Приключения Робин Гуда
King Richard Comes to Sherwood Forest
Acrossthegladetheycamerunning,and,astheycame,SirRichardshoutedtoRobin:"Makehaste,dearfriend,gatherthybandtogetherandcomewithme!KingRichardleftNottinghamTownthisverymorning,andcomethtoseektheeinthewoodlands.Iknownothowhecometh,foritwasbutarumorofthisthatreachedme;nevertheless,Iknowthatitisthetruth.Thereforehastenwithallthymen,andcometoCastleLea,fortherethoumaystliehiddentillthypresentdangerpasseth.Whoarethesestrangersthatthouhastwiththee?"
"Why,"quothmerryRobin,risingfromthegrass,"thesearecertaingentlegueststhatcamewithusfromthehighroadoverbyNewsteadAbbey.Iknownottheirnames,butIhavebecomerightwellacquaintwiththislustyrogue’spalmthismorning.Marry,thepleasureofthisacquaintancehathdostmeadeafearandfiftypoundstoboot!"
SirRichardlookedkeenlyatthetallfriar,who,drawinghimselfuptohisfullheight,lookedfixedlybackattheknight.ThenofasuddenSirRichard’scheeksgrewpale,forheknewwhoitwasthathelookedupon.Quicklyheleapedfromoffhishorse’sbackandflunghimselfuponhiskneesbeforetheother.Atthis,theKing,seeingthatSirRichardknewhim,threwbackhiscowl,andalltheyeomensawhisfaceandknewhimalso,fortherewasnotoneofthembuthadbeeninthecrowdinthegoodtownofNottingham,andhadseenhimridingsidebysidewiththeSheriff.Downtheyfellupontheirknees,norcouldtheysayaword.
