the merry adventures of robin hood(罗宾汉奇遇记)-第52节

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At　these　words　the　King　raised　his　eyes　and　looked　grimly　upon
the　Bishop。　　〃Sayst　thou　so？〃　quoth　he。　　〃Now；　I　will　show　thee；
in　good　time；　how　much　thou　dost　err；　for；　when　the　forty　days
are　past　and　gone；　I　will　seize　upon　this　thieving　outlaw；
if　I　have　to　tear　down　all　of　Sherwood　to　find　him。
Thinkest　thou　that　the　laws　of　the　King　of　England　are　to　be
so　evaded　by　one　poor　knave　without　friends　or　money？〃

Then　the　Bishop　spoke　again；　in　his　soft；　smooth　voice：

〃Forgive　my　boldness；　Your　Majesty；　and　believe　that　I　have　nought
but　the　good　of　England　and　Your　Majesty's　desirings　at　heart；
but　what　would　it　boot　though　my　gracious　lord　did　root　up　every　tree
of　Sherwood？　　Are　there　not　other　places　for　Robin　Hood's　hiding？
Cannock　Chase　is　not　far　from　Sherwood；　and　the　great　Forest　of　Arden

is　not　far　from　Cannock　Chase。　　Beside　these　are　many　other　woodlands
in　Nottingham　and　Derby；　Lincoln　and　York；　amid　any　of　which
Your　Majesty　might　as　well　think　to　seize　upon　Robin　Hood　as　to　lay
finger　upon　a　rat　among　the　dust　and　broken　things　of　a　garret。
Nay；　my　gracious　lord；　if　he　doth　once　plant　foot　in　the　woodland；
he　is　lost　to　the　law　forever。〃

At　these　words　the　King　tapped　his　fingertips　upon　the　table　beside
him　with　vexation。　　〃What　wouldst　thou　have　me　do；　Bishop？〃　quoth　he。
〃Didst　thou　not　hear　me　pledge　my　word　to　the　Queen？　　Thy　talk　is
as　barren　as　the　wind　from　the　bellows　upon　dead　coals。〃

〃Far　be　it　from　me；〃　said　the　cunning　Bishop；　〃to　point　the　way
to　one　so　clear…sighted　as　Your　Majesty；　but；　were　I　the　King
of　England；　I　should　look　upon　the　matter　in　this　wise：
I　have　promised　my　Queen；　let　us　say；　that　for　forty　days
the　cunningest　rogue　in　all　England　shall　have　freedom
to　come　and　go；　but；　lo！　　I　find　this　outlaw　in　my　grasp；
shall　I；　then；　foolishly　cling　to　a　promise　so　hastily　given？
Suppose　that　I　had　promised　to　do　Her　Majesty's　bidding；
whereupon　she　bade　me　to　slay　myself；　should　I；　then；　shut　mine
eyes　and　run　blindly　upon　my　sword？　　Thus　would　I　argue
within　myself。　　Moreover；　I　would　say　unto　myself；　a　woman　knoweth
nought　of　the　great　things　appertaining　to　state　government；
and；　likewise；　I　know　a　woman　is　ever　prone　to　take　up　a　fancy；
even　as　she　would　pluck　a　daisy　from　the　roadside；　and　then　throw
it　away　when　the　savor　is　gone；　therefore；　though　she　hath　taken
a　fancy　to　this　outlaw；　it　will　soon　wane　away　and　be　forgotten。
As　for　me；　I　have　the　greatest　villain　in　all　England　in　my　grasp；
shall　I；　then；　open　my　hand　and　let　him　slip　betwixt　my　fingers？
Thus；　Your　Majesty；　would　I　say　to　myself；　were　I　the　King
of　England。〃　　So　the　Bishop　talked；　and　the　King　lent　his
ear　to　his　evil　counsel；　until；　after　a　while；　he　turned　to
Sir　Robert　Lee　and　bade　him　send　six　of　the　yeomen　of　the　guard
to　take　Robin　Hood　and　his　three　men　prisoners。

