maid marian-第18章

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Robin's　table　was　spread　under　a　high　overarching　canopy　of　living　boughs；　on　the　edge　of　a　natural　lawn　of　verdure　starred　with　flowers；　through　which　a　swift　transparent　rivulet　ran　sparkling　in　the　sun。　The　board　was　covered　with　abundance　of　choice　food　and　excellent　liquor；　not　without　the　comeliness　of　snow…white　linen　and　the　splendour　of　costly　plate；　which　the　sheriff　of　Nottingham　had　unwillingly　contributed　to　supply；　at　the　same　time　with　an　excellent　cook；　whom　Little　John's　art　had　spirited　away　to　the　forest　with　the　contents　of　his　master's　silver　scullery。

An　hundred　foresters　were　here　assembled　over…ready　for　their　dinner；　some　seated　at　the　table　and　some　lying　in　groups　under　the　trees。

Robin　bade　courteous　welcome　to　the　knight；　who　took　his　seat　between　Robin　and　Marian　at　the　festal　board；　at　which　was　already　placed　one　strange　guest　in　the　person　of　a　portly　monk；　sitting　between　Little　John　and　Scarlet；　with；　his　rotund　physiognomy　elongated　into　an　unnatural　oval　by　the　conjoint　influence　of　sorrow　and　fear：　sorrow　for　the　departed　contents　of　his　travelling　treasury；　a　good…looking　valise　which　was　hanging　empty　on　a　bough；　and　fear　for　his　personal　safety；　of　which　all　the　flasks　and　pasties　before　him　could　not　give　him　assurance。　The　appearance　of　the　knight；　however；　cheered　him　up　with　a　semblance　of　protection；　and　gave　him　just　sufficient　courage　to　demolish　a　cygnet　and　a　rumble…pie；　which　he　diluted　with　the　contents　of　two　flasks　of　canary　sack。

But　wine；　which　sometimes　creates　and　often　increases　joy；　doth　also；　upon　occasion；　heighten　sorrow：　　and　so　it　fared　now　with　our　portly　monk；　who　had　no　sooner　explained　away　his　portion　of　provender；　than　he　began　to　weep　and　bewail　himself　bitterly。

〃Why　dost　thou　weep；　man？〃　said　Robin　Hood。　　〃Thou　hast　done　thine　embassy　justly；　and　shalt　have　thy　Lady's　grace。〃

〃Alack！　alack！〃　said　the　monk：　　〃no　embassy　had　I；　luckless　sinner；　as　well　thou　wottest；　but　to　take　to　my　abbey　in　safety　the　treasure　whereof　thou　hast　despoiled　me。〃

〃Propound　me　his　case；〃　said　Friar　Tuck；　〃and　I　will　give　him　ghostly　counsel。〃

〃You　well　remember；〃　said　Robin　Hood；　〃the　sorrowful　knight　who　dined　with　us　here　twelve　months　and　a　day　gone　by。〃

〃Well　do　I；〃　said　Friar　Tuck。　　〃His　lands　were　in　jeopardy　with　a　certain　abbot；　who　would　allow　him　no　longer　day　for　their　redemption。　Whereupon　you　lent　to　him　the　four　hundred　pounds　which　he　needed；　and　which　he　was　to　repay　this　day；　though　he　had　no　better　security　to　give　than　our　Lady　the　Virgin。〃

〃I　never　desired　better；〃　said　Robin；　〃for　she　never　yet　failed　to　send　me　my　pay；　and　here　is　one　of　her　own　flock；　this　faithful　and　well…favoured　monk　of　St。　Mary's；　hath　brought　it　me　duly；　principal　and　interest　to　a　penny；　as　Little　John　can　testify；　who　told　it　forth。　To　be　sure；　he　denied　having　it；　but　that　was　to　prove　our　faith。　We　sought　and　found　it。〃

〃I　know　nothing　of　your　knight；〃　said　the　monk：　　〃and　the　money　was　our　own；　as　the　Virgin　shall　bless　me。〃

〃She　shall　bless　thee；〃　said　Friar　Tuck；　〃for　a　faithful　messenger。〃

The　monk　resumed　his　wailing。　　Little　John　brought　him　his　horse。　Robin　gave　him　leave　to　depart。　　He　sprang　with　singular　nimbleness　into　the　saddle；　and　vanished　without　saying；　God　give　you　good　day。

The　stranger　knight　laughed　heartily　as　the　monk　rode　off。

〃They　say；　sir　knight；〃　said　Friar　Tuck；　〃they　should　laugh　who　win：　but　thou　laughest　who　art　likely　to　lose。〃

〃I　have　won；〃　said　the　knight；　〃a　good　dinner；　some　mirth；　and　some　knowledge：　　and　I　cannot　lose　by　paying　for　them。〃

〃Bravely　said；〃　answered　Robin。　　〃Still　it　becomes　thee　to　pay：　for　it　is　not　meet　that　a　poor　forester　should　treat　a　rich　knight。　How　much　money　hast　thou　with　thee？〃

