Приключения Робин Гуда

           SohetoldthemhowhehadcomefromYorktothesweetvaleofRother,travelingthecountrythroughasaminstrel,stoppingnowatcastle,nowathall,andnowatfarmhouse;howhehadspentonesweeteveninginacertainbroad,lowfarmhouse,wherehesangbeforeastoutfranklinandamaidenaspureandlovelyasthefirstsnowdropofspring;howhehadplayedandsungtoher,andhowsweetElleno’theDalehadlistenedtohimandhadlovedhim.Then,inalow,sweetvoice,scarcelylouderthanawhisper,hetoldhowhehadwatchedforherandmethernowandthenwhenshewentabroad,butwasalltooafraidinhersweetpresencetospeaktoher,untilatlast,besidethebanksofRother,hehadspokenofhislove,andshehadwhisperedthatwhichhadmadehisheartstringsquiverforjoy.Thentheybrokeasixpencebetweenthem,andvowedtobetruetooneanotherforever.

           Nexthetoldhowherfatherhaddiscoveredwhatwasa-doing,andhadtakenherawayfromhimsothatheneversawheragain,andhisheartwassometimesliketobreak;howthismorn,onlyoneshortmonthandahalffromthetimethathehadseenherlast,hehadheardandknewittobeso,thatshewastomarryoldSirStephenofTrent,twodayshence,forEllen’sfatherthoughtitwouldbeagrandthingtohavehisdaughtermarrysohigh,albeitshewisheditnot;norwasitwonderthataknightshouldwishtomarryhisownsweetlove,whowasthemostbeautifulmaideninalltheworld.