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The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood-Part26_Howard Pyle(1853-1911)_English Literature(文学名著)-第2页

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Three days hence the money must be paid or else all mine estate is

lost forever, for then it falls into the hands of the Priory of Emmet,



and what they swallow they never give forth again."

Quoth Robin, "I understand not why those of thy kind live in such



a manner that all their wealth passeth from them like snow beneath

the springtide sun."



"Thou wrongest me, Robin," said the Knight, "for listen:

I have a son but twenty winters old, nevertheless he has



won his spurs as knight. Last year, on a certain evil day,

the jousts were held at Chester, and thither my son went,



as did I and my lady wife. I wot it was a proud time for us,

for he unhorsed each knight that he tilted against.



At last he ran a course with a certain great knight,

Sir Walter of Lancaster, yet, though my son was so youthful,



he kept his seat, albeit both spears were shivered to the heft;

but it happened that a splinter of my boy's lance ran through



the visor of Sir Walter's helmet and pierced through his eye

into his brain, so that he died ere his esquire could unlace



his helm. Now, Robin, Sir Walter had great friends at court,

therefore his kinsmen stirred up things against my son so that,



to save him from prison, I had to pay a ransom of six hundred

pounds in gold. All might have gone well even yet, only that,



by ins and outs and crookedness of laws, I was shorn like

a sheep that is clipped to the quick. So it came that I



had to pawn my lands to the Priory of Emmet for more money,

and a hard bargain they drove with me in my hour of need.



Yet I would have thee understand I grieve so for my lands

only because of my dear lady wife."



"But where is thy son now?" asked Robin, who had listened closely

to all the Knight had said.



"In Palestine," said Sir Richard, "battling like a brave

Christian soldier for the cross and the holy sepulcher.



Truly, England was an ill place for him because of Sir Walter's

death and the hate of the Lancastrian's kinsmen."



"Truly," said Robin, much moved, "thine is a hard lot.

But tell me, what is owing to Emmet for thine estates?"



"Only four hundred pounds," said Sir Richard.

At this, Robin smote his thigh in anger. "O the bloodsuckers!"



cried he. "A noble estate to be forfeit for four hundred pounds!

But what will befall thee if thou dost lose thy lands, Sir Richard?"



"It is not mine own lot that doth trouble me in that case,"

said the Knight, "but my dear lady's; for should I lose my land



she will have to betake herself to some kinsman and there abide

in charity, which, methinks, would break her proud heart.



As for me, I will over the salt sea, and so to Palestine to join

my son in fight for the holy sepulcher."



Then up spake Will Scarlet. "But hast thou no friend that will help thee

in thy dire need?"



"Never a man," said Sir Richard. "While I was rich enow at home,

and had friends, they blew great boasts of how they loved me.



But when the oak falls in the forest the swine run from beneath it

lest they should be smitten down also. So my friends have left me;



for not only am I poor but I have great enemies."

Then Robin said, "Thou sayst thou hast no friends, Sir Richard. I make



no boast, but many have found Robin Hood a friend in their troubles.

Cheer up, Sir Knight, I may help thee yet."



The Knight shook his head with a faint smile, but for all that,

Robin's words made him more blithe of heart, for in truth hope,



be it never so faint, bringeth a gleam into darkness, like a little

rushlight that costeth but a groat.



The day was well-nigh gone when they came near to the greenwood tree.

Even at a distance they saw by the number of men that Little John had come



back with some guest, but when they came near enough, whom should they find

but the Lord Bishop of Hereford! The good Bishop was in a fine stew, I wot.



Up and down he walked beneath the tree like a fox caught in a hencoop.

Behind him were three Black Friars standing close together



in a frightened group, like three black sheep in a tempest.

Hitched to the branches of the trees close at hand were six horses,



one of them a barb with gay trappings upon which the Bishop was wont

to ride, and the others laden with packs of divers shapes and kinds,



one of which made Robin's eyes glisten, for it was a box not overlarge,

but heavily bound with bands and ribs of iron.



When the Bishop saw Robin and those with him come into the open he made

as though he would have run toward the yeoman, but the fellow that guarded



the Bishop and the three friars thrust his quarterstaff in front,




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