maid marian(女孩马丽安)-第16章
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for her than the baron： but Marian was absolute。
〃If so； then；〃 said Robin； 〃I shall be your guide instead of Little John；
and I shall leave him and Scarlet joint…regents of Sherwood during my
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absence； and the voice of Friar Tuck shall be decisive between them if
they differ in nice questions of state policy。〃 Marian objected to this； that
there was more danger for Robin than either herself or the baron： but
Robin was absolute in his turn。
〃Talk not of my voice；〃 said the friar； 〃for if Marian be a damsel errant；
I will be her ghostly esquire。〃
Robin insisted that this should not be； for number would only expose
them to greater risk of detection。 The friar； after some debate； reluctantly
acquiesced。
While they were discussing these matters； they heard the distant sound
of horses' feet。
〃Go；〃 said Robin to Little John； 〃and invite yonder horseman to
dinner。〃
Little John bounded away； and soon came before a young man； who
was riding in a melancholy manner； with the bridle hanging loose on the
horse's neck； and his eyes drooping towards the ground。
〃Whither go you？〃 said Little John。
〃Whithersoever my horse pleases；〃 said the young man。
〃And that shall be；〃 said Little John； 〃whither I please to lead him。 I
am commissioned to invite you to dine with my master。〃
〃Who is your master？〃 said the young man。
〃Robin Hood；〃 said Little John。
〃The bold outlaw？〃 said the stranger。 〃Neither he nor you should
have made me turn an inch aside yesterday； but to…day I care not。〃
〃Then it is better for you；〃 said Little John； 〃that you came to…day than
yesterday； if you love dining in a whole skin： for my master is the pink of
courtesy： but if his guests prove stubborn； he bastes them and his
venison together； while the friar says mass before meat。〃
The young man made no answer； and scarcely seemed to hear what
Little John was saying； who therefore took the horse's bridle and led him
to where Robin and his foresters were setting forth their dinner。 Robin
seated the young man next to Marian。 Recovering a little from his stupor；
he looked with much amazement at her； and the baron； and Robin； and the
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friar； listened to their conversation； and seemed much astonished to find
himself in such holy and courtly company。 Robin helped him largely to
rumble…pie and cygnet and pheasant； and the other dainties of his table；
and the friar pledged him in ale and wine； and exhorted him to make good
cheer。 But the young man drank little； ate less； spake nothing； and every
now and then sighed heavily。
When the repast was ended； 〃Now；〃 said Robin； 〃you are at liberty to
pursue your journey： but first be pleased to pay for your dinner。〃
〃That would I gladly do； Robin；〃 said the young man； 〃but all I have
about me are five shillings and a ring。 To the five shillings you shall be
welcome； but for the ring I will fight while there is a drop of blood in my
veins。〃
〃Gallantly spoken；〃 said Robin Hood。 〃A love…token； without doubt：
but you must submit to our forest laws。 Little John must search； and if he
find no more than you say； not a penny will I touch； but if you have
spoken false； the whole is forfeit to our fraternity。〃
〃And with reason；〃 said the friar； 〃for thereby is the truth maintained
The abbot of Doubleflask swore there was no money in his valise； and
Little John forthwith emptied it of four hundred pounds。 Thus was the
abbot's perjury but of one minute's duration； for though his speech was
false in the utterance； yet was it no sooner uttered than it became true； and
we should have been participes criminis to have suffered the holy abbot to
depart in falsehood： whereas he came to us a false priest； and we sent him
away a true man。 Marry； we turned his cloak to further account； and
thereby hangs a tale that may be either said or sung； for in truth I am
minstrel here as well as chaplain； I pray for good success to our just and
necessary warfare； and sing thanks…giving odes when our foresters bring in
booty：
Bold Robin has robed him in ghostly attire； And forth he is gone
like a holy friar； Singing； hey down； ho down； down； derry down：
And of two grey friars he soon was aware； Regaling themselves with
dainty fare； All on the fallen leaves so brown。
〃Good morrow； good brothers；〃 said bold Robin Hood； 〃And
