the merry adventures of robin hood-第20部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！



〃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；　lifting　his　clenched　fist；　he　smote　the　pantry　door；　bursting　out　three　panels　and　making　so　large　an　opening　that　he　could　easily　stoop　and　walk　through　it。

When　the　Steward　saw　what　was　done；　he　waxed　mad　with　rage；　and；　as　Little　John　stooped　to　look　within　the　pantry；　he　seized　him　from　behind　by　the　nape　of　the　neck；　pinching　him　sorely　and　smiting　him　over　the　head　with　his　keys　till　the　yeoman's　ears　rang　again。　　At　this　Little　John　turned　upon　the　Steward　and　smote　him　such　a　buffet　that　the　fat　man　fell　to　the　floor　and　lay　there　as　though　he　would　never　move　again。　〃There；〃　quoth　Little　John；　〃think　well　of　that　stroke　and　never　keep　a　good　breakfast　from　a　hungry　man　again。〃

So　saying；　he　crept　into　the　pantry　and　looked　about　him　to　see　if　he　could　find　something　to　appease　his　hunger。　He　saw　a　great　venison　pasty　and　two　roasted　capons；　beside　which　was　a　platter　of　plover's　eggs；　moreover；　there　was　a　flask　of　sack　and　one　of　canarya　sweet　sight　to　a　hungry　man。　These　he　took　down　from　the　shelves　and　placed　upon　a　sideboard；　and　prepared　to　make　himself　merry。

Now　the　Cook；　in　the　kitchen　across　the　courtyard；　heard　the　loud　talking　between　Little　John　and　the　Steward；　and　also　the　blow　that　Little　John　struck　the　other；　so　he　came　running　across　the　court　and　up　the　stairway　to　where　the　Steward's　pantry　was；　bearing　in　his　hands　the　spit　with　the　roast　still　upon　it。　Meanwhile　the　Steward　had　gathered　his　wits　about　him　and　risen　to　his　feet；　so　that　when　the　Cook　came　to　the　Steward's　pantry　he　saw　him　glowering　through　the　broken　door　at　Little　John；　who　was　making　ready　for　a　good　repast；　as　one　dog　glowers　at　another　that　has　a　bone。　　When　the　Steward　saw　the　Cook；　he　came　to　him；　and；　putting　one　arm　over　his　shoulder；　〃Alas；　sweet　friend！〃　quoth　hefor　the　Cook　was　a　tall；　stout　man〃seest　thou　what　that　vile　knave　Reynold　Greenleaf　hath　done？　　He　hath　broken　in　upon　our　master's　goods；　and　hath　smitten　me　a　buffet　upon　the　ear；　so　that　I　thought　I　was　dead。　Good　Cook；　I　love　thee　well；　and　thou　shalt　have　a　good　pottle　of　our　master's　best　wine　every　day；　for　thou　art　an　old　and　faithful　servant。　　Also；　good　Cook；　I　have　ten　shillings　that　I　mean　to　give　as　a　gift　to　thee。　　But　hatest　thou　not　to　see　a　vile　upstart　like　this　Reynold　Greenleaf　taking　it　upon　him　so　bravely？〃

〃Ay；　marry；　that　do　I；〃　quoth　the　Cook　boldly；　for　he　liked　the　Steward　because　of　his　talk　of　the　wine　and　of　the　ten　shillings。　　〃Get　thee　gone　straightway　to　thy　room；　and　I　will　bring　out　this　knave　by　his　ears。〃　So　saying；　he　laid　aside　his　spit　and　drew　the　sword　that　hung　by　his　side；　whereupon　the　Steward　left　as　quickly　as　he　could；　for　he　hated　the　sight　of　naked　steel。

Then　the　Cook　walked　straightway　to　the　broken　pantry　door；　through　which　he　saw　Little　John　tucking　a　napkin　beneath　his　chin　and　preparing　to　make　himself　merry。

〃Why；　how　now；　Reynold　Greenleaf？〃　said　the　Cook；　〃thou　art　no　better　than　a　thief；　I　wot。　　Come　thou　straight　forth；　man；　or　I　will　carve　thee　as　I　would　carve　a　sucking　pig。〃

〃Nay；　good　Cook；　bear　thou　thyself　more　seemingly；　or　else　I　will　come　forth　to　thy　dole。　　At　most　times　I　am　as　a　yearling　lamb；　but　when　one　cometh　between　me　and　my　meat；　I　am　a　raging　lion；　as　it　were。〃

〃Lion　or　no　lion；〃　quoth　the　valorous　Cook；　〃come　thou　straight　forth；　else　thou　art　a　coward　heart　as　well　as　a　knavish　thief。〃

〃Ha！〃　cried　Little　John；　〃coward's　name　have　I　never　had；　so；　look　to　thyself；　good　Cook；　for　I　come　forth　straight；　the　roaring　lion　I　did　speak　of　but　now。〃

