the merry adventures of robin hood- 第34部分

〃Now；　Sir　Prior；〃　quoth　Sir　Richard；　〃I　have　held　my　day　and　paid　all　the　dues　demanded　of　me；　so；　as　there　is　no　more　betwixt　us；　I　leave　this　vile　place　straightway。〃　So　saying；　he　turned　upon　his　heel　and　strode　away。

All　this　time　the　Sheriff　had　been　staring　with　wide…open　eyes　and　mouth　agape　at　the　tall　man…at…arms；　who　stood　as　though　carved　out　of　stone。　At　last　he　gasped　out；　〃Reynold　Greenleaf！〃

At　this；　the　tall　man…at…arms；　who　was　no　other　than　Little　John；　turned；　grinning；　to　the　Sheriff。　　〃I　give　thee　good　den；　fair　gossip；〃　quoth　he。　〃I　would　say；　sweet　Sheriff；　that　I　have　heard　all　thy　pretty　talk　this　day；　and　it　shall　be　duly　told　unto　Robin　Hood。　　So；　farewell　for　the　nonce；　till　we　meet　again　in　Sherwood　Forest。〃　　Then　he；　also；　turned　and　followed　Sir　Richard　down　the　hall；　leaving　the　Sheriff；　all　pale　and　amazed；　shrunk　together　upon　his　chair。

A　merry　feast　it　was　to　which　Sir　Richard　came；　but　a　sorry　lot　he　left　behind　him；　and　little　hunger　had　they　for　the　princely　food　spread　before　them。　Only　the　learned　doctor　was　happy；　for　he　had　his　fee。


Now　a　twelvemonth　and　a　day　passed　since　Prior　Vincent　of　Emmet　sat　at　feast；　and　once　more　the　mellow　fall　of　another　year　had　come。　But　the　year　had　brought　great　change；　I　wot；　to　the　lands　of　Sir　Richard　of　the　Lea；　for；　where　before　shaggy　wild　grasses　grew　upon　the　meadow　lands；　now　all　stretch　away　in　golden　stubble；　betokening　that　a　rich　and　plentiful　crop　had　been　gathered　therefrom。　A　year　had　made　a　great　change　in　the　castle；　also；　for；　where　were　empty　moats　and　the　crumbling　of　neglect；　all　was　now　orderly　and　well　kept。

Bright　shone　the　sun　on　battlement　and　tower；　and　in　the　blue　air　overhead　a　Hock　of　clattering　jackdaws　flew　around　the　gilded　weather　vane　and　spire。　　Then；　in　the　brightness　of　the　morning；　the　drawbridge　fell　across　the　moat　with　a　rattle　and　clank　of　chains；　the　gate　of　the　castle　swung　slowly　open；　and　a　goodly　array　of　steel…clad　men…at…arms；　with　a　knight　all　clothed　in　chain　mail；　as　white　as　frost　on　brier　and　thorn　of　a　winter　morning；　came　flashing　out　from　the　castle　courtyard。　In　his　hand　the　Knight　held　a　great　spear；　from　the　point　of　which　fluttered　a　blood…red　pennant　as　broad　as　the　palm　of　one's　hand。　So　this　troop　came　forth　from　the　castle；　and　in　the　midst　of　them　walked　three　pack　horses　laden　with　parcels　of　divers　shapes　and　kinds。

Thus　rode　forth　good　Sir　Richard　of　the　Lea　to　pay　his　debt　to　Robin　Hood　this　bright　and　merry　morn。　Along　the　highway　they　wended　their　way；　with　measured　tramp　of　feet　and　rattle　and　jingle　of　sword　and　harness。　Onward　they　marched　till　they　came　nigh　to　Denby；　where；　from　the　top　of　a　hill；　they　saw；　over　beyond　the　town；　many　gay　flags　and　streamers　floating　in　the　bright　air。　Then　Sir　Richard　turned　to　the　man…at…arms　nearest　to　him。　〃What　is　toward　yonder　at　Denby　today？〃　quoth　he。

〃Please　Your　Worship；〃　answered　the　man…at…arms；　〃a　merry　fair　is　held　there　today；　and　a　great　wrestling　match；　to　which　many　folk　have　come；　for　a　prize　hath　been　offered　of　a　pipe　of　red　wine；　a　fair　golden　ring；　and　a　pair　of　gloves；　all　of　which　go　to　the　best　wrestler。〃

〃Now；　by　my　faith；〃　quoth　Sir　Richard；　who　loved　good　manly　sports　right　well；　〃this　will　be　a　goodly　thing　to　see。　　Methinks　we　have　to　stay　a　little　while　on　our　journey；　and　see　this　merry　sport。〃　So　he　turned　his　horse's　head　aside　toward　Denby　and　the　fair；　and　thither　he　and　his　men　made　their　way。

