Приключения Робин Гуда

           Sosaying,hestrodeawaythroughtheleafyforestgladesuntilhehadcometothevergeofSherwood.Therehewanderedforalongtime,throughhighwayandbyway,throughdinglydellandforestskirts.Nowhemetafairbuxomlassinashadylane,andeachgavetheotheramerrywordandpassedtheirway;nowhesawafairladyuponanamblingpad,towhomhedoffedhiscap,andwhobowedsedatelyinreturntothefairyouth;nowhesawafatmonkonapannier-ladenass;nowagallantknight,withspearandshieldandarmorthatflashedbrightlyinthesunlight;nowapagecladincrimson;andnowastoutburgherfromgoodNottinghamTown,pacingalongwithseriousfootsteps;allthesesightshesaw,butadventurefoundhenone.Atlasthetookaroadbytheforestskirts,abypaththatdippedtowardabroad,pebblystreamspannedbyanarrowbridgemadeofalogofwood.Ashedrewnighthisbridgehesawatallstrangercomingfromtheotherside.ThereuponRobinquickenedhispace,asdidthestrangerlikewise,eachthinkingtocrossfirst.

           "Nowstandthouback,"quothRobin,"andletthebettermancrossfirst."

           "Nay,"answeredthestranger,"thenstandbackshineownself,forthebetterman,Iwet,amI."

           "Thatwillwepresentlysee,"quothRobin,"andmeanwhilestandthouwherethouart,orelse,bythebrightbrowofSaintAElfrida,IwillshowtheerightgoodNottinghamplaywithaclothyardshaftbetwixtthyribs."

           "Now,"quoththestranger,"Iwilltanthyhidetillitbeasmanycolorsasabeggar’scloak,ifthoudarestsomuchastouchastringofthatsamebowthatthouholdestinthyhands."

           "Thoupratestlikeanass,"saidRobin,"forIcouldsendthisshaftcleanthroughthyproudheartbeforeacurtalfriarcouldsaygraceoveraroastgooseatMichaelmastide."