Айвенго

Chapter 13

           "Then,Locksley,"saidPrinceJohn,"thoushaltshootinthyturn,whentheseyeomenhavedisplayedtheirskill.Ifthoucarriesttheprize,Iwilladdtoittwentynobles;butifthoulosestit,thoushaltbestriptofthyLincolngreen,andscourgedoutofthelistswithbowstrings,forawordyandinsolentbraggart."

           "AndhowifIrefusetoshootonsuchawager?"saidtheyeoman."YourGrace’spower,supported,asitis,bysomanymen-at-arms,mayindeedeasilystripandscourgeme,butcannotcompelmetobendortodrawmybow."

           "Ifthourefusestmyfairproffer,"saidthePrince,"theProvostofthelistsshallcutthybowstring,breakthybowandarrows,andexpeltheefromthepresenceasafaint-heartedcraven."

           "Thisisnofairchanceyouputonme,proudPrince,"saidtheyeoman,"tocompelmetoperilmyselfagainstthebestarchersofLeicesterAndStaffordshire,underthepenaltyofinfamyiftheyshouldovershootme.Nevertheless,Iwillobeyyourpleasure."

           "Looktohimclose,men-at-arms,"saidPrinceJohn,"hisheartissinking;Iamjealouslestheattempttoescapethetrial.Anddoyou,goodfellows,shootboldlyround;abuckandabuttofwinearereadyforyourrefreshmentinyondertent,whentheprizeiswon."

           Atargetwasplacedattheupperendofthesouthernavenuewhichledtothelists.Thecontendingarcherstooktheirstationinturn,atthebottomofthesouthernaccess,thedistancebetweenthatstationandthemarkallowingfulldistanceforwhatwascalledashotatrovers.

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