Пригоди Робін Гуда

           Thenhecalledhismenabouthim,andquothhe,"Thesethreevillainsshallbehangedstraightway,butnothere,lesttheybreedilllucktothisgoodlyinn.Wewilltakethemoveryondertothatbeltofwoodlands,forIwouldfainhangthemupontheverytreesofSherwooditself,toshowthosevileoutlawsthereinwhattheymayexpectofmeifIeverhavethegoodlucktolayhandsuponthem."Sosaying,hemountedhishorse,asdidhismen-at-armslikewise,andalltogethertheysetforthforthebeltofwoodlandshehadspokenof,thepooryouthswalkingintheirmidstguardedbytherangers.Sotheycameatlasttothespot,andherenooseswerefastenedaroundthenecksofthethree,andtheendsofthecordsflungoverthebranchofagreatoaktreethatstoodthere.ThenthethreeyouthsfellupontheirkneesandloudlybesoughtmercyoftheSheriff;buttheSheriffofNottinghamlaughedscornfully."Now,"quothhe,"IwouldthatIhadapriestheretoshriveyou;but,asnoneisnigh,youmuste’entravelyourroadwithallyoursinspackeduponyourbacks,andtrusttoSaintPetertoletyouinthroughthegatesofParadiselikethreepeddlersintothetown."

           Inthemeantime,whileallthishadbeengoingforward,anoldmanhaddrawnnearandstoodleaningonhisstaff,lookingon.Hishairandbeardwereallcurlyandwhite,andacrosshisbackwasabowofyewthatlookedmuchtoostrongforhimtodraw.