Приключения Робин Гуда

           Then,amidstanoiseoftalkingandlaughter,hetookthepatchfromoffhiseyeandstrippedawaythescarletragsfromoffhisbodyandshowedhimselfallclothedinfairLincolngreen;andquothhe,"Easycomethesethingsaway,butwalnutstaincomethnotsospeedilyfromyellowhair."Thenalllaughedlouderthanbefore,foritwasRobinHoodhimselfthathadwontheprizefromtheSheriff’sveryhands.

           ThenallsatdowntothewoodlandfeastandtalkedamongthemselvesofthemerryjestthathadbeenplayedupontheSheriff,andoftheadventuresthathadbefalleneachmemberofthebandinhisdisguise.Butwhenthefeastwasdone,RobinHoodtookLittleJohnapartandsaid,"TrulyamIvexedinmyblood,forIheardtheSheriffsaytoday,‘ThoushootestbetterthanthatcowardknaveRobinHood,thatdarednotshowhisfaceherethisday.’Iwouldfainlethimknowwhoitwaswhowonthegoldenarrowfromouthishand,andalsothatIamnocowardsuchashetakesmetobe."

           ThenLittleJohnsaid,"Goodmaster,takethoumeandWillStutely,andwewillsendyonfatSheriffnewsofallthisbyamessengersuchashedothnotexpect."

           ThatdaytheSheriffsatatmeatinthegreathallofhishouseatNottinghamTown.Longtablesstooddownthehall,atwhichsatmen-at-armsandhouseholdservantsandgoodstoutvillains,inallfourscoreandmore.Theretheytalkedoftheday’sshootingastheyatetheirmeatandquaffedtheirale.TheSheriffsatattheheadofthetableuponaraisedseatunderacanopy,andbesidehimsathisdame.

           "Bymytroth,"saidhe,"IdidreckonfullroundlythatthatknaveRobinHoodwouldbeatthegametoday.Ididnotthinkthathewassuchacoward.Butwhocouldthatsaucyknavebewhoansweredmetomybeardsobravely?