There　they　found　a　great　hubbub　of　merriment。　　Flags　and　streamers　were　floating；　tumblers　were　tumbling　on　the　green；　bagpipes　were　playing；　and　lads　and　lasses　were　dancing　to　the　music。　　But　the　crowd　were　gathered　most　of　all　around　a　ring　where　the　wrestling　was　going　forward；　and　thither　Sir　Richard　and　his　men　turned　their　steps。

Now　when　the　judges　of　the　wrestling　saw　Sir　Richard　coming　and　knew　who　he　was；　the　chief　of　them　came　down　from　the　bench　where　he　and　the　others　sat；　and　went　to　the　Knight　and　took　him　by　the　hand；　beseeching　him　to　come　and　sit　with　them　and　judge　the　sport。　So　Sir　Richard　got　down　from　his　horse　and　went　with　the　others　to　the　bench　raised　beside　the　ring。

Now　there　had　been　great　doings　that　morning；　for　a　certain　yeoman　named　Egbert；　who　came　from　Stoke　over　in　Staffordshire；　had　thrown　with　ease　all　those　that　came　against　him；　but　a　man　of　Denby；　well　known　through　all　the　countryside　as　William　of　the　Scar；　had　been　biding　his　time　with　the　Stoke　man；　so；　when　Egbert　had　thrown　everyone　else；　stout　William　leaped　into　the　ring。　Then　a　tough　bout　followed；　and　at　last　he　threw　Egbert　heavily；　whereat　there　was　a　great　shouting　and　shaking　of　hands；　for　all　the　Denby　men　were　proud　of　their　wrestler。

When　Sir　Richard　came；　he　found　stout　William；　puffed　up　by　the　shouts　of　his　friends；　walking　up　and　down　the　ring；　daring　anyone　to　come　and　try　a　throw　with　him。　　〃Come　one；　come　all！〃　quoth　he。　　〃Here　stand　I；　William　of　the　Scar；　against　any　man。　If　there　is　none　in　Derbyshire　to　come　against　me；　come　all　who　will；　from　Nottingham；　Stafford；　or　York；　and　if　I　do　not　make　them　one　and　all　root　the　ground　with　their　noses　like　swine　in　the　forests；　call　me　no　more　brave　William　the　wrestler。〃

At　this　all　laughed；　but　above　all　the　laughter　a　loud　voice　was　heard　to　cry　out；　〃Sin'　thou　talkest　so　big；　here　cometh　one　from　Nottinghamshire　to　try　a　fall　with　thee；　fellow〃；　and　straightway　a　tall　youth　with　a　tough　quarterstaff　in　his　hand　came　pushing　his　way　through　the　crowd　and　at　last　leaped　lightly　over　the　rope　into　the　ring。　He　was　not　as　heavy　as　stout　William；　but　he　was　taller　and　broader　in　the　shoulders；　and　all　his　joints　were　well　knit。　Sir　Richard　looked　upon　him　keenly；　then；　turning　to　one　of　the　judges；　he　said；　〃Knowest　thou　who　this　youth　is？　Methinks　I　have　seen　him　before。〃

〃Nay；〃　said　the　judge；　〃he　is　a　stranger　to　me。〃

Meantime；　without　a　word；　the　young　man；　laying　aside　his　quarterstaff；　began　to　take　off　his　jerkin　and　body　clothing　until　he　presently　stood　with　naked　arms　and　body；　and　a　comely　sight　he　was　when　so　bared　to　the　view；　for　his　muscles　were　cut　round　and　smooth　and　sharp　like　swift…running　water。

And　now　each　man　spat　upon　his　hands　and；　clapping　them　upon　his　knees；　squatted　down；　watching　the　other　keenly；　so　as　to　take　the　vantage　of　him　in　the　grip。　Then　like　a　flash　they　leaped　together；　and　a　great　shout　went　up；　for　William　had　gotten　the　better　hold　of　the　two。　For　a　short　time　they　strained　and　struggled　and　writhed；　and　then　stout　William　gave　his　most　cunning　trip　and　throw；　but　the　stranger　met　it　with　greater　skill　than　his；　and　so　the　trip　came　to　nought。　　Then；　of　a　sudden；　with　a　twist　and　a　wrench；　the　stranger　loosed　himself；　and　he　of　the　scar　found　himself　locked　in　a　pair　of　arms　that　fairly　made　his　ribs　crack。　　So；　with　heavy；　hot　breathing；　they　stood　for　a　while　straining；　their　bodies　all　glistening　with　sweat；　and　great　drops　of　sweat　trickling　down　their　faces。　But　the　stranger's　hug　was　so　close　that　at　last　stout　William's　muscles　softened　under　his　grip；　and　he　gave　a　sob。　Then　the　youth　put　forth　all　his　strength　and　gave　a　sudden　trip　with　his　heel　and　a　cast　over　his　right　hip；　and　down　stout　William　went；　with　a　sickening　thud；　and　lay　as　though　he　would　never　move　hand　nor　foot　again。

