the　chief
while　I　am　gone。〃　　Then　searching　through　all　the　band；　each　man　of　whom
crowded　forward　eager　to　be　chosen；　Robin　called　such　as　he　wished　by　name；
until　he　had　a　score　of　stout　fellows；　the　very　flower　of　his　yeomanrie。
Besides　Little　John　and　Will　Stutely　were　nigh　all　those　famous　lads　of　whom　I
have　already　told　you。　　Then；　while　those　so　chosen　ran　leaping；　full　of　joy；
to　arm　themselves　with　bow　and　shaft　and　broadsword；　Robin　Hood　stepped　aside
into　the　covert；　and　there　donned　a　gay；　beribboned　coat　such　as　might　have
been　worn　by　some　strolling　minstrel；　and　slung　a　harp　across　his　shoulder；
the　better　to　carry　out　that　part。

All　the　band　stared　and　many　laughed；　for　never　had　they　seen
their　master　in　such　a　fantastic　guise　before。

〃Truly；〃　quoth　Robin；　holding　up　his　arms　and　looking　down　at　himself；
〃I　do　think　it　be　somewhat　of　a　gay；　gaudy；　grasshopper　dress；
but　it　is　a　pretty　thing　for　all　that；　and　doth　not　ill　befit
the　turn　of　my　looks；　albeit　I　wear　it　but　for　the　nonce。
But　stay；　Little　John；　here　are　two　bags　that　I　would
have　thee　carry　in　thy　pouch　for　the　sake　of　safekeeping。
I　can　ill　care　for　them　myself　beneath　this　motley。〃

〃Why；　master；〃　quoth　Little　John；　taking　the　bags　and　weighing　them
in　his　hand；　〃here　is　the　chink　of　gold。〃

〃Well；　what　an　there　be；〃　said　Robin；　〃it　is　mine　own　coin　and
the　band　is　none　the　worse　for　what　is　there。　　Come；　busk　ye；　lads；〃
and　he　turned　quickly　away。　　〃Get　ye　ready　straightway。〃
Then　gathering　the　score　together　in　a　close　rank；　in　the　midst
of　which　were　Allan　a　Dale　and　Friar　Tuck；　he　led　them　forth　upon
their　way　from　the　forest　shades。

So　they　walked　on　for　a　long　time　till　they　had　come　out　of　Sherwood　and
to　the　vale　of　Rotherstream。　　Here　were　different　sights　from　what　one　saw
in　the　forest；　hedgerows；　broad　fields　of　barley　corn；　pasture　lands　rolling
upward　till　they　met　the　sky　and　all　dotted　over　with　flocks　of　white　sheep；
hayfields　whence　came　the　odor　of　new…mown　hay　that　lay　in　smooth　swathes　over
which　skimmed　the　swifts　in　rapid　flight；　such　they　saw；　and　different　was　it；
I　wot；　from　the　tangled　depths　of　the　sweet　woodlands；　but　full　as　fair。
Thus　Robin　led　his　band；　walking　blithely　with　chest　thrown　out　and　head
thrown　back；　snuffing　the　odors　of　the　gentle　breeze　that　came　drifting
from　over　the　hayfields。

〃Truly；〃　quoth　he；　〃the　dear　world　is　as　fair　here　as　in　the　woodland　shades。
Who　calls　it　a　vale　of　tears？　　Methinks　it　is　but　the　darkness　in　our
minds　that　bringeth　gloom　to　the　world。　　For　what　sayeth　that　merry　song
thou　singest；　Little　John？　　Is　it　not　thus？

　〃_For　when　my　love's　eyes　do　thine；　do　thine；
　　　　　And　when　her　lips　smile　so　rare；
　The　day　it　is　jocund　and　fine；　so　fine；
　　　　　Though　let　it　be　wet　or　be　fair
　And　when　the　stout　ale　is　all　flowing　so　fast；
　Our　sorrows　and　troubles　are　things　of　the　past_。〃


〃Nay；〃　said　Friar　Tuck　piously；　〃ye　do　think　of　profane　things　and　of
nought　else；　yet；　truly；　there　be　better　safeguards　against　care　and　woe
than　ale　drinking　and　bright　eyes；　to　wit；　fasting　and　meditation。
Look　upon　me；　have　I　the　likeness　of　a　sorrowful　man？〃

At　this　a　great　shout　of　laughter　went　up　from　all　around；
for　the　night　before　the　stout　Friar　had　emptied　twice　as　many
canakins　of　ale　as　any　one　of　all　the　merry　men。

〃Truly；〃　quoth　Robin；　when　he　could　speak　for　laughter；　〃I　should　say
that　thy　sorrows　were　about　equal　to　thy　goodliness。〃

So　they　stepped　along；　talking；　singing；　jesting；　and　laughing；
until　they　had　come　to　a　certain　little　church　that　belonged
to　the　great　estates　owned　by　the　rich　Priory　of　Emmet。　　Here　it
was　that　fair　Ellen　was　to　be　married　on　that　morn；　and　here
was　the　spot　toward　which　the　yeomen　had　pointed　their　toes。
On　the　other　side　of　the　road　from　where　the　church　stood　with　waving
fields　of　barley　around；　ran　a　stone　wall　along　the　roadside。
Over　the　wall　from　the　highway　was　a　fringe　of　young　trees
and　bushes；　and　here　and　there　the　wall　itself　was　covered
by　a　mass　of　blossoming　woodbine　that　filled　all　the　warm　air
far　and　near　with　its　sweet　summer　odor。　　Then　straightway
the　yeomen　leaped　over　the　wall；　alighting　on　the　tall　soft　grass
upon　the　other　side；　frightening　a　flock　of　sheep　that　lay　there
in　the　shade　so　that　they　scampered　away　in　all　directions。
Here　was　a　sweet　cool　shadow　both　from　the　wall　and　from
the　fair　young　trees　and　bushes；　and　here　sat　the　yeomen　down；
and　glad　enough　they　were　to　rest　after　their　long　tramp
of　the　morning。

