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Little John Turns Barefoot Friar
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"Talkingoffatness,"saidthePeddler,"thouthyselflookestnonetooill-fed,holyfriar."
"Nay,truly,"saidLittleJohn,"thouseestinmewhattheholySaintDunstancandoforthemthatservehimuponahandfulofparchedpeasandatrickleofcoldwater."
Atthisagreatshoutoflaughterwentup."Truly,itisawondrousthing,"quoththeBeggar,"Iwouldhavemademyvow,toseethemasterlymannerinwhichthoudidsttuckawayyonpotofale,thatthouhadstnottastedclearwaterforabraceofmonths.HasnotthissameholySaintDunstantaughttheeagoodlysongortwo?"
"Why,asforthat,"quothLittleJohn,grinning,"mayhaphehathlentmeaidtolearnadittyorso."
"Then,prythee,letushearhowhehathtaughtthee,"quoththeTinker.
AtthisLittleJohnclearedhisthroatand,afterawordortwoaboutacertainhoarsenessthattroubledhim,sangthus:
"Ah,pretty,prettymaid,whitherdostthougo?
Iprythee,prythee,waitforthyloveralso,
Andwe’llgathertherose
Asitsweetlyblows,
Forthemerry,merrywindsareblo-o-o-wing."
NowitseemedasthoughLittleJohn’ssongswerenevertogetsung,forhehadgotnofartherthanthiswhenthedooroftheinnopenedandoutcamethetwobrothersofFountainAbbey,thelandlordfollowingthem,and,asthesayingis,washinghishandswithhumblesoap.