Приключения Робин Гуда
Little John and the Tanner of Blyth
Butheregainedhimselfquicklyand,atarm’slength,struckbackablowatLittleJohn,andthistimethestrokereacheditsmark,anddownwentLittleJohnatfulllength,hiscudgelflyingfromhishandashefell.Then,raisinghisstaff,stoutArthurdealthimanotherblowupontheribs.
"Hold!"roaredLittleJohn."Wouldstthoustrikeamanwhenheisdown?"
"Ay,marrywouldI,"quoththeTanner,givinghimanotherthwackwithhisstaff.
"Stop!"roaredLittleJohn."Help!Hold,Isay!Iyieldme!Iyieldme,Isay,goodfellow!"
"Hastthouhadenough?"askedtheTannergrimly,holdinghisstaffaloft.
"Ay,marry,andmorethanenough."
"AndthoudostownthatIamthebettermanofthetwo?"
"Yea,truly,andamurrainseizethee!"saidLittleJohn,thefirstaloudandthelasttohisbeard.
"Thenthoumaystgothyways;andthankthypatronsaintthatIamamercifulman,"saidtheTanner.
"Aplagueo’suchmercyasthine!"saidLittleJohn,sittingupandfeelinghisribswheretheTannerhadcudgeledhim."Imakemyvow,myribsfeelasthougheveryoneofthemwerebrokenintwain.Itellthee,goodfellow,IdidthinktherewasneveramaninallNottinghamshirecoulddotomewhatthouhastdonethisday."
"AndsothoughtI,also,"criedRobinHood,burstingoutofthethicketandshoutingwithlaughtertillthetearsrandownhischeeks."Oman,man!"saidhe,aswellashecouldforhismirth,"‘adidstgooverlikeabottleknockedfromawall.
