maid marian-第17章

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　It　was　a　friar　of　orders　free；　　A　friar　of　Rubygill：　　At　the　greenwood…tree　a　vow　made　he；　　But　he　kept　it　very　ill：　　A　vow　made　he　of　chastity；　　But　he　kept　it　very　ill。　　He　kept　it；　perchance；　in　the　conscious　shade　　Of　the　bounds　of　the　forest　wherein　it　was　made：　　But　he　roamed　where　he　listed；　as　free　as　the　wind；　　And　he　left　his　good　vow　in　the　forest　behind：　　For　its　woods　out　of　sight　were　his　vow　out　of　mind；　　With　the　friar　of　Rubygill。

　In　lonely　hut　himself　he　shut；　　The　friar　of　Rubygill；　　Where　the　ghostly　elf　absolved　himself；　　To　follow　his　own　good　will：　　And　he　had　no　lack　of　canary　sack；　　To　keep　his　conscience　still。　　And　a　damsel　well　knew；　when　at　lonely　midnight　　It　gleamed　on　the　waters；　his　signal…lamp…light：　　〃Over！　over！〃　she　warbled　with　nightingale　throat；　　And　the　friar　sprung　forth　at　the　magical　note；　　And　she　crossed　the　dark　stream　in　his　trim　ferryboat；　　With　the　friar　of　Rubygill。


〃Look　you　now；〃　said　Robin；　〃if　the　friar　does　not　blush。　Many　strange　sights　have　I　seen　in　my　day；　but　never　till　this　moment　did　I　see　a　blushing　friar。〃

〃I　think；〃　said　the　friar；　〃you　never　saw　one　that　blushed　not；　or　you　saw　good　canary　thrown　away。　　But　you　are　welcome　to　laugh　if　it　so　please　you。　　None　shall　laugh　in　my　company；　though　it　be　at　my　expense；　but　I　will　have　my　share　of　the　merriment。　The　world　is　a　stage；　and　life　is　a　farce；　and　he　that　laughs　most　has　most　profit　of　the　performance。　　The　worst　thing　is　good　enough　to　be　laughed　at；　though　it　be　good　for　nothing　else；　and　the　best　thing；　though　it　be　good　for　something　else；　is　good　for　nothing　better。〃

And　he　struck　up　a　song　in　praise　of　laughing　and　quaffing；　without　further　adverting　to　Marian's　insinuated　accusation；　being；　perhaps；　of　opinion；　that　it　was　a　subject　on　which　the　least　said　would　be　the　soonest　mended。

So　passed　the　night。　　In　the　morning　a　forester　came　to　the　friar；　with　intelligence　that　Prince　John　had　been　compelled；　by　the　urgency　of　his　affairs　in　other　quarters；　to　disembarrass　Nottingham　Castle　of　his　royal　presence。　　Our　wanderers　returned　joyfully　to　their　forest…dominion；　being　thus　relieved　from　the　vicinity　of　any　more　formidable　belligerent　than　their　old　bruised　and　beaten　enemy　the　sheriff　of　Nottingham。




CHAPTER　XVII

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Oh！　this　life　　Is　nobler　than　attending　for　a　check；　　Richer　than　doing　nothing　for　a　bribe　　Prouder　than　rustling　in　unpaid…for　silk。Cymbeline。


So　Robin　and　Marian　dwelt　and　reigned　in　the　forest；　ranging　the　glades　and　the　greenwoods　from　the　matins　of　the　lark　to　the　vespers　of　the　nightingale；　and　administering　natural　justice　according　to　Robin's　ideas　of　rectifying　the　inequalities　of　human　condition：　raising　genial　dews　from　the　bags　of　the　rich　and　idle；　and　returning　them　in　fertilising　showers　on　the　poor　and　industrious：　an　operation　which　more　enlightened　statesmen　have　happily　reversed；　to　the　unspeakable　benefit　of　the　community　at　large。　The　light　footsteps　of　Marian　were　impressed　on　the　morning　dew　beside　the　firmer　step　of　her　lover；　and　they　shook　its　large　drops　about　them　as　they　cleared　themselves　a　passage　through　the　thick　tall　fern；　without　any　fear　of　catching　cold；　which　was　not　much　in　fashion　in　the　twelfth　century。　　Robin　was　as　hospitable　as　Cathmor；　for　seven　men　stood　on　seven　paths　to　call　the　stranger　to　his　feast。　It　is　true；　he　superadded　the　small　improvement　of　making　the　stranger　pay　for　it：　　than　which　what　could　be　more　generous？　For　Cathmor　was　himself　the　prime　giver　of　his　feast；　whereas　Robin　was　only　the　agent　to　a　series　of　strangers；　who　provided　in　turn　for　the　entertainment　of　their　successors；　which　is　carrying　the　disinterestedness　of　hospitality　to　its　acme。　Marian　often　killed　the　deer；

　Which　Scarlet　dressed；　and　Friar　Tuck　blessed　　While　Little　John　wandered　in　search　of　a　guest。

