the merry adventures of robin hood-第52部分

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and　the　third；　〃Listen；　now；　to　the　holy　man！〃　But　at　the　same　time　they　looked　at　Little　John　from　out　the　corners　of　their　eyes。

〃Now；　look　you；〃　said　Little　John；　〃I　cannot　see　such　dainty　damsels　as　ye　are　carrying　baskets　along　a　highroad。　Let　me　take　them　mine　own　self；　and　one　of　you；　if　ye　will；　may　carry　my　staff　for　me。〃

〃Nay；〃　said　one　of　the　lasses；　〃but　thou　canst　not　carry　three　baskets　all　at　one　time。〃

〃Yea；　but　I　can；〃　said　Little　John；　〃and　that　I　will　show　you　presently。　I　thank　the　good　Saint　Wilfred　that　he　hath　given　me　a　pretty　wit。　Look　ye；　now。　　Here　I　take　this　great　basket；　so；　here　I　tie　my　rosary　around　the　handle；　thus；　and　here　I　slip　the　rosary　over　my　head　and　sling　the　basket　upon　my　back；　in　this　wise。〃　And　Little　John　did　according　to　his　words；　the　basket　hanging　down　behind　him　like　a　peddler's　pack；　then；　giving　his　staff　to　one　of　the　maids；　and　taking　a　basket　upon　either　arm；　he　turned　his　face　toward　Tuxford　Town　and　stepped　forth　merrily；　a　laughing　maid　on　either　side；　and　one　walking　ahead；　carrying　the　staff。　In　this　wise　they　journeyed　along；　and　everyone　they　met　stopped　and　looked　after　them；　laughing；　for　never　had　anybody　seen　such　a　merry　sight　as　this　tall；　strapping　Gray　Friar；　with　robes　all　too　short　for　him；　laden　with　eggs；　and　tramping　the　road　with　three　pretty　lasses。　For　this　Little　John　cared　not　a　whit；　but　when　such　folks　gave　jesting　words　to　him　he　answered　back　as　merrily；　speech　for　speech。

So　they　stepped　along　toward　Tuxford；　chatting　and　laughing；　until　they　came　nigh　to　the　town。　　Here　Little　John　stopped　and　set　down　the　baskets；　for　he　did　not　care　to　go　into　the　town　lest　he　should；　perchance；　meet　some　of　the　Sheriff's　men。　〃Alas！　sweet　chucks；〃　quoth　he；　〃here　I　must　leave　you。　I　had　not　thought　to　come　this　way；　but　I　am　glad　that　I　did　so。　Now；　ere　we　part；　we　must　drink　sweet　friendship。〃　　So　saying；　he　unslung　the　leathern　pottle　from　the　end　of　his　staff；　and；　drawing　the　stopper　therefrom；　he　handed　it　to　the　lass　who　had　carried　his　staff；　first　wiping　the　mouth　of　the　pottle　upon　his　sleeve。　Then　each　lass　took　a　fair　drink　of　what　was　within；　and　when　it　had　passed　all　around；　Little　John　finished　what　was　left；　so　that　not　another　drop　could　be　squeezed　from　it。　　Then；　kissing　each　lass　sweetly；　he　wished　them　all　good　den；　and　left　them。　But　the　maids　stood　looking　after　him　as　he　walked　away　whistling。　〃What　a　pity；〃　quoth　one；　〃that　such　a　stout；　lusty　lad　should　be　in　holy　orders。〃

〃Marry；〃　quoth　Little　John　to　himself；　as　he　strode　along；　〃yon　was　no　such　ill　happening；　Saint　Dunstan　send　me　more　of　the　like。〃

After　he　had　trudged　along　for　a　time　he　began　to　wax　thirsty　again　in　the　warmth　of　the　day。　　He　shook　his　leathern　pottle　beside　his　ear；　but　not　a　sound　came　therefrom。　　Then　he　placed　it　to　his　lips　and　tilted　it　high　aloft；　but　not　a　drop　was　there。　〃Little　John！　　Little　John！〃　said　he　sadly　to　himself；　shaking　his　head　the　while；　〃woman　will　be　thy　ruin　yet；　if　thou　dost　not　take　better　care　of　thyself。〃

But　at　last　he　reached　the　crest　of　a　certain　hill；　and　saw　below　a　sweet　little　thatched　inn　lying　snugly　in　the　dale　beneath　him；　toward　which　the　road　dipped　sharply。　　At　the　sight　of　this；　a　voice　within　him　cried　aloud；　〃I　give　thee　joy；　good　friend；　for　yonder　is　thy　heart's　delight；　to　wit；　a　sweet　rest　and　a　cup　of　brown　beer。〃　So　he　quickened　his　pace　down　the　hill　and　so　came　to　the　little　inn；　from　which　hung　a　sign　with　a　stag's　head　painted　upon　it。　In　front　of　the　door　a　clucking　hen　was　scratching　in　the　dust　with　a　brood　of　chickens　about　her　heels；　the　sparrows　were　chattering　of　household　affairs　under　the　eaves；　and　all　was　so　sweet　and　peaceful　that　Little　John's　heart　laughed　within　him。　Beside　the　door　stood　two　stout　cobs　with　broad　soft…padded　saddles；　well　fitted　for　easy　traveling；　and　speaking　of　rich　guests　in　the　parlor。　In　front　of　the　door　three　merry　fellows；　a　tinker；　a　peddler；　and　a　beggar；　were　seated　on　a　bench　in　the　sun　quaffing　stout　ale。

