the merry adventures of robin hood-第79部分

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thwith。〃　Then　Wat；　the　Tinker；　came　forward　and　stood　in　front　of　Will　Scarlet；　screwing　up　his　face　and　shutting　his　eyes　tightly；　as　though　he　already　felt　his　ears　ringing　with　the　buffet。　Will　Scarlet　rolled　up　his　sleeve；　and；　standing　on　tiptoe　to　give　the　greater　swing　to　his　arm；　he　struck　with　might　and　main。　〃WHOOF！〃　came　his　palm　against　the　Tinker's　head；　and　down　went　stout　Wat　to　the　grass；　heels　over　head；　as　the　wooden　image　at　the　fair　goes　down　when　the　skillful　player　throws　a　cudgel　at　it。　Then；　as　the　Tinker　sat　up　upon　the　grass；　rubbing　his　ear　and　winking　and　blinking　at　the　bright　stars　that　danced　before　his　eyes；　the　yeomen　roared　with　mirth　till　the　forest　rang。　As　for　King　Richard；　he　laughed　till　the　tears　ran　down　his　cheeks。　Thus　the　band　shot；　each　in　turn；　some　getting　off　scot　free；　and　some　winning　a　buffet　that　always　sent　them　to　the　grass。　　And　now；　last　of　all；　Robin　took　his　place；　and　all　was　hushed　as　he　shot。　The　first　shaft　he　shot　split　a　piece　from　the　stake　on　which　the　garland　was　hung；　the　second　lodged　within　an　inch　of　the　other。　〃By　my　halidom；〃　said　King　Richard　to　himself；　〃I　would　give　a　thousand　pounds　for　this　fellow　to　be　one　of　my　guard！〃　And　now；　for　the　third　time　Robin　shot；　but；　alas　for　him！　The　arrow　was　ill…feathered；　and；　wavering　to　one　side；　it　smote　an　inch　outside　the　garland。

At　this　a　great　roar　went　up；　those　of　the　yeomen　who　sat　upon　the　grass　rolling　over　and　over　and　shouting　with　laughter；　for　never　before　had　they　seen　their　master　so　miss　his　mark；　but　Robin　flung　his　bow　upon　the　ground　with　vexation。　〃Now；　out　upon　it！〃　cried　he。　　〃That　shaft　had　an　ill　feather　to　it；　for　I　felt　it　as　it　left　my　fingers。　　Give　me　a　clean　arrow；　and　I　will　engage　to　split　the　wand　with　it。〃

At　these　words　the　yeomen　laughed　louder　than　ever。　〃Nay；　good　uncle；〃　said　Will　Scarlet　in　his　soft；　sweet　voice；　〃thou　hast　had　thy　fair　chance　and　hast　missed　thine　aim　out　and　out。　I　swear　the　arrow　was　as　good　as　any　that　hath　been　loosed　this　day。　Come　hither；　I　owe　thee　somewhat；　and　would　fain　pay　it。〃

〃Go；　good　master；〃　roared　Friar　Tuck；　〃and　may　my　blessing　go　with　thee。　Thou　hast　bestowed　these　love　taps　of　Will　Scarlet's　with　great　freedom。　It　were　pity　an　thou　gottest　not　thine　own　share。〃

〃It　may　not　be；〃　said　merry　Robin。　　〃I　am　king　here；　and　no　subject　may　raise　hand　against　the　king。　　But　even　our　great　King　Richard　may　yield　to　the　holy　Pope　without　shame；　and　even　take　a　tap　from　him　by　way　of　penance；　therefore　I　will　yield　myself　to　this　holy　friar；　who　seemeth　to　be　one　in　authority；　and　will　take　my　punishment　from　him。〃　Thus　saying；　he　turned　to　the　King；　〃I　prythee；　brother；　wilt　thou　take　my　punishing　into　thy　holy　hands？〃

〃With　all　my　heart；〃　quoth　merry　King　Richard；　rising　from　where　he　was　sitting。　　〃I　owe　thee　somewhat　for　having　lifted　a　heavy　weight　of　fifty　pounds　from　my　purse。　So　make　room　for　him　on　the　green；　lads。〃

〃An　thou　makest　me　tumble；〃　quoth　Robin；　〃I　will　freely　give　thee　back　thy　fifty　pounds；　but　I　tell　thee；　brother；　if　thou　makest　me　not　feel　grass　all　along　my　back；　I　will　take　every　farthing　thou　hast　for　thy　boastful　speech。〃

