maid marian-第7章

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in　person；　and　regaled　him　and　his　man　with　good　store　of　the　best；　after　which；　they；　with　a　stout　retinue　of　fifty　men；　took　the　way　to　Gamwell　feast。

〃God's　my　life；〃　said　the　sheriff；　as　they　rode　along；　〃I　had　as　lief　you　would　tell　me　of　a　service　of　plate。　I　much　doubt　if　this　outlawed　earl；　this　forester　Robin；　be　not　the　man　they　call　Robin　Hood；　who　has　quartered　himself　in　Sherwood　Forest；　and　whom　in　endeavouring　to　apprehend　I　have　fallen　divers　times　into　disasters。　He　has　gotten　together　a　band　of　disinherited　prodigals；　outlawed　debtors；　excommunicated　heretics；　elder　sons　that　have　spent　all　they　had；　and　younger　sons　that　never　had　any　thing　to　spend；　and　with　these　he　kills　the　king's　deer；　and　plunders　wealthy　travellers　of　five…sixths　of　their　money；　but　if　they　be　abbots　or　bishops；　them　he　despoils　utterly。〃

The　sheriff　then　proceeded　to　relate　to　his　companion　the　adventure　of　the　abbot　of　Doubleflask　（which　some　grave　historians　have　related　of　the　abbot　of　Saint　Mary's；　and　others　of　the　bishop　of　Hereford）：　how　the　abbot；　returning　to　his　abbey　in　company　with　his　high　selerer；　who　carried　in　his　portmanteau　the　rents　of　the　abbey…lands；　and　with　a　numerous　train　of　attendants；　came　upon　four　seeming　peasants；　who　were　roasting　the　king's　venison　by　the　king's　highway：　　how；　in　just　indignation　at　this　flagrant　infringement　of　the　forest　laws；　he　asked　them　what　they　meant；　and　they　answered　that　they　meant　to　dine：　how　he　ordered　them　to　be　seized　and　bound；　and　led　captive　to　Nottingham；　that　they　might　know　wild…flesh　to　have　been　destined　by　Providence　for　licensed　and　privileged　appetites；　and　not　for　the　base　hunger　of　unqualified　knaves：　　how　they　prayed　for　mercy；　and　how　the　abbot　swore　by　Saint　Charity　that　he　would　show　them　none：　how　one　of　them　thereupon　drew　a　bugle　horn　from　under　his　smock…frock　and　blew　three　blasts；　on　which　the　abbot　and　his　train　were　instantly　surrounded　by　sixty　bowmen　in　green：　how　they　tied　him　to　a　tree；　and　made　him　say　mass　for　their　sins：　how　they　unbound　him；　and　sate　him　down　with　them　to　dinner；　and　gave　him　venison　and　wild…fowl　and　wine；　and　made　him　pay　for　his　fare　all　the　money　in　his　high　selerer's　portmanteau；　and　enforced　him　to　sleep　all　night　under　a　tree　in　his　cloak；　and　to　leave　the　cloak　behind　him　in　the　morning：　　how　the　abbot；　light　in　pocket　and　heavy　in　heart；　raised　the　country　upon　Robin　Hood；　for　so　he　had　heard　the　chief　forester　called　by　his　men；　and　hunted　him　into　an　old　woman's　cottage：　how　Robin　changed　dresses　with　the　old　woman；　and　how　the　abbot　rode　in　great　triumph　to　Nottingham；　having　in　custody　an　old　woman　in　a　green　doublet　and　breeches：　　how　the　old　woman　discovered　herself：　how　the　merrymen　of　Nottingham　laughed　at　the　abbot：　how　the　abbot　railed　at　the　old　woman；　and　how　the　old　woman　out…railed　the　abbot；　telling　him　that　Robin　had　given　her　food　and　fire　through　the　winter；　which　no　abbot　would　ever　do；　but　would　rather　take　it　from　her　for　what　he　called　the　good　of　the　church；　by　which　he　meant　his　own　laziness　and　gluttony；　and　that　she　knew　a　true　man　from　a　false　thief；　and　a　free　forester　from　a　greedy　abbot。

〃Thus　you　see；〃　added　the　sheriff；　〃how　this　villain　perverts　the　deluded　people　by　making　them　believe　that　those　who　tithe　and　toll　upon　them　for　their　spiritual　and　temporal　benefit　are　not　their　best　friends　and　fatherly　guardians；　for　he　holds　that　in　giving　to　boors　and　old　women　what　he　takes　from　priests　and　peers；　he　does　but　restore　to　the　former　what　the　latter　had　taken　from　them；　and　this　the　impudent　varlet　calls　distributive　justice。　Judge　now　if　any　loyal　subject　can　be　safe　in　such　neighbourhood。〃

