maid marian-第15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！

ver：　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　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；　and　I　shall　leave　him　and　Scarlet　joint…regents　of　Sherwood　during　my　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　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　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　too