Приключения Робин Гуда
Robin Hood Aids a Sorrowful Knight
"Anddidstthou,LittleJohn,"saidRobininasadvoice,"callhislordshipafatpriest?"
"Ay,"saidLittleJohnsorrowfully.
"Andaman-eatingbishop?"
"Ay,"saidLittleJohn,moresorrowfullythanbefore.
"Andamoney-gorgingusurer?"
"Ay,"saidLittleJohninsosorrowfulavoicethatitmighthavedrawntearsfromtheDragonofWentley.
"Alas,thatthesethingsshouldbe!"saidjollyRobin,turningtotheBishop,"forIhaveeverfoundLittleJohnatruthfulman."
Atthis,aroaroflaughterwentup,whereatthebloodrushedintotheBishop’sfacetillitwascherryredfromcrowntochin;buthesaidnothingandonlyswallowedhiswords,thoughtheywell-nighchokedhim.
"Nay,myLordBishop,"saidRobin,"weareroughfellows,butItrustnotsuchillmenasthouthinkest,afterall.Thereisnotamanherethatwouldharmahairofthyreverence’shead.Iknowthouartgalledbyourjesting,butweareallequalhereinthegreenwood,fortherearenobishopsnorbaronsnorearlsamongus,butonlymen,sothoumustshareourlifewithuswhilethoudostabidehere.Come,buskye,mymerrymen,andgetthefeastready.Meantime,wewillshowourguestsourwoodlandsports."
So,whilesomewenttokindlethefiresforroastingmeats,othersranleapingtogettheircudgelsandlongbows.ThenRobinbroughtforwardSirRichardoftheLea.
