maid marian(女孩马丽安)-第15章
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his choristers； we merry foresters； Chorussing thus with our militant friar
And Scarlet cloth bring his good yew…bough and string； Prime
minister is he of Robin our king： No mark is too narrow for little John's
arrow； That hits a cock sparrow a mile on the wing； Robin and Marion；
Scarlet； and Little John； Long with their glory old Sherwood shall ring。
Each a good liver； for well…feathered quiver Doth furnish brawn；
venison； and fowl of the river： But the best game we dish up； it is a fat
bishop： When his angels we fish up； he proves a free giver： For a
prelate so lowly has angels more holy； And should this world's false
angels to sinners deliver。
Robin and Marion； Scarlet and Little John； Drink to them one by
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one； drink as ye sing： Robin and Marion； Scarlet and Little John； Echo
to echo through Sherwood shall fling： Robin and Marion； Scarlet and
Little John； Long with their glory old Sherwood shall ring。
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CHAPTER XII
A single volume paramount： a code： A master spirit： a determined
road。 WORDSWORTH。
The next morning Robin Hood convened his foresters； and desired
Little John； for the baron's edification； to read over the laws of their forest
society。 Little John read aloud with a stentorophonic voice。
〃At a high court of foresters； held under the greenwood tree； an hour
after sun…rise； Robin Hood President； William Scarlet Vice…President；
Little John Secretary： the following articles； moved by Friar Tuck in his
capacity of Peer Spiritual； and seconded by Much the Miller； were
unanimously agreed to。
〃The principles of our society are six： Legitimacy； Equity； Hospitality；
Chivalry； Chastity； and Courtesy。
〃The articles of Legitimacy are four：
〃I。 Our government is legitimate； and our society is founded on the one
golden rule of right； consecrated by the universal consent of mankind； and
by the practice of all ages； individuals； and nations： namely； To keep
what we have； and to catch what we can。
〃II。 Our government being legitimate； all our proceedings shall be
legitimate： wherefore we declare war against the whole world； and every
forester is by this legitimate declaration legitimately invested with a
roving commission； to make lawful prize of every thing that comes in his
way。
〃III。 All forest laws but our own we declare to be null and void。
〃IV。 All such of the old laws of England as do not in any way
interfere with； or militate against； the views of this honourable assembly；
we will loyally adhere to and maintain。 The rest we declare null and void
as far as relates to ourselves； in all cases wherein a vigour beyond the law
may be conducive to our own interest and preservation。〃
〃The articles of Equity are three：
〃I。 The balance of power among the people being very much deranged；
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by one having too much and another nothing； we hereby resolve ourselves
into a congress or court of equity； to restore as far as in us lies the said
natural balance of power； by taking from all who have too much as much
of the said too much as we can lay our hands on； and giving to those who
have nothing such a portion thereof as it may seem to us expedient to part
with。
〃II。 In all cases a quorum of foresters shall constitute a court of
equity； and as many as may be strong enough to manage the matter in
hand shall constitute a quorum。
〃III。 All usurers； monks； courtiers； and other drones of the great hive
of society； who shall be found laden with any portion of the honey
whereof they have wrongfully despoiled the industrious bee； shall be
rightfully despoiled thereof in turn； and all bishops and abbots shall be
bound and beaten；＇5＇ especially the abbot of Doncaster； as shall also all
sheriffs； especially the sheriff of Nottingham。
＇5＇ 〃These byshoppes and these archbyshoppes Ye shall them bete
and bynde；〃
says Robin Hood； in an old ballad。 Perhaps； however； thus is to be
taken not in a literal； but in a figurative sense from the binding and beating
of wheat： for as all rich men were Robin's harvest； the bishops and
archbishops must have been the finest and fattest ears among them； from
which Robin merely proposes to thresh the grain when he directs them to
be bound and beaten： and as Pharaoh's fat kine were typical of fat ears of
wheat； so may fat ears of wheat； mutatis mutandis； be typical of fat kine。
〃The articles of Hospitality are two：
