Приключения Робин Гуда
Robin Hood Compasses a Marriage
Thouwottestoldbonesmustalwaymakeroomforyoungblood."SirStephenneitheranswerednorlookedup,butpassedoutfromthechurchasthoughhehadheardnought,hismenfollowinghim.
ThentheBishopofHerefordspokehastily,"I,too,havenobusinesshere,andsowilldepart."Andhemadeasthoughhewouldgo.ButRobinHoodlaidholdofhisclothesandheldhim."Stay,myLordBishop,"saidhe,"Ihaveyetsomewhattosaytothee."TheBishop’sfacefell,buthestayedasRobinbadehim,forhesawhecouldnotgo.
ThenRobinHoodturnedtostoutEdwardofDeirwold,andsaidhe,"Givethyblessingonthydaughter’smarriagetothisyeoman,andallwillbewell.LittleJohn,givemethebagsofgold.Look,farmer.Herearetwohundredbrightgoldenangels;givethyblessing,asIsay,andIwillcountthemouttotheeasthydaughter’sdower.Givenotthyblessing,andsheshallbemarriedallthesame,butnotsomuchasacrackedfarthingshallcrossthypalm.Choose."
ThenEdwardlookeduponthegroundwithbentbrows,turningthematteroverandoverinhismind;buthewasashrewdmanandone,withal,thatmadethebestuseofacrackedpipkin;soatlasthelookedupandsaid,butinnojoyoustone,"Ifthewenchwillgoherowngait,lethergo.Ihadthoughttomakealadyofher;yetifshechoosestobewhatsheisliketobe,Ihavenoughttodowithherhenceforth.Ne’erthelessIwillgivehermyblessingwhensheisdulywedded.