〃So　be　it；〃　said　the　King；　〃I　am　willing　to　venture　it。〃　　Thereupon　he　rolled　up　his　sleeve　and　showed　an　arm　that　made　the　yeomen　stare。　　But　Robin；　with　his　feet　wide　apart；　stood　firmly　planted；　waiting　the　other；　smiling。　Then　the　King　swung　back　his　arm；　and；　balancing　himself　a　moment；　he　delivered　a　buffet　at　Robin　that　fell　like　a　thunderbolt。　　Down　went　Robin　headlong　upon　the　grass；　for　the　stroke　would　have　felled　a　stone　wall。　Then　how　the　yeomen　shouted　with　laughter　till　their　sides　ached；　for　never　had　they　seen　such　a　buffet　given　in　all　their　lives。　As　for　Robin；　he　presently　sat　up　and　looked　all　around　him；　as　though　he　had　dropped　from　a　cloud　and　had　lit　in　a　place　he　had　never　seen　before。　After　a　while；　still　gazing　about　him　at　his　laughing　yeomen；　he　put　his　fingertips　softly　to　his　ear　and　felt　all　around　it　tenderly。　〃Will　Scarlet；〃　said　he；　〃count　this　fellow　out　his　fifty　pounds；　I　want　nothing　more　either　of　his　money　or　of　him。　　A　murrain　seize　him　and　his　buffeting！　　I　would　that　I　had　taken　my　dues　from　thee；　for　I　verily　believe　he　hath　deafened　mine　ear　from　ever　hearing　again。〃

Then；　while　gusts　of　laughter　still　broke　from　the　band；　Will　Scarlet　counted　out　the　fifty　pounds；　and　the　King　dropped　it　back　into　his　purse　again。　〃I　give　thee　thanks；　fellow；〃　said　he；　〃and　if　ever　thou　shouldst　wish　for　another　box　of　the　ear　to　match　the　one　thou　hast；　come　to　me　and　I　will　fit　thee　with　it　for　nought。〃

So　spake　the　merry　King；　but；　even　as　he　ended；　there　came　suddenly　the　sound　of　many　voices；　and　out　from　the　covert　burst　Little　John　and　threescore　men；　with　Sir　Richard　of　the　Lea　in　the　midst。　Across　the　glade　they　came　running；　and；　as　they　came；　Sir　Richard　shouted　to　Robin：　　〃Make　haste；　dear　friend；　gather　thy　band　together　and　come　with　me！　　King　Richard　left　Nottingham　Town　this　very　morning；　and　cometh　to　seek　thee　in　the　woodlands。　I　know　not　how　he　cometh；　for　it　was　but　a　rumor　of　this　that　reached　me；　nevertheless；　I　know　that　it　is　the　truth。　Therefore　hasten　with　all　thy　men；　and　come　to　Castle　Lea；　for　there　thou　mayst　lie　hidden　till　thy　present　danger　passeth。　Who　are　these　strangers　that　thou　hast　with　thee？〃

〃Why；〃　quoth　merry　Robin；　rising　from　the　grass；　〃these　are　certain　gentle　guests　that　came　with　us　from　the　highroad　over　by　Newstead　Abbey。　　I　know　not　their　names；　but　I　have　become　right　well　acquaint　with　this　lusty　rogue's　palm　this　morning。　Marry；　the　pleasure　of　this　acquaintance　hath　dost　me　a　deaf　ear　and　fifty　pounds　to　boot！〃

Sir　Richard　looked　keenly　at　the　tall　friar；　who；　drawing　himself　up　to　his　full　height；　looked　fixedly　back　at　the　knight。　Then　of　a　sudden　Sir　Richard's　cheeks　grew　pale；　for　he　knew　who　it　was　that　he　looked　upon。　　Quickly　he　leaped　from　off　his　horse's　back　and　flung　himself　upon　his　knees　before　the　other。　At　this；　the　King；　seeing　that　Sir　Richard　knew　him；　threw　back　his　cowl；　and　all　the　yeomen　saw　his　face　and　knew　him　also；　for　there　was　not　one　of　them　but　had　been　in　the　crowd　in　the　good　town　of　Nottingham；　and　had　seen　him　riding　side　by　side　with　the　Sheriff。　　Down　they　fell　upon　their　knees；　nor　could　they　say　a　word。　　Then　the　King　looked　all　around　right　grimly；　and；　last　of　all；　his　glance　came　back　and　rested　again　upon　Sir　Richard　of　the　Lea。

〃How　is　this；　Sir　Richard？〃　said　he　sternly。　　〃How　darest　thou　step　between　me　and　these　fellows？　　And　how　darest　thou　offer　thy　knightly　Castle　of　the　Lea　for　a　refuge　to　them？　Wilt　thou　make　it　a　hiding　place　for　the　most　renowned　outlaws　in　England？〃

Then　Sir　Richard　of　the　Lea　raised　his　eyes　to　the　King's　face。　〃Far　be　it　from　me；〃　said　he；　〃to　do　aught　that　could　bring　Your　Majesty's　anger　upon　me。　　Yet；　sooner　would　I　face　Your　Majesty's　wrath　than　suffer　aught　of　harm　that　I　could　stay　to　fall　upon　Robin　Hood　and　his　band；　for　to　them　I　owe　life；　honor；　everything。　　Should　I；　then；　desert　him　in　his　hour　of　need？〃

Ere　the　knight　had　done　speaking；　one　of　the　mock　friars　that　stood　near　the　King　came　forw