〃Troth；　I　know　not；〃　said　the　knight。　　〃Sometimes　much；　sometimes　little；　sometimes　none。　　But　search；　and　what　thou　findest；　keep：　and　for　the　sake　of　thy　kind　heart　and　open　hand；　be　it　what　it　may；　I　shall　wish　it　were　more。〃

〃Then；　since　thou　sayest　so；〃　said　Robin；　〃not　a　penny　will　I　touch。　Many　a　false　churl　comes　hither；　and　disburses　against　his　will：　and　till　there　is　lack　of　these；　I　prey　not　on　true　men。〃

〃Thou　art　thyself　a　true　man；　right　well　I　judge；　Robin；〃　said　the　stranger　knight；　〃and　seemest　more　like　one　bred　in　court　than　to　thy　present　outlaw　life。〃

〃Our　life；〃　said　the　friar；　〃is　a　craft；　an　art；　and　a　mystery。　How　much　of　it；　think　you；　could　be　learned　at　court？〃

〃Indeed；　I　cannot　say；〃　said　the　stranger　knight：　〃but　I　should　apprehend　very　little。〃

〃And　so　should　I；〃　said　the　friar：　　〃for　we　should　find　very　little　of　our　bold　open　practice；　but　should　hear　abundance　of　praise　of　our　principles。　To　live　in　seeming　fellowship　and　secret　rivalry；　to　have　a　hand　for　all；　and　a　heart　for　none；　to　be　everybody's　acquaintance；　and　nobody's　friend；　to　meditate　the　ruin　of　all　on　whom　we　smile；　and　to　dread　the　secret　stratagems　of　all　who　smile　on　us；　to　pilfer　honours　and　despoil　fortunes；　not　by　fighting　in　daylight；　but　by　sapping　in　darkness：　these　are　arts　which　the　court　can　teach；　but　which　we；　by　'r　Lady；　have　not　learned。　　But　let　your　court…minstrel　tune　up　his　throat　to　the　praise　of　your　court…hero；　then　come　our　principles　into　play：　then　is　our　practice　extolled　not　by　the　same　name；　for　their　Richard　is　a　hero；　and　our　Robin　is　a　thief：　　marry；　your　hero　guts　an　exchequer；　while　your　thief　disembowels　a　portmanteau；　your　hero　sacks　a　city；　while　your　thief　sacks　a　cellar：　　your　hero　marauds　on　a　larger　scale；　and　that　is　all　the　difference；　for　the　principle　and　the　virtue　are　one：　but　two　of　a　trade　cannot　agree：　　therefore　your　hero　makes　laws　to　get　rid　of　your　thief；　and　gives　him　an　ill　name　that　he　may　hang　him：　for　might　is　right；　and　the　strong　make　laws　for　the　weak；　and　they　that　make　laws　to　serve　their　own　turn　do　also　make　morals　to　give　colour　to　their　laws。〃

〃Your　comparison；　friar；〃　said　the　stranger；　〃fails　in　this：　that　your　thief　fights　for　profit；　and　your　hero　for　honour。　I　have　fought　under　the　banners　of　Richard；　and　if；　as　you　phrase　it；　he　guts　exchequers；　and　sacks　cities；　it　is　not　to　win　treasure　for　himself；　but　to　furnish　forth　the　means　of　his　greater　and　more　glorious　aim。〃

〃Misconceive　me　not；　sir　knight；〃　said　the　friar。　　〃We　all　love　and　honour　King　Richard；　and　here　is　a　deep　draught　to　his　health：　but　I　would　show　you；　that　we　foresters　are　miscalled　by　opprobrious　names；　and　that　our　virtues；　though　they　follow　at　humble　distance；　are　yet　truly　akin　to　those　of　Coeur…de…Lion。　I　say　not　that　Richard　is　a　thief；　but　I　say　that　Robin　is　a　hero：　　and　for　honour；　did　ever　yet　man；　miscalled　thief；　win　greater　honour　than　Robin？　　Do　not　all　men　grace　him　with　some　honourable　epithet？　　The　most　gentle　thief；　the　most　courteous　thief；　the　most　bountiful　thief；　yea；　and　the　most　honest　thief？　Richard　is　courteous；　bountiful；　honest；　and　valiant：　　but　so　also　is　Robin：　　it　is　the　false　word　that　makes　the　unjust　distinction。　They　are　twin…spirits；　and　should　be　friends；　but　that　fortune　hath　differently　cast　their　lot：　　but　their　names　shall　descend　together　to　the　latest　days；　as　the　flower　of　their　age　and　of　England：　for　in　the　pure　principles　of　freebootery　have　they　excelled　all　men；　and　to　the　principles　of　freebootery；　diversely　developed；　belong　all　the　qualities　to　which　song　and　story　concede　renown。〃

〃And　you　may　add；　friar；〃　said　Marian；　〃that　Robin；　no　less　than　Richard；　is　king　in　his　own　dominion；　and　that　if　his　subjects　be　fewer；　yet　are　they　more　uniformly　loyal。〃