Then　he；　too；　drew　his　sword　and　came　out　of　the　pantry；　then；　putting　themselves　into　position；　they　came　slowly　together；　with　grim　and　angry　looks；　but　suddenly　Little　John　lowered　his　point。　〃Hold；　good　Cook！〃　said　he。　　〃Now；　I　bethink　me　it　were　ill　of　us　to　fight　with　good　victuals　standing　so　nigh；　and　such　a　feast　as　would　befit　two　stout　fellows　such　as　we　are。　　Marry；　good　friend；　I　think　we　should　enjoy　this　fair　feast　ere　we　fight。　What　sayest　thou；　jolly　Cook？〃

At　this　speech　the　Cook　looked　up　and　down；　scratching　his　head　in　doubt；　for　he　loved　good　feasting。　　At　last　he　drew　a　long　breath　and　said　to　Little　John；　〃Well；　good　friend；　I　like　thy　plan　right　well；　so；　pretty　boy；　say　I；　let　us　feast；　with　all　my　heart；　for　one　of　us　may　sup　in　Paradise　before　nightfall。〃

So　each　thrust　his　sword　back　into　the　scabbard　and　entered　the　pantry。　Then；　after　they　had　seated　themselves；　Little　John　drew　his　dagger　and　thrust　it　into　the　pie。　　〃A　hungry　man　must　be　fed；〃　quoth　he；　〃so；　sweet　chuck；　I　help　myself　without　leave。〃　But　the　Cook　did　not　lag　far　behind；　for　straightway　his　hands　also　were　deeply　thrust　within　the　goodly　pasty。　　After　this；　neither　of　them　spoke　further；　but　used　their　teeth　to　better　purpose。　But　though　neither　spoke；　they　looked　at　one　another；　each　thinking　within　himself　that　he　had　never　seen　a　more　lusty　fellow　than　the　one　across　the　board。

At　last；　after　a　long　time　had　passed；　the　Cook　drew　a　full；　deep　breath；　as　though　of　much　regret；　and　wiped　his　hands　upon　the　napkin；　for　he　could　eat　no　more。　Little　John；　also；　had　enough；　for　he　pushed　the　pasty　aside；　as　though　he　would　say；　〃I　want　thee　by　me　no　more；　good　friend。〃　Then　he　took　the　pottle　of　sack；　and　said　he；　〃Now；　good　fellow；　I　swear　by　all　that　is　bright；　that　thou　art　the　stoutest　companion　at　eating　that　ever　I　had。　　Lo！　　I　drink　thy　health。〃　So　saying；　he　clapped　the　flask　to　his　lips　and　cast　his　eyes　aloft；　while　the　good　wine　flooded　his　throat。　Then　he　passed　the　pottle　to　the　Cook；　who　also　said；　〃Lo；　I　drink　thy　health；　sweet　fellow！〃　　Nor　was　he　behind　Little　John　in　drinking　any　more　than　in　eating。

〃Now；〃　quoth　Little　John；　〃thy　voice　is　right　round　and　sweet；　jolly　lad。　I　doubt　not　thou　canst　sing　a　ballad　most　blithely；　canst　thou　not？〃

〃Truly；　I　have　trolled　one　now　and　then；〃　quoth　the　Cook；　〃yet　I　would　not　sing　alone。〃

〃Nay；　truly；〃　said　Little　John；　〃that　were　but　ill　courtesy。　Strike　up　thy　ditty；　and　I　will　afterward　sing　one　to　match　it；　if　I　can。

〃So　be　it；　pretty　boy；〃　quoth　the　Cook。　　〃And　hast　thou　e'er　heard　the　song　of　the　Deserted　Shepherdess？〃

〃Truly；　I　know　not；〃　answered　Little　John；　〃but　sing　thou　and　let　me　hear。〃

Then　the　Cook　took　another　draught　from　the　pottle；　and；　clearing　his　throat；　sang　right　sweetly：


THE　SONG　OF　THE　DESERTED　SHEPHERDESS

　〃_In　Lententime；　when　leaves　wax　green；　　　　　　And　pretty　birds　begin　to　mate；　　When　lark　cloth　sing；　and　thrush；　I　ween；　　　　　　And　stockdove　cooeth　soon　and　late；　　Fair　Phillis　sat　beside　a　stone；　　And　thus　I　heard　her　make　her　moan：　　　　　　'O　willow；　willow；　willow；　willow！　　I'll　take　me　of　thy　branches　fair　　And　twine　a　wreath　to　deck　my　hair。

　〃　‘The　thrush　hath　taken　him　a　she；　　　　　　The　robin；　too；　and　eke　the　dove；　　My　Robin　hath　deserted　me；　　　　　　And　left　me　for　anoth