〃I　give　you　good　den；　sweet　friends；〃　quoth　Little　John；　striding　up　to　where　they　sat。

〃Give　thee　good　den；　holy　father；〃　quoth　the　merry　Beggar　with　a　grin。　〃But　look　thee；　thy　gown　is　too　short。　　Thou　hadst　best　cut　a　piece　off　the　top　and　tack　it　to　the　bottom；　so　that　it　may　be　long　enough。　But　come；　sit　beside　us　here　and　take　a　taste　of　ale；　if　thy　vows　forbid　thee　not。〃

〃Nay；〃　quoth　Little　John；　also　grinning；　〃the　blessed　Saint　Dunstan　hath　given　me　a　free　dispensation　for　all　indulgence　in　that　line。〃　And　he　thrust　his　hand　into　his　pouch　for　money　to　pay　his　score。

〃Truly；〃　quoth　the　Tinker；　〃without　thy　looks　belie　thee；　holy　friar；　the　good　Saint　Dunstan　was　wise；　for　without　such　dispensation　his　votary　is　like　to　ha'　many　a　penance　to　make。　　Nay；　take　thy　hand　from　out　thy　pouch；　brother；　for　thou　shalt　not　pay　this　shot。　Ho；　landlord；　a　pot　of　ale！〃

So　the　ale　was　brought　and　given　to　Little　John。　　Then；　blowing　the　froth　a　little　way　to　make　room　for　his　lips；　he　tilted　the　bottom　of　the　pot　higher　and　higher；　till　it　pointed　to　the　sky；　and　he　had　to　shut　his　eyes　to　keep　the　dazzle　of　the　sunshine　out　of　them。　Then　he　took　the　pot　away；　for　there　was　nothing　in　it；　and　heaved　a　full　deep　sigh；　looking　at　the　others　with　moist　eyes　and　shaking　his　head　solemnly。

〃Ho；　landlord！〃　cried　the　Peddler；　〃bring　this　good　fellow　another　pot　of　ale；　for　truly　it　is　a　credit　to　us　all　to　have　one　among　us　who　can　empty　a　canakin　so　lustily。〃

So　they　talked　among　themselves　merrily；　until　after　a　while　quoth　Little　John；　〃Who　rideth　those　two　nags　yonder？〃

〃Two　holy　men　like　thee；　brother；〃　quoth　the　Beggar。　　〃They　are　now　having　a　goodly　feast　within；　for　I　smelled　the　steam　of　a　boiled　pullet　just　now。　The　landlady　sayeth　they　come　from　Fountain　Abbey；　in　Yorkshire；　and　go　to　Lincoln　on　matters　of　business。〃

〃They　are　a　merry　couple；〃　said　the　Tinker；　〃for　one　is　as　lean　as　an　old　wife's　spindle；　and　the　other　as　fat　as　a　suet　pudding。〃

〃Talking　of　fatness；〃　said　the　Peddler；　〃thou　thyself　lookest　none　too　ill…fed；　holy　friar。〃

〃Nay；　truly；〃　said　Little　John；　〃thou　seest　in　me　what　the　holy　Saint　Dunstan　can　do　for　them　that　serve　him　upon　a　handful　of　parched　peas　and　a　trickle　of　cold　water。〃

At　this　a　great　shout　of　laughter　went　up。　　〃Truly；　it　is　a　wondrous　thing；〃　quoth　the　Beggar；　〃I　would　have　made　my　vow；　to　see　the　masterly　manner　in　which　thou　didst　tuck　away　yon　pot　of　ale；　that　thou　hadst　not　tasted　clear　water　for　a　brace　of　months。　Has　not　this　same　holy　Saint　Dunstan　taught　thee　a　goodly　song　or　two？〃

〃Why；　as　for　that；〃　quoth　Little　John；　grinning；　〃mayhap　he　hath　lent　me　aid　to　learn　a　ditty　or　so。〃

〃Then；　prythee；　let　us　hear　how　he　hath　taught　thee；〃　quoth　the　Tinker。

At　this　Little　John　cleared　his　throat　and；　after　a　word　or　two　about　a　certain　hoarseness　that　troubled　him；　sang　thus：

　〃_Ah；　pretty；　pretty　maid；　whither　dost　thou　go？　　I　prythee；　prythee；　wait　for　thy　lover　also；　　　　　　And　we'll　gather　the　rose　　　　　　As　it　sweetly　blows；　　For　the　merry；　merry　winds　are　blo…o…o…wing_。〃


Now　it　seemed　as　though　Little　John's　songs　were　never　to　get　sung；　fo