Пригоди Робін Гуда
Robin Hood and Guy of Gisbourne
Heanoutlaw,forsooth!Why,Ihearthathehathneverletbloodinallhislife,savingwhenhefirstcametotheforest.Somecallhimagreatarcher;marry,Iwouldnotbeafraidtostandagainsthimallthedaysoftheyearwithabowinmyhand."
"Why,truly,somefolkdocallhimagreatarcher,"saidRobinHood,"butweofNottinghamshirearefamoushandswiththelongbow.EvenI,thoughbutasimplehandatthecraft,wouldnotfeartotryaboutwiththee."
AtthesewordsGuyofGisbournelookeduponRobinwithwonderingeyes,andthengaveanotherroaroflaughtertillthewoodsrang."Now,"quothhe,"thouartaboldfellowtotalktomeinthisway.Ilikethyspiritinsospeakinguptome,forfewmenhavedaredtodoso.Putupagarland,lad,andIwilltryaboutwiththee."
"Tut,tut,"quothRobin,"onlybabesshootatgarlandshereabouts.IwillputupagoodNottinghammarkforthee."Sosaying,hearose,andgoingtoahazelthicketnotfaroff,hecutawandabouttwicethethicknessofaman’sthumb.Fromthishepeeledthebark,and,sharpeningthepoint,stuckitupinthegroundinfrontofagreatoaktree.Thencehemeasuredofffourscorepaces,whichbroughthimbesidethetreewheretheothersat."There,"quothhe,"isthekindofmarkthatNottinghamyeomenshootat.Nowletmeseetheesplitthatwandifthouartanarcher."
ThenGuyofGisbournearose."Nowoutuponit!"criedhe."TheDevilhimselfcouldnothitsuchamarkasthat.
