the merry adventures of robin hood(罗宾汉奇遇记)-第14部分

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〃Then；〃　said　Little　John；　〃for　joy　of　having　gotten　myself　into　thy　service；
I　will　give　fat　steers　and　brown　ale　to　all　these　good　folk；　to　make　them
merry　withal。〃　　At　this　arose　a　great　shout；　many　casting　their　caps　aloft；
for　joy　of　the　gift。

Then　some　built　great　fires　and　roasted　the　steers；　and　others
broached　the　butt　of　ale；　with　which　all　made　themselves　merry。
Then；　when　they　had　eaten　and　drunk　as　much　as　they　could；
and　when　the　day　faded　and　the　great　moon　arose；　all　red　and　round；
over　the　spires　and　towers　of　Nottingham　Town；　they　joined　hands
and　danced　around　the　fires；　to　the　music　of　bagpipes　and　harps。
But　long　before　this　merrymaking　had　begun；　the　Sheriff　and　his
new　servant　Reynold　Greenleaf　were　in　the　Castle　of　Nottingham。



How　Little　John　Lived　at　the　Sheriff's

THUS　LITTLE　JOHN　entered　into　the　Sheriff's　service　and
found　the　life　he　led　there　easy　enough；　for　the　Sheriff
made　him　his　right…hand　man　and　held　him　in　great　favor。
He　sat　nigh　the　Sheriff　at　meat；　and　he　ran　beside　his　horse　when
he　went　a…hunting；　so　that；　what　with　hunting　and　hawking　a　little；
and　eating　rich　dishes　and　drinking　good　sack；　and　sleeping　until
late　hours　in　the　morning；　he　grew　as　fat　as　a　stall…fed　ox。
Thus　things　floated　easily　along　with　the　tide；　until　one　day
when　the　Sheriff　went　a…hunting；　there　happened　that　which　broke
the　smooth　surface　of　things。

This　morning　the　Sheriff　and　many　of　his　men　set　forth　to　meet
certain　lords；　to　go　a…hunting。　He　looked　all　about　him　for　his　good　man；
Reynold　Greenleaf；　but；　not　finding　him；　was　vexed；　for　he　wished
to　show　Little　John's　skill　to　his　noble　friends。　　As　for　Little　John；
he　lay　abed；　snoring　lustily；　till　the　sun　was　high　in　the　heavens。
At　last　he　opened　his　eyes　and　looked　about　him　but　did　not　move　to　arise。
Brightly　shone　the　sun　in　at　the　window；　and　all　the　air　was　sweet
with　the　scent　of　woodbine　that　hung　in　sprays　about　the　wall　without；
for　the　cold　winter　was　past　and　spring　was　come　again；　and　Little　John
lay　still；　thinking　how　sweet　was　everything　on　this　fair　morn。
Just　then　he　heard；　faint　and　far　away；　a　distant　bugle　note　sounding
thin　and　clear。　　The　sound　was　small；　but；　like　a　little　pebble　dropped
into　a　glassy　fountain；　it　broke　all　the　smooth　surface　of　his　thoughts；
until　his　whole　soul　was　filled　with　disturbance。　　His　spirit　seemed
to　awaken　from　its　sluggishness；　and　his　memory　brought　back　to　him
all　the　merry　greenwood　lifehow　the　birds　were　singing　blithely　there
this　bright　morning；　and　how　his　loved　companions　and　friends　were
feasting　and　making　merry；　or　perhaps　talking　of　him　with　sober　speech；
for　when　he　first　entered　the　Sheriff's　service　he　did　so　in　jest；
but　the　hearthstone　was　warm　during　the　winter；　and　the　fare　was　full；
and　so　he　had　abided；　putting　off　from　day　to　day　his　going　back
to　Sherwood；　until　six　long　months　had　passed。　　But　now　he　thought
of　his　good　master　and　of　Will　Stutely；　whom　he　loved　better　than　anyone
in　all　the　world；　and　of　young　David　of　Doncaster；　whom　he　had　trained
so　well　in　all　manly　sports；　till　there　came　over　his　heart　a　great
and　bitter　longing　for　them　all；　so　that　his　eyes　filled　with　tears。
Then　he　said　aloud；　〃Here　I　grow　fat　like　a　stall…fed　ox　and　all　my
manliness　departeth　from　me　while　I　become　a　sluggard　and　dolt。
But　I　will　arouse　me　and　go　back　to　mine　own　dear　friends　once　more；
and　never　will　I　leave　them　again　till　life　doth　leave　my　lips。〃
So　saying；　he　leaped　from　bed；　for　he　hated　his　sluggishness　now。

When　he　came　downstairs　he　saw　the　Steward　standing　near　the　pantry　door
a　great；　fat　man；　with　a　huge　bundle　of　keys　hanging　to　his　girdle。
Then　Little　John　said；　〃Ho；　Master　Steward；　a　hungry　man　am　I；　for　nought
have　I　had　for　all　this　blessed　morn。　　Therefore；　give　me　to　eat。〃

Then　the　Steward　looked　grimly　at　him　and　rattled　the　keys
in　his　girdle；　for　he　hated　Little　John　because　he　had　found
favor　with　the　Sheriff。　　〃So；　Master　Reynold　Greenleaf；
thou　art　anhungered；　art　thou？〃　quoth　he。　　〃But；　fair　youth；
if　thou　livest　long　enough；　thou　wilt　find　that　he　who　getteth
overmuch　sleep　for　an　idle　head　goeth　with　an　empty　stomach。
For　what　sayeth　the　old　saw；　Master　Greenleaf？　　Is　it　not　‘The
late　fowl　findeth　but　ill　faring'？〃

〃Now；　thou　great　purse　of　fat！〃　cried　Little　John；　〃I　ask
thee　not　for　fool's　wisdom；　but　for　bread　and　meat。
Who　art　thou；　that　thou　shouldst　deny　me　to　eat？
By　Saint　Dunstan；　thou　hadst　best　tell　me　where　my　breakfast　is；
if　thou　wouldst　save　broken　bones！〃

〃Thy　breakfast；　Master　Fireblaze；　is　in　the　pantry；〃　answered　the　Steward。

〃Then　fetch　it　hither！〃　cried　Little　John；　who　waxed　angry　by　this　time。

〃Go　thou　and　fetch　it　thine　own　self；〃　quoth　the　Steward。　　〃Am　I　thy　slave；
to　fetch　and　carry　for　thee？〃

〃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