Robin　was　very　devout；　though　there　was　great　unity　in　his　religion：　it　was　exclusively　given　to　our　Lady　the　Virgin；　and　he　never　set　forth　in　a　morning　till　he　had　said　three　prayers；　and　had　heard　the　sweet　voice　of　his　Marian　singing　a　hymn　to　their　mutual　patroness。　　Each　of　his　men　had；　as　usual；　a　patron　saint　according　to　his　name　or　taste。　The　friar　chose　a　saint　for　himself；　and　fixed　on　Saint　Botolph；　whom　he　euphonised　into　Saint　Bottle；　and　maintained　that　he　was　that　very　Panomphic　Pantagruelian　saint；　well　known　in　ancient　France　as　a　female　divinity；　by　the　name　of　La　Dive　Bouteille；　whose　oracular　monosyllable　〃Trincq；'；　is　celebrated　and　under…stood　by　all　nations；　and　is　expounded　by　the　learned　doctor　Alcofribas；＇6＇　who　has　treated　at　large　on　the　subject；　to　signify　〃drink。〃　Saint　Bottle；　then；　was　the　saint　of　Friar　Tuck；　who　did　not　yield　even　to　Robin　and　Marian　in　the　assiduity　of　his　devotions　to　his　chosen　patron。　　Such　was　their　summer　life；　and　in　their　winter　caves　they　had　sufficient　furniture；　ample　provender；　store　of　old　wine；　and　assuredly　no　lack　of　fuel；　with　joyous　music　and　pleasant　discourse　to　charm　away　the　season　of　darkness　and　storms。


＇6＇　Alcofribas　Nasier：　　an　anagram　of　Francois　Rabelais；　and　his　assumed　appellation。

The　reader　who　desires　to　know　more　about　this　oracular　divinity；　may　consult　the　said　doctor　Alcofribas　Nasier；　who　will　usher　him　into　the　adytum　through　the　medium　of　the　high　priestess　Bacbuc。



Many　moons　had　waxed　and　waned；　when　on　the　afternoon　of　a　lovely　summer　day　a　lusty　broad…boned　knight　was　riding　through　the　forest　of　Sherwood。　　The　sun　shone　brilliantly　on　the　full　green　foliage；　and　afforded　the　knight　a　fine　opportunity　of　observing　picturesque　effects；　of　which　it　is　to　be　feared　he　did　not　avail　himself。　But　he　had　not　proceeded　far；　before　he　had　an　opportunity　of　observing　something　much　more　interesting；　namely；　a　fine　young　outlaw　leaning；　in　the　true　Sherwood　fashion；　with　his　back　against　a　tree。　The　knight　was　preparing　to　ask　the　stranger　a　question；　the　answer　to　which；　if　correctly　given；　would　have　relieved　him　from　a　doubt　that　pressed　heavily　on　his　mind；　as　to　whether　he　was　in　the　right　road　or　the　wrong；　when　the　youth　prevented　the　inquiry　by　saying：　〃In　God's　name；　sir　knight；　you　are　late　to　your　meals。　My　master　has　tarried　dinner　for　you　these　three　hours。〃

〃I　doubt；〃　said　the　knight；　〃I　am　not　he　you　wot　of。　I　am　no　where　bidden　to　day　and　I　know　none　in　this　vicinage。〃

〃We　feared；〃　said　the　youth；　〃your　memory　would　be　treacherous：　therefore　am　I　stationed　here　to　refresh　it。〃

〃Who　is　your　master？〃　said　the　knight；　〃and　where　does　he　abide？〃

〃My　master；〃　said　the　youth；　〃is　called　Robin　Hood；　and　he　abides　hard　by。〃

〃And　what　knows　he　of　me？〃　said　the　knight。

〃He　knows　you；〃　answered　the　youth　〃as　he　does　every　way…faring　knight　and　friar；　by　instinct。〃

〃Gramercy；〃　said　the　knight；　〃then　I　understand　his　bidding：　but　how　if　I　say　I　will　not　come？〃

〃I　am　enjoined　to　bring　you；〃　said　the　youth。　　〃If　persuasion　avail　not；　I　must　use　other　argument。〃

〃Say'st　thou　so？〃　said　the　knight；　〃I　doubt　if　thy　stripling　rhetoric　would　convince　me。〃

〃That；〃　said　the　young　forester；　〃we　will　see。〃

〃We　are　not　equally　matched；　boy；〃　said　the　knight。　〃I　should　get　less　honour　by　thy　conquest；　than　grief　by　thy　injury。〃

〃Perhaps；〃　said　the　youth；　〃my　strength　is　more　than　my　seeming；　and　my　cunning　more　than　my　strength。　　Therefore　let　it　please　your　knighthood　to　dismount。〃

〃It　shall　please　my　knighthood　to　chastise　thy　presumption；〃　said　the　knight；　springing　from　his　saddle。