Now　Sir　Robert　Lee　was　a　gentle　and　noble　knight；　and　he　felt　grieved　to
the　heart　to　see　the　King　so　break　his　promise；　nevertheless；　he　said　nothing；
for　he　saw　how　bitterly　the　King　was　set　against　Robin　Hood；　but　he　did　not
send　the　yeomen　of　the　guard　at　once；　but　went　first　to　the　Queen；　and　told
her　all　that　had　passed；　and　bade　her　send　word　to　Robin　of　his　danger。
This　he　did　not　for　the　well…being　of　Robin　Hood；　but　because　he　would　save
his　lord's　honor　if　he　could。　　Thus　it　came　about　that　when；　after　a　while；
the　yeomen　of　the　guard　went　to　the　archery　field；　they　found　not　Robin
and　the　others；　and　so　got　no　cakes　at　that　fair。

The　afternoon　was　already　well…nigh　gone　when　Robin　Hood；　Little　John；　Will；
and　Allan　set　forth　upon　their　homeward　way；　trudging　along　merrily
through　the　yellow　slanting　light；　which　speedily　changed　to　rosy
red　as　the　sun　sank　low　in　the　heavens。　　The　shadows　grew　long；
and　finally　merged　into　the　grayness　of　the　mellow　twilight。
The　dusty　highway　lay　all　white　betwixt　the　dark　hedgerows；　and　along　it
walked　four　fellows　like　four　shadows；　the　pat　of　their　feet　sounding　loud；
and　their　voices；　as　they　talked；　ringing　clear　upon　the　silence　of　the　air。
The　great　round　moon　was　floating　breathlessly　up　in　the　eastern　sky
when　they　saw　before　them　the　twinkling　lights　of　Barnet　Town；　some　ten
or　twelve　miles　from　London。　　Down　they　walked　through　the　stony　streets
and　past　the　cosy　houses　with　overhanging　gables；　before　the　doors
of　which　sat　the　burghers　and　craftsmen　in　the　mellow　moonlight；
with　their　families　about　them；　and　so　came　at　last；　on　the　other　side
of　the　hamlet；　to　a　little　inn；　all　shaded　with　roses　and　woodbines。
Before　this　inn　Robin　Hood　stopped；　for　the　spot　pleased　him　well。
Quoth　he；　〃Here　will　we　take　up　our　inn　and　rest　for　the　night；
for　we　are　well　away　from　London　Town　and　our　King's　wrath。
Moreover；　if　I　mistake　not；　we　will　find　sweet　faring　within。
What　say　ye；　lads？〃

〃In　sooth；　good　master；〃　quoth　Little　John；　〃thy　bidding
and　my　doing　ever　fit　together　like　cakes　and　ale。
Let　us　in；　I　say　also。〃

Then　up　spake　Will　Scarlet：　　〃I　am　ever　ready　to　do　what　thou　sayest；　uncle；
yet　I　could　wish　that　we　were　farther　upon　our　way　ere　we　rest　for　the　night。
Nevertheless；　if　thou　thinkest　best；　let　us　in　for　the　night；　say　I　also。〃

So　in　they　went　and　called　for　the　best　that　the　place　afforded。
Then　a　right　good　feast　was　set　before　them；　with　two　stout　bottles
of　old　sack　to　wash　it　down　withal。　　These　things　were　served
by　as　plump　and　buxom　a　lass　as　you　could　find　in　all　the　land；
so　that　Little　John；　who　always　had　an　eye　for　a　fair　lass；　even　when
meat　and　drink　were　by；　stuck　his　arms　akimbo　and　fixed　his　eyes
upon　her；　winking　sweetly　whenever　he　saw　her　looking　toward　him。
Then　you　should　have　seen　how　the　lass　twittered　with　laughter；
and　how　she　looked　at　Little　John　out　of　the　corners　of　her　eyes；
a　dimple　coming　in　either　cheek；　for　the　fellow　had　always　a　taking
way　with　the　womenfolk。

