the merry adventures of robin hood(罗宾汉奇遇记)-第7部分

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were　raised　was　a　railing　to　keep　the　poorer　people　from
crowding　in　front　of　the　target。　　Already；　while　it　was　early；
the　benches　were　beginning　to　fill　with　people　of　quality；　who　kept
constantly　arriving　in　little　carts　or　upon　palfreys　that　curveted
gaily　to　the　merry　tinkle　of　silver　bells　at　bridle　reins。
With　these　came　also　the　poorer　folk；　who　sat　or　lay　upon　the　green
grass　near　the　railing　that　kept　them　from　off　the　range。
In　the　great　tent　the　archers　were　gathering　by　twos　and　threes；
some　talking　loudly　of　the　fair　shots　each　man　had　made
in　his　day；　some　looking　well　to　their　bows；　drawing　a　string
betwixt　the　fingers　to　see　that　there　was　no　fray　upon　it；
or　inspecting　arrows；　shutting　one　eye　and　peering　down　a　shaft
to　see　that　it　was　not　warped；　but　straight　and　true；　for　neither
bow　nor　shaft　should　fail　at　such　a　time　and　for　such　a　prize。
And　never　was　such　a　company　of　yeomen　as　were　gathered
at　Nottingham　Town　that　day；　for　the　very　best　archers
of　merry　England　had　come　to　this　shooting　match。
There　was　Gill　o'　the　Red　Cap；　the　Sheriff's　own　head　archer；
and　Diccon　Cruikshank　of　Lincoln　Town；　and　Adam　o'　the　Dell；
a　man　of　Tamworth；　of　threescore　years　and　more；　yet　hale
and　lusty　still；　who　in　his　time　had　shot　in　the　famous　match
at　Woodstock；　and　had　there　beaten　that　renowned　archer；　Clym　o'
the　Clough。　　And　many　more　famous　men　of　the　longbow　were　there；
whose　names　have　been　handed　down　to　us　in　goodly　ballads
of　the　olden　time。

But　now　all　the　benches　were　filled　with　guests；　lord　and　lady；
burgher　and　dame；　when　at　last　the　Sheriff　himself　came　with　his　lady；
he　riding　with　stately　mien　upon　his　milk…white　horse　and　she
upon　her　brown　filly。　　Upon　his　head　he　wore　a　purple　velvet　cap；
and　purple　velvet　was　his　robe；　all　trimmed　about　with　rich　ermine；
his　jerkin　and　hose　were　of　sea…green　silk；　and　his　shoes
of　black　velvet；　the　pointed　toes　fastened　to　his　garters
with　golden　chains。　　A　golden　chain　hung　about　his　neck；
and　at　his　collar　was　a　great　carbuncle　set　in　red　gold。
His　lady　was　dressed　in　blue　velvet；　all　trimmed　with　swan's　down。
So　they　made　a　gallant　sight　as　they　rode　along　side　by　side；
and　all　the　people　shouted　from　where　they　crowded　across
the　space　from　the　gentlefolk；　so　the　Sheriff　and　his　lady　came
to　their　place；　where　men…at…arms；　with　hauberk　and　spear；
stood　about；　waiting　for　them。

Then　when　the　Sheriff　and　his　dame　had　sat　down；　he　bade　his　herald　wind
upon　his　silver　horn；　who　thereupon　sounded　three　blasts　that　came　echoing
cheerily　back　from　the　gray　walls　of　Nottingham。　　Then　the　archers　stepped
forth　to　their　places；　while　all　the　folks　shouted　with　a　mighty　voice；
each　man　calling　upon　his　favorite　yeoman。　　〃Red　Cap！〃　cried　some；
〃Cruikshank！〃　cried　others；　〃Hey　for　William　o'　Leslie！〃　shouted　others
yet　again；　while　ladies　waved　silken　scarfs　to　urge　each　yeoman　to
do　his　best。

Then　the　herald　stood　forth　and　loudly　proclaimed　the　rules
of　the　game　as　follows：

〃Shoot　each　man　from　yon　mark；　which　is　sevenscore　yards　and　ten　from
the　target。　　One　arrow　shooteth　each　man　first；　and　from　all　the　archers
shall　the　ten　that　shooteth　the　fairest　shafts　be　chosen　for　to　shoot　again。
Two　arrows　shooteth　each　man　of　these　ten；　then　shall　the　three　that　shoot
the　fairest　shafts　be　chosen　for　to　shoot　again。　　Three　arrows　shooteth
each　man　of　those　three；　and　to　him　that　shooteth　the　fairest　shafts　shall
the　prize　be　given。〃