But　now　no　shout　went　up　for　the　stranger；　but　an　angry　murmur　was　heard　among　the　crowd；　so　easily　had　he　won　the　match。　Then　one　of　the　judges；　a　kinsman　to　William　of　the　Scar；　rose　with　trembling　lip　and　baleful　look。　　Quoth　he；　〃If　thou　hath　slain　that　man　it　will　go　ill　with　thee；　let　me　tell　thee；　fellow。〃　　But　the　stranger　answered　boldly；　〃He　took　his　chance　with　me　as　I　took　mine　with　him。　No　law　can　touch　me　to　harm　me；　even　if　I　slew　him；　so　that　it　was　fairly　done　in　the　wrestling　ring。〃

〃That　we　shall　see；〃　said　the　judge；　scowling　upon　the　youth；　while　once　more　an　angry　murmur　ran　around　the　crowd；　for；　as　I　have　said；　the　men　of　Denby　were　proud　of　stout　William　of　the　Scar。

Then　up　spoke　Sir　Richard　gently。　　〃Nay；〃　said　he；　〃the　youth　is　right；　if　the　other　dieth；　he　dieth　in　the　wrestling　ring；　where　he　took　his　chance；　and　was　cast　fairly　enow。〃

But　in　the　meantime　three　men　had　come　forward　and　lifted　stout　William　from　the　ground　and　found　that　he　was　not　dead；　though　badly　shaken　by　his　heavy　fall。　　Then　the　chief　judge　rose　and　said；　〃Young　man；　the　prize　is　duly　thine。　Here　is　the　red…gold　ring；　and　here　the　gloves；　and　yonder　stands　the　pipe　of　wine　to　do　with　whatsoever　thou　dost　list。〃

At　this；　the　youth；　who　had　donned　his　clothes　and　taken　up　his　staff　again；　bowed　without　a　word；　then；　taking　the　gloves　and　the　ring；　and　thrusting　the　one　into　his　girdle　and　slipping　the　other　upon　his　thumb；　he　turned　and；　leaping　lightly　over　the　ropes　again；　made　his　way　through　the　crowd；　and　was　gone。

〃Now；　I　wonder　who　yon　youth　may　be；〃　said　the　judge；　turning　to　Sir　Richard；　〃he　seemeth　like　a　stout　Saxon　from　his　red　cheeks　and　fair　hair。　This　William　of　ours　is　a　stout　man；　too；　and　never　have　I　seen　him　cast　in　the　ring　before；　albeit　he　hath　not　yet　striven　with　such　great　wrestlers　as　Thomas　of　Cornwall；　Diccon　of　York；　and　young　David　of　Doncaster。　　Hath　he　not　a　firm　foot　in　the　ring；　thinkest　thou；　Sir　Richard？〃

〃Ay；　truly；　and　yet　this　youth　threw　him　fairly；　and　with　wondrous　ease。　I　much　wonder　who　he　can　be。〃　　Thus　said　Sir　Richard　in　a　thoughtful　voice。

For　a　time　the　Knight　stood　talking　to　those　about　him；　but　at　last　he　arose　and　made　ready　to　depart；　so　he　called　his　men　about　him　and；　tightening　the　girths　of　his　saddle；　he　mounted　his　horse　once　more。

Meanwhile　the　young　stranger　had　made　his　way　through　the　crowd；　but；　as　he　passed；　he　heard　all　around　him　such　words　muttered　as　〃Look　at　the　cockerel！〃　　〃Behold　how　he　plumeth　himself！〃　〃I　dare　swear　he　cast　good　William　unfairly！〃　　〃Yea；　truly；　saw　ye　not　birdlime　upon　his　hands？〃　　〃It　would　be　well　to　cut　his　cock's　comb！〃　　To　all　this　the　stranger　paid　no　heed；　but　strode　proudly　about　as　though　he　heard　it　not。　So　he　walked　slowly　across　the　green　to　where　the　booth　stood　wherein　was　dancing；　and　standing　at　the　door　he　looked　in　on　the　sport。　As　he　stood　thus；　a　s