〃I　would；　fair　lady；〃　said　the　stranger；　〃that　thy　latter　observation　were　not　so　true。　　But　I　nothing　doubt；　Robin；　that　if　Richard　could　hear　your　friar；　and　see　you　and　your　lady；　as　I　now　do；　there　is　not　a　man　in　England　whom　he　would　take　by　the　hand　more　cordially　than　yourself。〃

〃Gramercy；　sir　knight；〃　said　Robin　But　his　speech　was　cut　short　by　Little　John　calling；　〃Hark！〃

All　listened。　　A　distant　trampling　of　horses　was　heard。　The　sounds　approached　rapidly；　and　at　length　a　group　of　horsemen　glittering　in　holyday　dresses　was　visible　among　the　trees。

〃God's　my　life！〃　said　Robin；　〃what　means　this？　　To　arms；　my　merrymen　all。〃

〃No　arms；　Robin；〃　said　the　foremost　horseman；　riding　up　and　springing　from　his　saddle：　　〃have　you　forgotten　Sir　William　of　the　Lee？〃

〃No；　by　my　fay；〃　said　Robin；　〃and　right　welcome　again　to　Sherwood。〃

Little　John　bustled　to　re…array　the　disorganised　economy　of　the　table；　and　replace　the　dilapidations　of　the　provender。

〃I　come　late；　Robin；〃　said　Sir　William；　〃but　I　came　by　a　wrestling；　where　I　found　a　good　yeoman　wrongfully　beset　by　a　crowd　of　sturdy　varlets；　and　I　staid　to　do　him　right。〃

〃I　thank　thee　for　that；　in　God's　name；〃　said　Robin；　〃as　if　thy　good　service　had　been　to　myself。〃

〃And　here；〃　said　the　knight；　〃is　thy　four　hundred　pound；　and　my　men　have　brought　thee　an　hundred　bows　and　as　many　well…furnished　quivers；　which　I　beseech　thee　to　receive　and　to　use　as　a　poor　token　of　my　grateful　kindness　to　thee：　for　me　and　my　wife　and　children　didst　thou　redeem　from　beggary。〃

〃Thy　bows　and　arrows；〃　said　Robin；　〃will　I　joyfully　receive：　but　of　thy　money；　not　a　penny。　　It　is　paid　already。　My　Lady；　who　was　thy　security；　hath　sent　it　me　for　thee。〃

Sir　William　pressed；　but　Robin　was　inflexible。

〃It　is　paid；〃　said　Robin；　〃as　this　good　knight　can　testify；　who　saw　my　Lady's　messenger　depart　but　now。〃

Sir　William　looked　round　to　the　stranger　knight；　and　instantly　fell　on　his　knee；　saying；　〃God　save　King　Richard。〃

The　foresters；　friar　and　all；　dropped　on　their　knees　together；　and　repeated　in　chorus：　　〃God　save　King　Richard。〃

〃Rise；　rise；〃　said　Richard；　smiling：　　〃Robin　is　king　here；　as　his　lady　hath　shown。　　I　have　heard　much　of　thee；　Robin；　both　of　thy　present　and　thy　former　state。　　And　this；　thy　fair　forest…queen；　is；　if　tales　say　true；　the　lady　Matilda　Fitzwater。〃

Marian　signed　acknowledgment。

〃Your　father；〃　said　the　king；　〃has　approved　his　fidelity　to　me；　by　the　loss　of　his　lands；　which　the　newness　of　my　return；　and　many　public　cares；　have　not　yet　given　me　time　to　restore：　but　this　justice　shall　be　done　to　him；　and　to　thee　also；　Robin；　if　thou　wilt　leave　thy　forest…life　and　resume　thy　earldom；　and　be　a　peer　of　Coeur…de…Lion：　for　braver　heart　and　juster　hand　I　never　yet　found。〃

Robin　looked　round　on　his　men。

〃Your　followers；〃　said　the　king；　〃shall　have　free　pardon；　and　such　of　them　as　thou　wilt　part　with　shall　have　maintenance　from　me；　and　if　ever　I　confess　to　priest；　it　shall　be　to　thy　friar。〃

〃Gramercy　to　your　majesty；〃　said　the　friar；　〃and　my　inflictions　shall　be　flasks　of　canary；　and　if　the　number　be　（as　in　grave　cases　I　may；　peradventure；　make　it）　too　great　for　one　frail　mortality；　I　will　relieve　you　by　vicarious　penance；　and　pour　down　my　own　throat　the　redundancy　of　the　burden。〃

Robin　and　his　followers　embraced　the　king's　proposal。　A　joyful　meeting　soon　followed　with　the　baron　and　Sir　Guy　of　Gamwell：　and　Richard　himself　honoured　with　his　own　presence　a　formal　solemnization　of　the　nuptials　of　our　lovers；　whom　he　constantly　distinguished　with　his　peculiar　regard。

The　friar　could　not　say；　Farewell　to　the　forest；　without　something　of　a　heavy　heart：　　and　he　s