〃Now；〃　quoth　Robin；　〃I　would　have　one　of　you　watch　and　tell　me　when　he　sees
anyone　coming　to　the　church；　and　the　one　I　choose　shall　be　young　David
of　Doncaster。　　So　get　thee　upon　the　wall；　David；　and　hide　beneath　the　woodbine
so　as　to　keep　watch。〃

Accordingly　young　David　did　as　he　was　bidden；　the　others　stretching　themselves
at　length　upon　the　grass；　some　talking　together　and　others　sleeping。
Then　all　was　quiet　save　only　for　the　low　voices　of　those　that
talked　together；　and　for　Allan's　restless　footsteps　pacing　up　and　down；
for　his　soul　was　so　full　of　disturbance　that　he　could　not　stand　still；
and　saving；　also；　for　the　mellow　snoring　of　Friar　Tuck；　who　enjoyed
his　sleep　with　a　noise　as　of　one　sawing　soft　wood　very　slowly。
Robin　lay　upon　his　back　and　gazed　aloft　into　the　leaves　of　the　trees；
his　thought　leagues　away；　and　so　a　long　time　passed。

Then　up　spoke　Robin；　〃Now　tell　us；　young　David　of　Doncaster；
what　dost　thou　see？〃

Then　David　answered；　〃I　see　the　white　clouds　floating　and　I　feel
the　wind　a…blowing　and　three　black　crows　are　flying　over　the　wold；
but　nought　else　do　I　see；　good　master。〃

So　silence　fell　again　and　another　time　passed；　broken　only
as　I　have　said；　till　Robin；　growing　impatient；　spake　again。
〃Now　tell　me；　young　David；　what　dost　thou　see　by　this？〃

And　David　answered；　〃I　see　the　windmills　swinging　and　three　tall　poplar　trees
swaying　against　the　sky；　and　a　flock　of　fieldfares　are　flying　over　the　hill；
but　nought　else　do　I　see；　good　master。〃

So　another　time　passed；　till　at　last　Robin　asked　young　David　once
more　what　he　saw；　and　David　said；　〃I　hear　the　cuckoo　singing；
and　I　see　how　the　wind　makes　waves　in　the　barley　field；
and　now　over　the　hill　to　the　church　cometh　an　old　friar；
and　in　his　hands　he　carries　a　great　bunch　of　keys；　and　lo！
Now　he　cometh　to　the　church　door。〃

Then　up　rose　Robin　Hood　and　shook　Friar　Tuck　by　the　shoulder。
〃Come；　rouse　thee；　holy　man！〃　cried　he；　whereupon；　with　much　grunting；
the　stout　Tuck　got　to　his　feet。　　〃Marry；　bestir　thyself；〃
quoth　Robin；　〃for　yonder；　in　the　church　door；　is　one　of　thy　cloth。
Go　thou　and　talk　to　him；　and　so　get　thyself　into　the　church；　that　thou
mayst　be　there　when　thou　art　wanted；　meantime；　Little　John；　Will　Stutely；
and　I　will　follow　thee　anon。〃

So　Friar　Tuck　clambered　over　the　wall；　crossed　the　road；　and　came　to
the　church；　where　the　old　friar　was　still　laboring　with　the　great　key；
the　lock　being　somewhat　rusty　and　he　somewhat　old　and　feeble。

〃Hilloa；　brother；〃　quoth　Tuck；　〃let　me　aid　thee。〃　　So　saying；
he　took　the　key　from　the　other's　hand　and　quickly　opened　the　door
with　a　turn　of　it。

〃Who　art　thou；　good　brother？〃　asked　the　old　friar；　in　a　high；
wheezing　voice。　　〃Whence　comest　thou；　and　whither　art　thou　going？〃
And　he　winked　and　blinked　at　stout　Friar　Tuck　like　an　owl　at　the　sun。

〃Thus　do　I　answer　thy　questions；　brother；〃　said　the　other。
〃My　name　is　Tuck；　and　I　go　no　farther　than　this　spot；　if　thou　wilt
haply　but　let　me　stay　while　this　same　wedding　is　going　forward。
I　come　from　Fountain　Dale　and；　in　truth；　am　a　certain　poor　hermit；
as　one　may　say；　for　I　live　in　a　cell　beside　the　fountain　blessed
by　that　holy　Saint　Ethelrada。　　But；　if　I　understand　aught；
there　is　to　be　a　gay　wedding　here　today；　so；　if　thou　mindest　not；
I　would　fain　rest　me　in　the　cool　shade　within；　for　I　would
like　to　see　this　fine　sight。〃

〃Truly；　thou　art　welcome；　brother；〃　said　the　old　man；　leading　the
way　within。　　Meantime；　Robin　Hood；　in　his　guise　of　harper；
together　with　Little　John　and　Will　Stutely；　had　come　to　the　church。
Robin　sat　him　down　on　a　bench　beside　the　door；　but　Little　John；
carrying　the　two　bags　of　gold；　went　within；　as　did　Will　Stutely。

So　Robin　sat　by　the　door；　looking　up　the　road　and　down
the　road　to　see　who　might　come；　till；　aft