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what make you in the good greenwood； Singing hey down； ho
down； down； derry down！ Now give me； I pray you； wine and food；
For none can I find in the good greenwood； All on the fallen leaves
so brown。〃
〃Good brother；〃 they said； 〃we would give you full fain； But we
have no more than enough for twain； Singing； hey down； ho down；
down； derry down。〃 〃Then give me some money；〃 said bold Robin Hood；
〃For none can I find in the good greenwood； All on the fallen leaves so
brown。〃
〃No money have we； good brother；〃 said they： 〃Then；〃 said he； 〃we
three for money will pray： Singing； hey down； ho down； down；
derry down： And whatever shall come at the end of our prayer； We
three holy friars will piously share； All on the fallen leaves so
brown。〃
〃We will not pray with thee； good brother； God wot： For truly； good
brother； thou pleasest us not； Singing hey down； ho down； down；
derry down：〃 Then up they both started from Robin to run； But down
on their knees Robin pulled them each one； All on the fallen leaves
so brown。
The grey friars prayed with a doleful face； But bold Robin prayed
with a right merry grace； Singing； hey down； ho down； down； derry
down： And when they had prayed； their portmanteau he took； And
from it a hundred good angels he shook； All on the fallen leaves so
brown。
〃The saints；〃 said bold Robin； 〃have hearkened our prayer； And
here's a good angel apiece for your share： If more you would have； you
must win ere you wear： Singing hey down； ho down； down； derry
down：〃 Then he blew his good horn with a musical cheer； And fifty
green bowmen came trooping full near； And away the grey friars they
bounded like deer； All on the fallen leaves so brown。
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CHAPTER XIII
What can a young lassie； what shall a young lassie； What can a
young lassie do wi'an auld man？BURNS。
〃Here is but five shillings and a ring；〃 said Little John； 〃and the
young man has spoken true。〃
〃Then；〃 said Robin to the stranger； 〃if want of money be the cause of
your melancholy； speak。 Little John is my treasurer； and he shall
disburse to you。〃
〃It is； and it is not；〃 said the stranger； 〃it is； because； had I not wanted
money I had never lost my love； it is not； because； now that I have lost her；
money would come too late to regain her。〃
〃In what way have you lost her？〃 said Robin： 〃let us clearly know
that she is past regaining； before we give up our wishes to restore her to
you。〃
〃She is to be married this day；〃 said the stranger； 〃and perhaps is
married by this； to a rich old knight； and yesterday I knew it not。〃
〃What is your name？〃 said Robin。
〃Allen；〃 said the stranger。
〃And where is the marriage to take place； Allen？〃 said Robin。
〃At Edwinstow church；〃 said Allen； 〃by the bishop of Nottingham。〃
〃I know that bishop；〃 said Robin； 〃he dined with me a month since；
and paid three hundred pounds for his dinner。 He has a good ear and
loves music。 The friar sang to him to some tune。 Give me my harper's
cloak； and I will play a part at this wedding。
〃These are dangerous times； Robin；〃 said Marian； 〃for playing pranks
out of the forest。〃
〃Fear not；〃 said Robin； 〃Edwinstow lies not Nottingham…ward； and I
will take my precautions。〃
Robin put on his harper's cloak； while Little John painted his eyebrows
and cheeks； tipped his nose with red； and tied him on a comely beard。
Marian confessed； that had she not been present at the metamorphosis； she
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should not have known her own true Robin。 Robin took his harp and
went to the wedding。
Robin found the bishop and his train in the church porch； impatiently
expecting the arrival of the bride and bridegroom。 The clerk was observing
to the bishop that the knight was somewhat gouty； and that the necessity of
walking the last quarter of a mile from the road to the churchyard probably
detained the lively bridegroom rather longer than had been calculated
upon。
〃Oh！ by my fey；〃 said the music…loving bishop； 〃here comes a harper
in the nick of time； and now I care not how long they tarry。 Ho！ honest
friend； are you come to play at the wedding？〃
〃I am come to play anywhere；〃 answered Robin； 〃where I can get a
cup of sack； for which I will sing the praise of the donor in lofty verse； and
emblazon him with any virtue which he may wish to have the credit of
possessing； without the trouble of practising。
〃A most courtly h
