Приключения Робин Гуда
Robin Hood Seeks the Curtal Friar
Thusitcameaboutthat,bythetimehehadreachedtheotherbankwithhisload,theFriar’sswordbeltwasloosealbeitheknewitnot;sowhenRobinstoodondrylandandtheFriarleapedfromhisback,theyeomangrippedholdoftheswordsothatblade,sheath,andstrapcameawayfromtheholyman,leavinghimwithoutaweapon.
"Nowthen,"quothmerryRobin,pantingashespakeandwipingthesweatfromhisbrow,"Ihavethee,fellow.Thistimethatsamesaintofwhomthoudidstspeakbutnowhathdeliveredtwoswordsintomyhandandhathstrippedthineawayfromthee.Nowifthoudostnotcarrymeback,andthatspeedily,IswearIwillprickthyskintillitisasfullofholesasaslasheddoublet."
ThegoodFriarsaidnotawordforawhile,buthelookedatRobinwithagrimlook."Now,"saidheatlast,"Ididthinkthatthywitswereoftheheavysortandknewnotthatthouwertsocunning.Truly,thouhastmeuponthehip.Givememysword,andIpromisenottodrawitagainsttheesaveinself-defense;also,Ipromisetodothybiddingandtaketheeuponmybackandcarrythee."
SojollyRobingavehimhisswordagain,whichtheFriarbuckledtohisside,andthistimelookedtoitthatitwasmoresecureinitsfastenings;thentuckinguphisrobesoncemore,hetookRobinHooduponhisbackandwithoutawordsteppedintothewater,andsowadedoninsilencewhileRobinsatlaughinguponhisback.Atlasthereachedthemiddleofthefordwherethewaterwasdeepest.
