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the merry adventures of robin hood(罗宾汉奇遇记)-第18章

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who will shoot at Nottingham Town。〃

〃Nay; Little John;〃 quoth Robin; 〃thou art a sound stout fellow; yet thou
lackest the cunning that good Stutely hath; and I would not have harm
befall thee for all Nottinghamshire。  Nevertheless; if thou wilt go;
take some disguise lest there be those there who may know thee。〃

〃So be it; good master;〃 quoth Little John; 〃yet all the disguise that I
wish is a good suit of scarlet instead of this of Lincoln green。
I will draw the cowl of my jacket about my head so that it will hide
my brown hair and beard; and then; I trust; no one will know me。〃

〃It is much against my will;〃 said Robin Hood; 〃ne'ertheless; if thou
dost wish it; get thee gone; but bear thyself seemingly; Little John;
for thou art mine own right…hand man and I could ill bear to have
harm befall thee。〃

So Little John clad himself all in scarlet and started off to the Fair
at Nottingham Town。

Right merry were these Fair days at Nottingham; when the green before
the great town gate was dotted with booths standing in rows; with tents
of many…colored canvas; hung about with streamers and garlands of flowers;
and the folk came from all the countryside; both gentle and common。
In some booths there was dancing to merry music; in others flowed ale
and beer; and in others yet again sweet cakes and barley sugar were sold;
and sport was going outside the booths also; where some minstrel
sang ballads of the olden time; playing a second upon the harp;
or where the wrestlers struggled with one another within the sawdust ring;
but the people gathered most of all around a raised platform where stout
fellows played at quarterstaff。

So Little John came to the Fair。  All scarlet were his hose and jerkin;
and scarlet was his cowled cap; with a scarlet feather stuck in the side
of it。  Over his shoulders was slung a stout bow of yew; and across his back
hung a quiver of good round arrows。  Many turned to look after such a stout;
tall fellow; for his shoulders were broader by a palm's…breadth than any
that were there; and he stood a head taller than all the other men。
The lasses; also; looked at him askance; thinking they had never seen
a lustier youth。

First of all he went to the booth where stout ale was sold and;
standing aloft on a bench; he called to all that were near
to come and drink with him。  〃Hey; sweet lads!〃 cried he 〃who
will drink ale with a stout yeoman?  Come; all!  Come; all!
Let us be merry; for the day is sweet and the ale is tingling。
Come hither; good yeoman; and thou; and thou; for not a farthing
shall one of you pay。  Nay; turn hither; thou lusty beggar;
and thou jolly tinker; for all shall be merry with me。

Thus he shouted; and all crowded around; laughing; while the brown ale flowed;
and they called Little John a brave fellow; each swearing that he loved him
as his own brother; for when one has entertainment with nothing to pay;
one loves the man that gives it to one。

Then he strolled to the platform where they were at cudgel play;
for he loved a bout at quarterstaff as he loved meat and drink;
and here befell an adventure that was sung in ballads throughout
the mid…country for many a day。

One fellow there was that cracked crowns of everyone who threw
cap into the ring。  This was Eric o' Lincoln; of great renown;
whose name had been sung in ballads throughout the countryside。
When Little John reached the stand he found none fighting;
but only bold Eric walking up and down the platform;
swinging his staff and shouting lustily; 〃Now; who will
come and strike a stroke for the lass he loves the best;
with a good Lincolnshire yeoman?  How now; lads?  Step up!
Step up!  Or else the lasses' eyes are not bright hereabouts;
or the blood of Nottingham youth is sluggish and cold。
Lincoln against Nottingham; say I!  For no one hath put foot upon
the boards this day such as we of Lincoln call a cudgel player。〃

At this; one would nudge another with his elbow; saying; 〃Go thou; Ned!〃
or 〃Go thou; Thomas!〃 but no lad cared to gain a cracked crown for nothing。

Presently Eric saw where Little John stood among the others;
a head and shoulders above them all; and he called to
him loudly; 〃Halloa; thou long…legged fellow in scarlet!
Broad are thy shoulders and thick thy head; is not thy lass
fair enough for thee to take cudgel in hand for her sake?
In truth; I believe that Nottingham men do turn to bone and sinew;
for neither heart nor courage have they!  Now; thou great lout;
wilt thou not twirl staff for Nottingham?〃

〃Ay;〃 quoth Little John; 〃had I but mine own good staff here; it would
pleasure me hugely to crack thy knave's pate; thou saucy braggart!
I wot it would be well for thee an thy cock's comb were cut!〃
Thus he spoke; slowly at first; for he was slow to move; but his
wrath gathered headway like a great stone rolling down a hill;
so that at the end he was full of anger。

Then Eric o' Lincoln laughed aloud。  〃Well spoken for one who fears
to meet me fairly; man to man;〃 said he。  〃Saucy art thou thine own self;
and if thou puttest foot upon these boards; I will make thy saucy tongue
rattle within thy teeth!〃





〃Now;〃 quoth Little John; 〃is there never a man here that will
lend me a good stout staff till I try the mettle of yon fellow?〃
At this; half a score reached him their staves; and he took the stoutest
and heaviest of them all。  Then; looking up and down the cudgel;
he said; 〃Now; I have in my hand but a splint of wooda barley straw;
as it wereyet I trow it will have to serve me; so here goeth。〃
Thereupon he cast the cudgel upon the stand and; leaping lightly after it;
snatched it up in his hand again。

Then each man stood in his place and measured the other with fell
looks until he that directed the sport cried; 〃Play!〃  At this they
stepped forth; each grasping his staff tightly in the middle。
Then those that stood around saw the stoutest game of quarterstaff
that e'er Nottingham Town beheld。  At first Eric o' Lincoln thought
that he would gain an easy advantage; so he came forth as if he would say;
〃Watch; good people; how that I carve you this cockerel right speedily〃;
but he presently found it to be no such speedy matter。  Right deftly
he struck; and with great skill of fence; but he had found his match
in Little John。  Once; twice; thrice; he struck; and three times
Little John turned the blows to the left hand and to the right。
Then quickly and with a dainty backhanded blow; he rapped Eric
beneath his guard so shrewdly that it made his head ring again。
Then Eric stepped back to gather his wits; while a great shout went
up and all were glad that Nottingham had cracked Lincoln's crown;
and thus ended the first bout of the game。

Then presently the director of the sport cried; 〃Play!〃 and they came
together again; but now Eric played warily; for he found his man was of right
good mettle; and also he had no sweet memory of the blow that he had got;
so this bout neither Little John nor the Lincoln man caught a stroke
within his guard。  Then; after a while; they parted again; and this made
the second bout。

Then for the third time they came together; and at first Eric strove
to be wary
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