Приключения Робин Гуда
Little John Turns Barefoot Friar
Sotheygallopedforamileandmore,andLittleJohnranbetwixtthemaslightlyasastagandneverturnedahairwiththerunning.AtlastthefatBrotherdrewhishorse’sreinwithagroan,forhecouldstandtheshakingnolonger."Alas,"saidLittleJohn,withnotsomuchasacatchinhisbreath,"Ididsadlyfearthattheroughnessofthispacewouldshakethypooroldfatpaunch."
TothisthefatFriarsaidneveraword,buthestaredstraightbeforehim,andhegnawedhisnetherlip.Andnowtheytraveledforwardmorequietly,LittleJohninthemiddleoftheroadwhistlingmerrilytohimself,andthetwofriarsinthefootpathoneithersidesayingneveraword.
Thenpresentlytheymetthreemerryminstrels,allcladinred,whostaredamaintoseeaGrayFriarwithsuchshortrobeswalkinginthemiddleoftheroad,andtwobrotherswithheadsbowedwithshame,ridinguponrichlycaparisonedcobsonthefootpaths.Whentheyhadcomeneartotheminstrels,LittleJohnwavedhisstafflikeanusherclearingtheway."Makeway!"hecriedinaloudvoice."Makeway!makeway!Forherewego,wethree!"Thenhowtheminstrelsstared,andhowtheylaughed!ButthefatFriarshookaswithanague,andtheleanFriarbowedhisheadoverhishorse’sneck.
Thennexttheymettwonobleknightsinricharray,withhawkonwrist,andlikewisetwofairladiescladinsilksandvelvets,alla-ridingonnoblesteeds.Theseallmaderoom,staring,asLittleJohnandthetwofriarscamealongtheroad.
