Приключения Робин Гуда

           "

           "Talkingoffatness,"saidthePeddler,"thouthyselflookestnonetooill-fed,holyfriar."

           "Nay,truly,"saidLittleJohn,"thouseestinmewhattheholySaintDunstancandoforthemthatservehimuponahandfulofparchedpeasandatrickleofcoldwater."

           Atthisagreatshoutoflaughterwentup."Truly,itisawondrousthing,"quoththeBeggar,"Iwouldhavemademyvow,toseethemasterlymannerinwhichthoudidsttuckawayyonpotofale,thatthouhadstnottastedclearwaterforabraceofmonths.HasnotthissameholySaintDunstantaughttheeagoodlysongortwo?"

           "Why,asforthat,"quothLittleJohn,grinning,"mayhaphehathlentmeaidtolearnadittyorso."

           "Then,prythee,letushearhowhehathtaughtthee,"quoththeTinker.

           AtthisLittleJohnclearedhisthroatand,afterawordortwoaboutacertainhoarsenessthattroubledhim,sangthus:

           "Ah,pretty,prettymaid,whitherdostthougo?

           Iprythee,prythee,waitforthyloveralso,

           Andwe’llgathertherose

           Asitsweetlyblows,

           Forthemerry,merrywindsareblo-o-o-wing."

           NowitseemedasthoughLittleJohn’ssongswerenevertogetsung,forhehadgotnofartherthanthiswhenthedooroftheinnopenedandoutcamethetwobrothersofFountainAbbey,thelandlordfollowingthem,and,asthesayingis,washinghishandswithhumblesoap.