Приключения Робин Гуда

           "Sosaying,RobinHoodsteppedforthfromtheshadeofthebeechtree,crossedthestile,andstoodinthemiddleoftheroad,withhishandsonhiships,inthestranger’spath.

           Meantimethestranger,whohadbeenwalkingsoslowlythatallthistalkwasheldbeforehecameoppositetheplacewheretheywere,neitherquickenedhispacenorseemedtoseethatsuchamanasRobinHoodwasintheworld.SoRobinstoodinthemiddleoftheroad,waitingwhiletheotherwalkedslowlyforward,smellinghisrose,andlookingthiswayandthat,andeverywhereexceptatRobin.

           "Hold!"criedRobin,whenatlasttheotherhadcomeclosetohim."Hold!Standwherethouart!"

           "WhereforeshouldIhold,goodfellow?"saidthestrangerinsoftandgentlevoice."AndwhereforeshouldIstandwhereIam?Ne’ertheless,asthoudostdesirethatIshouldstay,Iwillabideforashorttime,thatImayhearwhatthoumaysthavetosaytome."

           "Then,"quothRobin,"asthoudostsofairlydoasItellthee,anddostgivemesuchsoftspeech,Iwillalsotreattheewithallduecourtesy.Iwouldhavetheeknow,fairfriend,thatIam,asitwere,avotaryattheshrineofSaintWilfredwho,thoumaystknow,took,willy-nilly,alltheirgoldfromtheheathen,andmelteditupintocandlesticks.Wherefore,uponsuchascomehereabouts,Ilevyacertaintoll,whichIuseforabetterpurpose,Ihope,thantomakecandlestickswithal.