While　the　sheriff　was　thus　enlightening　his　companion　concerning　the　offenders；　and　whetting　his　own　indignation　against　them；　the　sun　was　fast　sinking　to　the　west。　　They　rode　on　till　they　came　in　view　of　a　bridge；　which　they　saw　a　party　approaching　from　the　opposite　side；　and　the　knight　presently　discovered　that　the　party　consisted　of　the　lady　Matilda　and　friar　Michael；　young　Gamwell；　cousin　Robin；　and　about　half…a…dozen　foresters。　The　knight　pointed　out　the　earl　to　the　sheriff；　who　exclaimed；　〃Here；　then；　we　have　him　an　easy　prey；〃　and　they　rode　on　manfully　towards　the　bridge；　on　which　the　other　party　made　halt。

〃Who　be　these；〃　said　the　friar；　〃that　come　riding　so　fast　this　way？　Now；　as　God　shall　judge　me；　it　is　that　false　knight　Sir　Ralph　Montfaucon；　and　the　sheriff　of　Nottingham；　with　a　posse　of　men。　　We　must　make　good　our　post；　and　let　them　dislodge　us　if　they　may。〃

The　two　parties　were　now　near　enough　to　parley；　and　the　sheriff　and　the　knight；　advancing　in　the　front　of　the　cavalcade；　called　on　the　lady；　the　friar；　young　Gamwell；　and　the　foresters；　to　deliver　up　that　false…traitor；　Robert；　formerly　Earl　of　Huntingdon。　　Robert　himself　made　answer　by　letting　fly　an　arrow　that　struck　the　ground　between　the　fore　feet　of　the　sheriff's　horse。　　The　horse　reared　up　from　the　whizzing；　and　lodged　the　sheriff　in　the　dust；　and；　at　the　same　time；　the　fair　Matilda　favoured　the　knight　with　an　arrow　in　his　right　arm；　that　compelled　him　to　withdraw　from　the　affray。　His　men　lifted　the　sheriff　carefully　up；　and　replaced　him　on　his　horse；　whom　he　immediately　with　great　rage　and　zeal　urged　on　to　the　assault　with　his　fifty　men　at　his　heels；　some　of　whom　were　intercepted　in　their　advance　by　the　arrows　of　the　foresters　and　Matilda；　while　the　friar；　with　an　eight…foot　staff；　dislodged　the　sheriff　a　second　time；　and　laid　on　him　with　all　the　vigour　of　the　church　militant　on　earth；　in　spite　of　his　ejaculations　of　〃Hey；　friar　Michael！　　What　means　this；　honest　friar？　Hold；　ghostly　friar！　　Hold；　holy　friar！〃till　Matilda　interposed；　and　delivered　the　battered　sheriff　to　the　care　of　the　foresters。　The　friar　continued　flourishing　his　staff　among　the　sheriff's　men；　knocking　down　one；　breaking　the　ribs　of　another；　dislocating　the　shoulder　of　a　third；　flattening　the　nose　of　a　fourth；　cracking　the　skull　of　a　fifth；　and　pitching　a　sixth　into　the　river；　till　the　few；　who　were　lucky　enough　to　escape　with　whole　bones；　clapped　spurs　to　their　horses　and　fled　for　their　lives；　under　a　farewell　volley　of　arrows。

Sir　Ralph's　squire；　meanwhile；　was　glad　of　the　excuse　of　attending　his　master's　wound　to　absent　himself　from　the　battle；　and　put　the　poor　knight　to　a　great　deal　of　unnecessary　pain　by　making　as　long　a　business　as　possible　of　extracting　the　arrow；　which　he　had　not　accomplished　when　Matilda；　approaching；　extracted　it　with　great　facility；　and　bound　up　the　wound　with　her　scarf；　saying；　〃I　reclaim　my　arrow；　sir　knight；　which　struck　where　I　aimed　it；　to　admonish　you　to　desist　from　your　enterprise。　I　could　as　easily　have　lodged　it　in　your　heart。〃

〃It　did　not　need；〃　said　the　knight；　with　rueful　gallantry；　〃you　have　lodged　one　there　already。〃

〃If　you　mean　to　say　that　you　love　me；〃　said　Matilda；　〃it　is　more　than　I　ever　shall　you：　　but　if　you　will　show　your　love　by　no　further　interfering　with　mine；　you　will　at　least　merit　my　gratitude。〃

The　knight　made　a　wry　face　under　the　double　pain　of　heart　and　body　caused　at　the　same　moment　by　the　material　or　martial；　and　the　metaphorical　or　erotic　arrow；　of　which　the　latter　was　thus　barbed　by　a　declaration　more　candid　than　flattering；　but　he　did　not　choose　to　put　in　any　such　claim　to　the　lady's　gratitude　as　would　bar　all　hopes　of　her　love：　he　therefore　remained　silent；　and　the　lady　and　her　escort；　leaving　him　and　the　sheriff　to　the　care　of　the　squire；　rode　on　till　they　came　in　sight　of　Arlingford　Castle；　when　they　parted　in　several　directions。　The　friar　rode　off　alone；　and　after　the　foresters　had　lost　sight　of　him　they　heard　his　voice　through　the　twilight；　singing；