Hereupon；　which　in　those　days　was　usually　the　result　of　a　meeting　between　any　two　persons　anywhere；　they　proceeded　to　fight。

The　knight　had　in　an　uncommon　degree　both　strength　and　skill：　the　forester　had　less　strength；　but　not　less　skill　than　the　knight；　and　showed　such　a　mastery　of　his　weapon　as　reduced　the　latter　to　great　admiration。

They　had　not　fought　many　minutes　by　the　forest　clock；　the　sun；　and　had　as　yet　done　each　other　no　worse　injury　than　that　the　knight　had　wounded　the　forester's　jerkin；　and　the　forester　had　disabled　the　knight's　plume；　when　they　were　interrupted　by　a　voice　from　a　thicket；　exclaiming；　〃Well　fought；　girl：　well　fought。　　Mass；　that　had　nigh　been　a　shrewd　hit。　Thou　owest　him　for　that；　lass。　　Marry；　stand　by；　I'll　pay　him　for　thee。〃

The　knight　turning　to　the　voice；　beheld　a　tall　friar　issuing　from　the　thicket；　brandishing　a　ponderous　cudgel。

〃Who　art　thou？〃　said　the　knight。

〃I　am　the　church　militant　of　Sherwood；〃　answered　the　friar。　〃Why　art　thou　in　arms　against　our　lady　queen？〃

〃What　meanest　thou？〃　said　the　knight。

〃Truly；　this；〃　said　the　friar；　〃is　our　liege　lady　of　the　forest；　against　whom　I　do　apprehend　thee　in　overt　act　of　treason。　What　sayest　thou　for　thyself？〃

〃I　say；〃　answered　the　knight；　〃that　if　this　be　indeed　a　lady；　man　never　yet　held　me　so　long。〃

〃Spoken；〃　said　the　friar；　〃like　one　who　hath　done　execution。　Hast　thou　thy　stomach　full　of　steel？　　Wilt　thou　diversify　thy　repast　with　a　taste　of　my　oak…graff？　Or　wilt　thou　incline　thine　heart　to　our　venison　which　truly　is　cooling？　　Wilt　thou　fight？　or　wilt　thou　dine？　or　wilt　thou　fight　and　dine？　or　wilt　thou　dine　and　fight？　I　am　for　thee；　choose　as　thou　mayest。〃

〃I　will　dine；〃　said　the　knight；　〃for　with　lady　I　never　fought　before；　and　with　friar　I　never　fought　yet；　and　with　neither　will　I　ever　fight　knowingly：　　and　if　this　be　the　queen　of　the　forest；　I　will　not；　being　in　her　own　dominions；　be　backward　to　do　her　homage。〃

So　saying；　he　kissed　the　hand　of　Marian；　who　was　pleased　most　graciously　to　express　her　approbation。

〃Gramercy；　sir　knight；〃　said　the　friar；　〃I　laud　thee　for　thy　courtesy；　which　I　deem　to　be　no　less　than　thy　valour。　Now　do　thou　follow　me；　while　I　follow　my　nose；　which　scents　the　pleasant　odour　of　roast　from　the　depth　of　the　forest　recesses。　I　will　lead　thy　horse；　and　do　thou　lead　my　lady。〃

The　knight　took　Marian's　hand；　and　followed　the　friar；　who　walked　before　them；　singing：

　When　the　wind　blows；　when　the　wind　blows　　From　where　under　buck　the　dry　log　glows；　　　　　　What　guide　can　you　follow；　　　　　　O'er　brake　and　o'er　hollow；　　So　true　as　a　ghostly；　ghostly　nose？




CHAPTER　XVIII

Robin　and　Richard　were　two　pretty　men。　　Mother　Goose's　Melody。


They　proceeded；　following　their　infallible　guide；　first　along　a　light　elastic　greensward　under　the　shade　of　lofty　and　wide…spreading　trees　that　skirted　a　sunny　opening　of　the　forest；　then　along　labyrinthine　paths；　which　the　deer；　the　outlaw；　or　the　woodman　had　made；　through　the　close　shoots　of　the　young　coppices；　through　the　thick　undergrowth　of　the　ancient　woods；　through　beds　of　gigantic　fern　that　filled　the　narrow　glades　and　waved　their　green　feathery　heads　above　the　plume　of　the　knight。　　Along　these　sylvan　alleys　they　walked　in　single　file；　the　friar　singing　and　pioneering　in　the　van；　the　horse　plunging　and　floundering　behind　the　friar；　the　lady　following　〃in　maiden　meditation　fancy　free；〃　and　the　knight　bringing　up　the　rear；　much　marvelling　at　the　strange　company　into　which　his　stars　had　thrown　him。　Their　path　had　expanded　sufficiently　to　allow　the　knight　to　take　Marian's　hand　again；　when　they　arrived　in　the　august　presence　of　Robin　Hood　and　his　court。

Robin's　table　was　spread　under　a　high　overarching　canopy　of　living　bo