Приключения Робин Гуда

           "Hownow,"quoththeBishopinaloudandangryvoice,whenRobinhadsocometohim,"isthisthewaythatthouandthybandtreatonesohighinthechurchasIam?Iandthesebrethrenwerepassingpeacefullyalongthehighroadwithourpackhorses,andahalfscoreofmentoguardthem,whenupcomesagreatstrappingfellowfullsevenfeethigh,withfourscoreormoremenbackofhim,andcallsuponmetostop—me,theLordBishopofHereford,markthou!Whereuponmyarmedguards—beshrewthemforcowards!—straightranaway.Butlookye;notonlydidthisfellowstopme,buthethreatenedme,sayingthatRobinHoodwouldstripmeasbareasawinterhedge.Then,besidesallthis,hecalledmesuchvilenamesas‘fatpriest,’‘man-eatingbishop,’‘money-gorgingusurer,’andwhatnot,asthoughIwerenomorethanastrollingbeggarortinker."

           Atthis,theBishopglaredlikeanangrycat,whileevenSirRichardlaughed;onlyRobinkeptagraveface."Alas!mylord,"saidhe,"thatthouhastbeensoill-treatedbymyband!Itelltheetrulythatwegreatlyreverencethycloth.LittleJohn,standforthstraightway."

           AtthesewordsLittleJohncameforward,twistinghisfaceintoawhimsicallook,asthoughhewouldsay,"Ha’mercyuponme,goodmaster."ThenRobinturnedtotheBishopofHerefordandsaid,"WasthisthemanwhospakesoboldlytoYourLordship?"

           "Ay,trulyitwasthesame,"saidtheBishop,"anaughtyfellow,Iwot.