　A　staff；　a　staff；　of　a　young　oak　graff；　　　　　　That　is　both　stoure　and　stiff；　　Is　all　a　good　friar　can　needs　desire　　　　　　To　shrive　a　proud　sheriffe。　　And　thou；　fine　fellowe；　who　hast　tasted　so　　　　　　Of　the　forester's　greenwood　game；　　Wilt　be　in　no　haste　thy　time　to　waste　　　　　　In　seeking　more　taste　of　the　same：　　Or　this　can　I　read　thee；　and　riddle　thee　well；　　Thou　hadst　better　by　far　be　the　devil　in　hell；　　　　　　Than　the　sheriff　of　Nottinghame。




CHAPTER　VII

Now；　master　sheriff；　what's　your　will　with　me？　　Henry　IV。


Matilda　had　carried　her　point　with　the　baron　of　ranging　at　liberty　whithersoever　she　would；　under　her　positive　promise　to　return　home；　she　was　a　sort　of　prisoner　on　parole：　　she　had　obtained　this　indulgence　by　means　of　an　obsolete　habit　of　always　telling　the　truth　and　keeping　her　word；　which　our　enlightened　age　has　discarded　with　other　barbarisms；　but　which　had　the　effect　of　giving　her　father　so　much　confidence　in　her；　that　he　could　not　help　considering　her　word　a　better　security　than　locks　and　bars。

The　baron　had　been　one　of　the　last　to　hear　of　the　rumours　of　the　new　outlaws　of　Sherwood；　as　Matilda　had　taken　all　possible　precautions　to　keep　those　rumours　from　his　knowledge；　fearing　that　they　might　cause　the　interruption　of　her　greenwood　liberty；　and　it　was　only　during　her　absence　at　Gamwell　feast；　that　the　butler；　being　thrown　off　his　guard　by　liquor；　forgot　her　injunctions；　and　regaled　the　baron　with　a　long　story　of　the　right　merry　adventure　of　Robin　Hood　and　the　abbot　of　Doubleflask。

The　baron　was　one　morning；　as　usual；　cutting　his　way　valorously　through　a　rampart　of　cold　provision；　when　his　ears　were　suddenly　assailed　by　a　tremendous　alarum；　and　sallying　forth；　and　looking　from　his　castle　wall；　he　perceived　a　large　party　of　armed　men　on　the　other　side　of　the　moat；　who　were　calling　on　the　warder　in　the　king's　name　to　lower　the　drawbridge　and　raise　the　portcullis；　which　had　both　been　secured　by　Matilda's　order。　The　baron　walked　along　the　battlement　till　he　came　opposite　to　these　unexpected　visitors；　who；　as　soon　as　they　saw　him；　called　out；　〃Lower　the　drawbridge；　in　the　king's　name。〃

〃For　what；　in　the　devil's　name？〃　said　the　baron。

〃The　sheriff　of　Nottingham；〃　said　one；　〃lies　in　bed　grievously　bruised；　and　many　of　his　men　are　wounded；　and　several　of　them　slain；　and　Sir　Ralph　Montfaucon；　knight；　is　sore　wounded　in　the　arm；　and　we　are　charged　to　apprehend　William　Gamwell　the　younger；　of　Gamwell　Hall；　and　father　Michael　of　Rubygill　Abbey；　and　Matilda　Fitzwater　of　Arlingford　Castle；　as　agents　and　accomplices　in　the　said　breach　of　the　king's　peace。〃

〃Breach　of　the　king's　fiddlestick！〃　answered　the　baron。　〃What　do　you　mean　by　coming　here　with　your　cock　and　bull；　stories　of　my　daughter　grievously　bruising　the　sheriff　of　Nottingham？　　You　are　a　set　of　vagabond　rascals　in　disguise；　and　I　hear；　by　the　bye；　there　is　a　gang　of　thieves　that　has　just　set　up　business　in　Sherwood　Forest：　a　pretty　presence；　indeed；　to　get　into　my　castle　with　force　and　arms；　and　make　a　famine　in　my　buttery；　and　a　drought　in　my　cellar；　and　a　void　in　my　strong　box；　and　a　vacuum　in　my　silver　scullery。〃

〃Lord　Fitzwater；〃　cried　one；　〃take　heed　how　you　resist　lawful　authority：　we　will　prove　ourselves〃

〃You　will　prove　yourselves　arrant　knaves；　I　doubt　not；〃　answered　the　baron；　〃but；　villains；　you　shall　be　more　grievously　bruised　by　me　than　ever　was　the　sheriff　by　my　daughter　（a　pretty　tale　truly！）；　if　you　do　not　forthwith　avoid　my　territory。〃

By　this　time　the　baron's　men　had　flocked　to　the　battlements；　with　long…bows