Приключения Робин Гуда
Little John Turns Barefoot Friar
"Now,lookyou,"saidLittleJohn,"Icannotseesuchdaintydamselsasyearecarryingbasketsalongahighroad.Letmetakethemmineownself,andoneofyou,ifyewill,maycarrymystaffforme."
"Nay,"saidoneofthelasses,"butthoucanstnotcarrythreebasketsallatonetime."
"Yea,butIcan,"saidLittleJohn,"andthatIwillshowyoupresently.IthankthegoodSaintWilfredthathehathgivenmeaprettywit.Lookye,now.HereItakethisgreatbasket,so;hereItiemyrosaryaroundthehandle,thus;andhereIsliptherosaryovermyheadandslingthebasketuponmyback,inthiswise."AndLittleJohndidaccordingtohiswords,thebaskethangingdownbehindhimlikeapeddler’spack;then,givinghisstafftooneofthemaids,andtakingabasketuponeitherarm,heturnedhisfacetowardTuxfordTownandsteppedforthmerrily,alaughingmaidoneitherside,andonewalkingahead,carryingthestaff.Inthiswisetheyjourneyedalong,andeveryonetheymetstoppedandlookedafterthem,laughing,forneverhadanybodyseensuchamerrysightasthistall,strappingGrayFriar,withrobesalltooshortforhim,ladenwitheggs,andtrampingtheroadwiththreeprettylasses.ForthisLittleJohncarednotawhit,butwhensuchfolksgavejestingwordstohimheansweredbackasmerrily,speechforspeech.
SotheysteppedalongtowardTuxford,chattingandlaughing,untiltheycamenightothetown.