So　the　feast　passed　merrily；　and　never　had　that　inn　seen
such　lusty　feeders　as　these　four　stout　fellows；　but　at　last
they　were　done　their　eating；　though　it　seemed　as　though　they
never　would　have　ended；　and　sat　loitering　over　the　sack。
As　they　so　sat；　the　landlord　came　in　of　a　sudden；　and　said
that　there　was　one　at　the　door；　a　certain　young　esquire；
Richard　Partington；　of　the　Queen's　household；　who　wished　to　see
the　lad　in　blue；　and　speak　with　him；　without　loss　of　time。
So　Robin　arose　quickly；　and；　bidding　the　landlord　not　to　follow　him；
left　the　others　gazing　at　one　another；　and　wondering　what　was
about　to　happen。

When　Robin　came　out　of　the　inn；　he　found　young　Richard　Partington　sitting
upon　his　horse　in　the　white　moonlight；　awaiting　his　coming。

〃What　news　bearest　thou；　Sir　Page？〃　said　Robin。　　〃I　trust　that　it
is　not　of　an　ill　nature。〃

〃Why；〃　said　young　Partington；　〃for　the　matter　of　that；　it　is　ill　enow。
The　King　hath　been　bitterly　stirred　up　against　thee　by　that　vile
Bishop　of　Hereford。　　He　sent　to　arrest　thee　at　the　archery　butts
at　Finsbury　Fields；　but　not　finding　thee　there；　he　hath　gathered
together　his　armed　men；　fiftyscore　and　more；　and　is　sending　them
in　haste　along　this　very　road　to　Sherwood；　either　to　take　thee
on　the　way　or　to　prevent　thy　getting　back　to　the　woodlands　again。
He　hath　given　the　Bishop　of　Hereford　command　over　all　these　men；
and　thou　knowest　what　thou　hast　to　expect　of　the　Bishop　of　Hereford
short　shrift　and　a　long　rope。　　Two　bands　of　horsemen　are　already
upon　the　road；　not　far　behind　me；　so　thou　hadst　best　get　thee
gone　from　this　place　straightway；　for；　if　thou　tarriest　longer；
thou　art　like　to　sleep　this　night　in　a　cold　dungeon。
This　word　the　Queen　hath　bidden　me　bring　to　thee。〃

〃Now；　Richard　Partington；〃　quoth　Robin；　〃this　is　the　second　time
that　thou　hast　saved　my　life；　and　if　the　proper　time　ever　cometh
I　will　show　thee　that　Robin　Hood　never　forgets　these　things。
As　for　that　Bishop　of　Hereford；　if　I　ever　catch　him　nigh
to　Sherwood　again；　things　will　be　like　to　go　ill　with　him。
Thou　mayst　tell　the　good　Queen　that　I　will　leave　this　place　without　delay；
and　will　let　the　landlord　think　that　we　are　going　to　Saint　Albans；
but　when　we　are　upon　the　highroad　again；　I　will　go　one　way　through
the　country　and　will　send　my　men　the　other；　so　that　if　one　falleth
into　the　King's　hands　the　others　may　haply　escape。　　We　will　go
by　devious　ways；　and　so；　I　hope；　will　reach　Sherwood　in　safety。
And　now；　Sir　Page；　I　wish　thee　farewell。〃

〃Farewell；　thou　bold　yeoman；〃　said　young　Partington；　〃and　mayst
thou　reach　thy　hiding　in　safety。〃　　So　each　shook　the　other's　hand；
and　the　lad；　turning　his　horse's　head；　rode　back　toward　London；
while　Robin　entered　the　inn　once　more。

There　he　found　his　yeomen　sitting　in　silence；　waiting　his　coming；
likewise　the　landlord　was　there；　for　he　was　curious　to　know　what
Master　Partington　had　to　do　with　the　fellow　in　blue。　　〃Up；　my　merry　men！〃
quoth　Robin；　〃this　is　no　place　for　us；　for　those　are　after　us　with
whom　we　will　stand　but　an　ill　chance　an　we　fall　into　their　hands。
So　we　will　go　forward　once　more；　nor　will　we　stop　this　night
till　we　reach　Saint　Albans。〃　　Hereupon；　taking　out　his　purse；
he　paid　the　landlord　his　score；　and　so　they　left　the　inn。

When　they　had　come　to　the　highroad　without