Then　the　Sheriff　leaned　forward；　looking　keenly　among　the　press
of　archers　to　find　whether　Robin　Hood　was　among　them；　but　no　one　was
there　clad　in　Lincoln　green；　such　as　was　worn　by　Robin　and　his　band。
〃Nevertheless；〃　said　the　Sheriff　to　himself；　〃he　may　still
be　there；　and　I　miss　him　among　the　crowd　of　other　men。
But　let　me　see　when　but　ten　men　shoot；　for　I　wot　he　will　be　among
the　ten；　or　I　know　him　not。〃

And　now　the　archers　shot；　each　man　in　turn；　and　the　good　folk　never　saw
such　archery　as　was　done　that　day。　　Six　arrows　were　within　the　clout；
four　within　the　black；　and　only　two　smote　the　outer　ring；　so　that　when
the　last　arrow　sped　and　struck　the　target；　all　the　people　shouted　aloud；
for　it　was　noble　shooting。

And　now　but　ten　men　were　left　of　all　those　that　had　shot　before；
and　of　these　ten；　six　were　famous　throughout　the　land；　and　most
of　the　folk　gathered　there　knew　them。　　These　six　men　were　Gilbert　o'
the　Red　Cap；　Adam　o'　the　Dell；　Diccon　Cruikshank；　William　o'
Leslie；　Hubert　o'　Cloud；　and　Swithin　o'　Hertford。　　Two　others　were
yeomen　of　merry　Yorkshire；　another　was　a　tall　stranger　in　blue；
who　said　he　came　from　London　Town；　and　the　last　was　a　tattered
stranger　in　scarlet；　who　wore　a　patch　over　one　eye。

〃Now；〃　quoth　the　Sheriff　to　a　man…at…arms　who　stood　near　him；
〃seest　thou　Robin　Hood　among　those　ten？〃

〃Nay；　that　do　I　not；　Your　Worship；〃　answered　the　man。
〃Six　of　them　I　know　right　well。　　Of　those　Yorkshire　yeomen；
one　is　too　tall　and　the　other　too　short　for　that　bold　knave。
Robin's　beard　is　as　yellow　as　gold；　while　yon　tattered　beggar
in　scarlet　hath　a　beard　of　brown；　besides　being　blind　of　one　eye。
As　for　the　stranger　in　blue；　Robin's　shoulders；　I　ween；
are　three　inches　broader　than　his。〃

〃Then；〃　quoth　the　Sheriff；　smiting　his　thigh　angrily；　〃yon　knave
is　a　coward　as　well　as　a　rogue；　and　dares　not　show　his　face　among
good　men　and　true。〃

Then；　after　they　had　rested　a　short　time；　those　ten　stout　men　stepped
forth　to　shoot　again。　　Each　man　shot　two　arrows；　and　as　they　shot；
not　a　word　was　spoken；　but　all　the　crowd　watched　with　scarce　a　breath
of　sound；　but　when　the　last　had　shot　his　arrow　another　great　shout　arose；
while　many　cast　their　caps　aloft　for　joy　of　such　marvelous　shooting。

〃Now　by　our　gracious　Lady　fair；〃　quoth　old　Sir　Amyas　o'
the　Dell；　who；　bowed　with　fourscore　years　and　more；　sat　near
the　Sheriff；　〃ne'er　saw　I　such　archery　in　all　my　life　before；
yet　have　I　seen　the　best　hands　at　the　longbow　for　threescore
years　and　more。〃

And　now　but　three　men　were　left　of　all　those　that　had　shot　before。
One　was　Gill　o'　the　Red　Cap；　one　the　tattered　stranger　in　scarlet；
and　one　Adam　o'　the　Dell　of　Tamworth　Town。　　Then　all　the　people
called　aloud；　some　crying；　〃Ho　for　Gilbert　o'　the　Red　Cap！〃
and　some；　〃Hey　for　stout　Adam　o'　Tamworth！〃　　But　not　a　single
man　in　the　crowd　called　upon　the　stranger　in　scarlet。

〃Now；　shoot　thou　well；　Gilbert；〃　cried　the　Sheriff；　〃and　if　thine
be　the　best　shaft；　fivescore　broad　silver　pennies　will　I　give
to　thee　beside　the　prize。〃

〃Truly　I　will　do　my　best；〃　quoth　Gilbert　right　sturdily。
〃A　man　cannot　do　aught　but　his　best；　but　that　will　I　strive
to　do　this　day。〃　　So　saying；　he　drew　forth　a　fair　smooth　arrow
with　a　broad　feather　and　fitted　it　deftly　to　the　string；
then　drawing　his　bow　with　care　he　sped　the　shaft。
Straight　flew　the　arrow　and　lit　fairly　in　the　clout；
a　finger's…breadth　from　the　center。　　〃A　Gilbert；　a　Gilbert！〃
shouted　all　the　crowd；　and；　〃Now；　by　my　faith；〃　cried　the　Sheriff；
smiting　his　hands　together；　〃that　is　a　shrewd　shot。〃

