Приключения Робин Гуда
Robin Hood Turns Beggar
"Yea,truly,"quothRobin,"helpthyself,sweetchuck,andmeantimeletmeseewhetherthypigeonpieisfreshorno."
Sotheoneseizeduponthealeandtheotheruponthepigeonpie,andnothingwasheardforawhilebutthemunchingoffoodandthegurgleofaleasitlefttheskin.
Atlast,afteralongtimehadpassedthus,Robinpushedthefoodfromhimandheavedagreatsighofdeepcontent,forhefeltasthoughhehadbeenmadealloveranew.
"Andnow,goodfriend,"quothhe,leaningupononeelbow,"IwouldhaveattheeaboutthatothermatterofseriousnessofwhichIspokenotlongsince."
"How!"saidtheBeggarreproachfully,"thouwouldstsurelynottalkofthingsappertainingtoseriousaffairsuponsuchaleasthis!"
"Nay,"quothRobin,laughing."Iwouldnotcheckthythirst,sweetfriend;drinkwhileItalktothee.Thusitis:IwouldhavetheeknowthatIhavetakenalikingtothycraftandwouldfainhaveatasteofabeggar’slifemineownself."
SaidtheBeggar,"Imarvelnotthatthouhasttakenalikingtomymanneroflife,goodfellow,but‘tolike’and‘todo’aretwomattersofdifferentsorts.Itellthee,friend,onemustservealongapprenticeshipereonecanlearntobeevensomuchasaclapper-dudgeon,muchlessacrankoranAbraham-man.3Itellthee,lad,thouarttoooldtoenteruponthatwhichitmaytaketheeyearstocatchthehangof.