按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
the Black Friars。
Then up spake the smallest of all； in a trembling voice
an old man he was； with a gentle； wrinkled face。
〃That have I； but； I pray thee； harm me not。〃
〃Nay；〃 quoth Robin； 〃I have never harmed harmless man yet；
but give it to me； good father。〃 So the old man did as
he was bidden； and handed Robin the tablet on which was marked
down the account of the various packages upon the horses。
This Robin handed to Will Scarlet； bidding him to read the same。
So Will Scarlet； lifting his voice that all might hear； began：
〃Three bales of silk to Quentin； the mercer at Ancaster。〃
〃That we touch not；〃 quoth Robin； 〃for this Quentin
is an honest fellow； who hath risen by his own thrift。〃
So the bales of silk were laid aside unopened。
〃 One bale of silk velvet for the Abbey of Beaumont。〃
〃What do these priests want of silk velvet？〃
quoth Robin。 〃Nevertheless； though they need it not；
I will not take all from them。 Measure it off into three lots；
one to be sold for charity； one for us； and one for the abbey。〃
So this； too； was done as Robin Hood bade。
〃Twoscore of great wax candles for the Chapel of Saint Thomas。〃
〃That belongeth fairly to the chapel；〃 quoth Robin； 〃so lay it to one side。
Far be it from us to take from the blessed Saint Thomas that which
belongeth to him。〃 So this； also； was done according to Robin's bidding；
and the candles were laid to one side； along with honest Quentin's
unopened bales of silk。 So the list was gone through with；
and the goods adjudged according to what Robin thought most fit。
Some things were laid aside untouched； and many were opened and divided
into three equal parts； for charity； for themselves； and for the owners。
And now all the ground in the torchlight was covered over with
silks and velvets and cloths of gold and cases of rich wines；
and so they came to the last line upon the tablet〃 A box belonging
to the Lord Bishop of Hereford。〃
At these words the Bishop shook as with a chill； and the box
was set upon the ground。
〃My Lord Bishop； hast thou the key of this box？〃 asked Robin。
The Bishop shook his head。
〃Go； Will Scarlet；〃 said Robin； 〃thou art the strongest man here
bring a sword straightway； and cut this box open； if thou canst。〃
Then up rose Will Scarlet and left them； coming back in a short time；
bearing a great two…handed sword。 Thrice he smote that strong；
ironbound box； and at the third blow it burst open and a great heap
of gold came rolling forth； gleaming red in the light of the torches。
At this sight a murmur went all around among the band； like the
sound of the wind in distant trees； but no man came forward nor
touched the money。
Quoth Robin； 〃Thou； Will Scarlet； thou； Allan a Dale； and thou；
Little John； count it over。〃
A long time it took to count all the money； and when it had been duly
scored up； Will Scarlet called out that there were fifteen hundred
golden pounds in all。 But in among the gold they found a paper；
and this Will Scarlet read in a loud voice； and all heard that this
money was the rental and fines and forfeits from certain estates
belonging to the Bishopric of Hereford。
〃My Lord Bishop；〃 said Robin Hood； 〃I will not strip thee；
as Little John said； like a winter hedge； for thou shalt take
back one third of thy money。 One third of it thou canst
well spare to us for thy entertainment and that of thy train；
for thou art very rich； one third of it thou canst better spare
for charity； for； Bishop； I hear that thou art a hard master
to those beneath thee and a close hoarder of gains that thou
couldst better and with more credit to thyself give to charity
than spend upon thy own likings。〃
At this the Bishop looked up； but he could say never a word；
yet he was thankful to keep some of his wealth。
Then Robin turned to Sir Richard of the Lea； and quoth he；
〃Now； Sir Richard； the church seemed like to despoil thee；
therefore some of the overplus of church gains may well be used
in aiding thee。 Thou shalt take that five hundred pounds laid
aside for people more in need than the Bishop is； and shalt
pay thy debts to Emmet therewith。〃
Sir Richard looked at Robin until something arose in his
eyes that made all the lights and the faces blur together。
At last he said； 〃I thank thee； friend； from my heart； for what thou
doest for me； yet； think not ill if I cannot take thy gift freely。
But this I will do： I will take the money and pay my debts；
and in a year and a day hence will return it safe either to thee
or to the Lord Bishop of Hereford。 For this I pledge my most
solemn knightly word。 I feel free to borrow； for I know no man
that should be more bound to aid me than one so high in that church
that hath driven such a hard bargain。〃 〃Truly； Sir Knight；〃
quoth Robin； 〃I do not understand those fine scruples that weigh
with those of thy kind； but； nevertheless； it shall all be
as thou dost wish。 But thou hadst best bring the money to me
at the end of the year； for mayhap I may make better use of it
than the Bishop。〃 Thereupon； turning to those near him； he gave
his orders； and five hundred pounds were counted out and tied
up in a leathern bag for Sir Richard。 The rest of the treasure
was divided； and part taken to the treasurehouse of the band；
and part put by with the other things for the Bishop。
Then Sir Richard arose。 〃I cannot stay later； good friends；〃
said he； 〃for my lady will wax anxious if I come not home；
so I crave leave to depart。〃
Then Robin Hood and all his merry men arose； and Robin said；
〃We cannot let thee go hence unattended； Sir Richard。〃
Then up spake Little John； 〃Good master； let me choose a score
of stout fellows from the band； and let us arm ourselves in a seemly
manner and so serve as retainers to Sir Richard till he can get
others in our stead。〃
〃Thou hast spoken well； Little John； and it shall be done；〃 said Robin。
Then up spake Will Scarlet； 〃Let us give him a golden chain
to hang about his neck； such as befits one of his blood；
and also golden spurs to wear at his heels。〃
Then Robin Hood said； 〃Thou hast spoken well； Will Scarlet；
and it shall be done。〃
Then up spake Will Stutely； 〃Let us give him yon bale of rich
velvet and yon roll of cloth of gold to take home to his noble
lady wife as a present from Robin Hood and his merry men all。〃
At this all clapped their hands for joy； and Robin said：
〃Thou hast well spoken； Will Stutely； and it shall be done。〃
Then Sir Richard of the Lea looked all around and strove to speak；
but could scarcely do so for the feelings that choked him； at last
he said in a husky； trembling voice； 〃Ye shall all see； good friends；
that Sir Richard o' the Lea will ever remember your kindness this day。
And if ye be at any time in dire need or trouble； come to me and my lady；
and the walls of Castle Lea shall be battered down ere harm shall
befall you。 I〃 He could say nothing further； but turned hastily away。
But now Little John and nineteen stout fellows whom he had
chosen for his band； came forth all ready for the journey。
Each man wore upon his breast a coat of linked mail； and on
his head a cap of steel； and at his side a good stout