Приключения Робин Гуда

           Allaroundgrewamassoffeatheryfernssuchashideandnestleincoolplaces,anduptoRobin’snostrilscamethetenderodorofthewildthyme,thatlovesthemoistvergesofrunningstreams.Here,withhisbroadbackagainsttheruggedtrunkofthewillowtree,andhalfhiddenbythesoftfernsaroundhim,satastout,brawnyfellow,butnoothermanwasthere.Hisheadwasasroundasaball,andcoveredwithamatofclose-clipped,curlyblackhairthatgrewlowdownonhisforehead.Buthiscrownwasshornassmoothasthepalmofone’shand,which,togetherwithhislooserobe,cowl,andstringofbeads,showedthatwhichhislooksneverwouldhavedone,thathewasafriar.Hischeekswereasredandshiningasawintercrab,albeittheywerenearlycoveredoverwithaclosecurlyblackbeard,aswerehischinandupperliplikewise.Hisneckwasthicklikethatofanorthcountrybull,andhisroundheadcloselysetuponshoulderse’enamatchforthoseofLittleJohnhimself.Beneathhisbushyblackbrowsdancedapairoflittlegrayeyesthatcouldnotstandstillforverydrolleryofhumor.Nomancouldlookintohisfaceandnotfeelhisheartstringstickledbythemerrimentoftheirlook.Byhissidelayasteelcap,whichhehadlaidoffforthesakeofthecoolnesstohiscrown.Hislegswerestretchedwideapart,andbetwixthiskneesheheldagreatpastycompoundedofjuicymeatsofdiverskindsmadesavorywithtenderyoungonions,bothmeatandonionsbeingmingledwithagoodrichgravy.