Then　the　tattered　stranger　stepped　forth；　and　all　the　people　laughed
as　they　saw　a　yellow　patch　that　showed　beneath　his　arm　when　he　raised
his　elbow　to　shoot；　and　also　to　see　him　aim　with　but　one　eye。
He　drew　the　good　yew　bow　quickly；　and　quickly　loosed　a　shaft；
so　short　was　the　time　that　no　man　could　draw　a　breath　betwixt
the　drawing　and　the　shooting；　yet　his　arrow　lodged　nearer　the　center
than　the　other　by　twice　the　length　of　a　barleycorn。

〃Now　by　all　the　saints　in　Paradise！〃　cried　the　Sheriff；
〃that　is　a　lovely　shaft　in　very　truth！〃

Then　Adam　o'　the　Dell　shot；　carefully　and　cautiously；　and　his
arrow　lodged　close　beside　the　stranger's。　Then　after　a　short
space　they　all　three　shot　again；　and　once　more　each　arrow　lodged
within　the　clout；　but　this　time　Adam　o'　the　Dell's　was　farthest
from　the　center；　and　again　the　tattered　stranger's　shot　was
the　best。　　Then；　after　another　time　of　rest；　they　all　shot　for
the　third　time。　　This　time　Gilbert　took　great　heed　to　his　aim；
keenly　measuring　the　distance　and　shooting　with　shrewdest　care。
Straight　flew　the　arrow；　and　all　shouted　till　the　very　flags
that　waved　in　the　breeze　shook　with　the　sound；　and　the　rooks
and　daws　flew　clamoring　about　the　roofs　of　the　old　gray　tower；
for　the　shaft　had　lodged　close　beside　the　spot　that　marked
the　very　center。

〃Well　done；　Gilbert！〃　cried　the　Sheriff　right　joyously。
〃Fain　am　I　to　believe　the　prize　is　thine；　and　right　fairly　won。
Now；　thou　ragged　knave；　let　me　see　thee　shoot　a　better
shaft　than　that。〃

Nought　spake　the　stranger　but　took　his　place；　while　all　was　hushed；
and　no　one　spoke　or　even　seemed　to　breathe；　so　great　was　the　silence
for　wonder　what　he　would　do。　　Meanwhile；　also；　quite　still　stood
the　stranger；　holding　his　bow　in　his　hand；　while　one　could　count　five；
then　he　drew　his　trusty　yew；




holding　it　drawn　but　a　moment；　then　loosed　the　string。
Straight　flew　the　arrow；　and　so　true　that　it　smote　a　gray
goose　feather　from　off　Gilbert's　shaft；　which　fell　fluttering
through　the　sunlit　air　as　the　stranger's　arrow　lodged
close　beside　his　of　the　Red　Cap；　and　in　the　very　center。
No　one　spoke　a　word　for　a　while　and　no　one　shouted；　but　each　man
looked　into　his　neighbor's　face　amazedly。

〃Nay；〃　quoth　old　Adam　o'　the　Dell　presently；　drawing　a　long　breath
and　shaking　his　head　as　he　spoke；　〃twoscore　years　and　more　have　I
shot　shaft；　and　maybe　not　all　times　bad；　but　I　shoot　no　more　this　day；
for　no　man　can　match　with　yon　stranger；　whosoe'er　he　may　be。〃
Then　he　thrust　his　shaft　into　his　quiver；　rattling；　and　unstrung
his　bow　without　another　word。

Then　the　Sheriff　came　down　from　his　dais　and　drew　near；　in　all　his
silks　and　velvets；　to　where　the　tattered　stranger　stood　leaning　upon
his　stout　bow；　while　the　good　folk　crowded　around　to　see　the　man
who　shot　so　wondrously　well。　　〃Here；　good　fellow；〃　quoth　the　Sheriff；
〃take　thou　the　prize；　and　well　and　fairly　hast　thou　won　it；　I　bow。
What　may　be　thy　name；　and　whence　comest　thou？〃

〃Men　do　call　me　Jock　o'　Teviotdale；　and　thence　am　I　come；〃
said　the　stranger。

〃Then；　by　Our　Lady；　Jock；　thou　art　the　fairest　archer　that　e'er　mine
eyes　beheld；　and　if　thou　wilt　join　my　servic