〃I。 Postmen； carriers and market…folk； peasants and mechanics； farmers
and millers； shall pass through our forest dominions without let or
molestation。
〃II。 All other travellers through the forest shall be graciously invited
to partake of Robin's hospitality； and if they come not willingly they shall
be compelled； and the rich man shall pay well for his fare； and the poor
man shall feast scot free； and peradventure receive bounty in proportion to
his desert and necessity。
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〃The article of Chivalry is one：
〃I。 Every forester shall； to the extent of his power； aid and protect
maids； widows； and orphans； and all weak and distressed persons
whomsoever： and no woman shall be impeded or molested in any way； nor
shall any company receive harm which any woman is in。
〃The article of Chastity is one：
〃I。 Every forester； being Diana's forester and minion of the moon； shall
commend himself to the grace of the Virgin； and shall have the gift of
continency on pain of expulsion： that the article of chivalry may be secure
from infringement； and maids； wives； and widows pass without fear
through the forest。
〃The article of Courtesy is one：
〃I。 No one shall miscall a forester。 He who calls Robin Robert of
Huntingdon； or salutes him by any other title or designation whatsoever
except plain Robin Hood； or who calls Marian Matilda Fitzwater； or
salutes her by any other title or designation whatsoever except plain Maid
Marian； and so of all others； shall for every such offence forfeit a mark； to
be paid to the friar。
〃And these articles we swear to keep as we are good men and true。
Carried by acclamation。 God save King Richard。 〃LITTLE JOHN；
Secretary。〃
〃Excellent laws；〃 said the baron： 〃excellent； by the holy rood。
William of Normandy； with my great great grandfather Fierabras at his
elbow； could not have made better。 And now； sweet Mawd〃
〃A fine； a fine；〃 cried the friar； 〃a fine； by the article of courtesy。〃
〃Od's life；〃 said the baron； 〃shall I not call my own daughter Mawd？
Methinks there should be a special exception in my favour。〃
〃It must not be；〃 said Robin Hood： 〃our constitution admits no
privilege。〃
〃But I will commute；〃 said the friar； 〃for twenty marks a year duly
paid into my ghostly pocket you shall call your daughter Mawd two
hundred times a day。〃
〃Gramercy；〃 said the baron； 〃and I agree； honest friar； when I can get
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twenty marks to pay： for till Prince John be beaten from Nottingham； my
rents are like to prove but scanty。〃
〃I will trust；〃 said the friar； 〃and thus let us ratify the stipulation； so
shall our laws and your infringement run together in an amicable parallel。〃
〃But；〃 said Little John； 〃this is a bad precedent； master friar。 It is
turning discipline into profit； penalty into perquisite； public justice into
private revenue。 It is rank corruption； master friar。〃
〃Why are laws made？〃 said the friar。 〃For the profit of somebody。 Of
whom？ Of him who makes them first； and of others as it may happen。
Was not I legislator in the last article； and shall I not thrive by my own
law？〃
〃Well then； sweet Mawd；〃 said the baron； 〃I must leave you； Mawd：
your life is very well for the young and the hearty； but it squares not with
my age or my humour。 I must house； Mawd。 I must find refuge： but
where？ That is the question。〃
〃Where Sir Guy of Gamwell has found it；〃 said Robin Hood； 〃near the
borders of Barnsdale。 There you may dwell in safety with him and fair
Alice； till King Richard return； and Little John shall give you safe conduct。
You will have need to travel with caution； in disguise and without
attendants； for Prince John commands all this vicinity； and will doubtless
lay the country for you and Marian。 Now it is first expedient to dismiss
your retainers。 If there be any among them who like our life； they may stay
with us in the greenwood； the rest may return to their homes。〃
Some of the baron's men resolved to remain with Robin and Marian；
and were furnished accordingly with suits of green； of which Robin
always kept good store。
Marian now declared that as there was danger in the way to Barnsdale；
she would accompany Little John and the baron； as she should not be
happy unless she herself saw her father placed in security。 Robin was very
unwilling to consent to this； and assured her that there was more danger
for her than the baron： but Marian was absolute。
〃If so； then；〃 said Robin； 〃I shall be your guide instead of Little John；
