Приключения Робин Гуда

           ButanImaybesobold,thouprettyfellow,whatdostthoutherebeneaththehedge?"

           "Marry,"quothmerryRobin,"Isitbeneaththehedgeheretodropsaltonthetailsofgoldenbirds;butinsooththouartthefirstchickofanyworthIha’seenthisblessedday."

           AtthesewordstheCobbler’seyesopenedbigandwide,andhismouthgrewroundwithwonder,likeaknotholeinaboardfence."Slack-a-day,"quothhe,"lookye,now!Iha’neverseenthosesamegoldenbirds.Anddostthouinsoothfindtheminthesehedges,goodfellow?Prythee,tellme,aretheremanyofthem?Iwouldfainfindthemmineownself."

           "Ay,truly,"quothRobin,"theyareasthickhereasfreshherringinCannockChase."

           "Lookye,now!"saidtheCobbler,alldrownedinwonder."Anddostthouinsoothcatchthembydroppingsaltontheirprettytails?"

           "Yea,"quothRobin,"butthissaltisofanoddkind,letmetellthee,foritcanonlybegottenbyboilingdownaquartofmoonbeamsinawoodenplatter,andthenonehathbutapinch.Buttellme,now,thouwittyman,whathastthougottenthereinthatpouchbythysideandinthatpottle?"

           AtthesewordstheCobblerlookeddownatthosethingsofwhichmerryRobinspoke,forthethoughtsofthegoldenbirdhaddriventhemfromhismind,andittookhimsometimetoscrapethememoryofthembackagain."Why,"saidheatlast,"intheoneisgoodMarchbeer,andintheotherisafatcapon.