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！
while all his heart was filled with gall because of the vexation
that lay upon him。
The next day the King took leave of Nottingham Town； so Robin Hood
and Little John and Will Scarlet and Allan a Dale shook hands
with all the rest of the band； kissing the cheeks of each man；
and swearing that they would often come to Sherwood and see them。
Then each mounted his horse and rode away in the train of the King。
Epilogue
THUS END the Merry Adventures of Robin Hood； for； in spite of his promise；
it was many a year ere he saw Sherwood again。
After a year or two at court Little John came back to Nottinghamshire；
where he lived in an orderly way； though within sight of Sherwood；
and where he achieved great fame as the champion of all England with
the quarterstaff。 Will Scarlet after a time came back to his own home；
whence he had been driven by his unlucky killing of his father's steward。
The rest of the band did their duty as royal rangers right well。
But Robin Hood and Allan a Dale did not come again to Sherwood so quickly；
for thus it was：
Robin； through his great fame as an archer； became a favorite with the King；
so that he speedily rose in rank to be the chief of all the yeomen。
At last the King； seeing how faithful and how loyal he was； created him
Earl of Huntingdon； so Robin followed the King to the wars； and found
his time so full that he had no chance to come back to Sherwood for even
so much as a day。 As for Allan a Dale and his wife； the fair Ellen；
they followed Robin Hood and shared in all his ups and downs of life。
And now； dear friend； you who have journeyed with me in all
these merry doings； I will not bid you follow me further；
but will drop your hand here with a 〃good den；〃 if you wish it；
for that which cometh hereafter speaks of the breaking up
of things； and shows how joys and pleasures that are dead
and gone can never be set upon their feet to walk again。
I will not dwell upon the matter overlong； but will tell
as speedily as may be of how that stout fellow； Robin Hood；
died as he had lived； not at court as Earl of Huntingdon；
but with bow in hand； his heart in the greenwood； and he himself
a right yeoman。
King Richard died upon the battlefield； in such a way as properly became
a lion…hearted king； as you yourself； no doubt； know； so； after a time；
the Earl of Huntingdonor Robin Hood； as we still call him as of old
finding nothing for his doing abroad； came back to merry England again。
With him came Allan a Dale and his wife； the fair Ellen； for these two had
been chief of Robin's household ever since he had left Sherwood Forest。
It was in the springtime when they landed once more on the shores
of England。 The leaves were green and the small birds sang blithely；
just as they used to do in fair Sherwood when Robin Hood roamed
the woodland shades with a free heart and a light heel。
All the sweetness of the time and the joyousness of everything
brought back to Robin's mind his forest life； so that a great
longing came upon him to behold the woodlands once more。
So he went straightway to King John and besought leave of him
to visit Nottingham for a short season。 The King gave him leave
to come and to go； but bade him not stay longer than three days
at Sherwood。 So Robin Hood and Allan a Dale set forth without
delay to Nottinghamshire and Sherwood Forest。
The first night they took up their inn at Nottingham Town；
yet they did not go to pay their duty to the Sheriff；
for his worship bore many a bitter grudge against Robin Hood；
which grudges had not been lessened by Robin's rise in the world。
The next day at an early hour they mounted their horses and set forth
for the woodlands。 As they passed along the road it seemed to Robin
that he knew every stick and stone that his eyes looked upon。
Yonder was a path that he had ofttimes trod of a mellow evening；
with Little John beside him； here was one； now nigh choked
with brambles； along which he and a little band had walked
when they went forth to seek a certain curtal friar。
Thus they rode slowly onward； talking about these old； familiar things；
old and yet new； for they found more in them than they had ever thought
of before。 Thus at last they came to the open glade； and the broad；
wide…spreading greenwood tree which was their home for so many years。
Neither of the two spoke when they stood beneath that tree。
Robin looked all about him at the well…known things； so like what they
used to be and yet so different； for； where once was the bustle of many
busy fellows was now the quietness of solitude； and； as he looked；
the woodlands； the greensward； and the sky all blurred together in his sight
through salt tears； for such a great yearning came upon him as he looked
on these things （as well known to him as the fingers of his right hand）
that he could not keep back the water from his eyes。
That morning he had slung his good old bugle horn over his shoulder； and now；
with the yearning； came a great longing to sound his bugle once more。
He raised it to his lips； he blew a blast。 〃Tirila； lirila；〃
the sweet； clear notes went winding down the forest paths； coming back
again from the more distant bosky shades in faint echoes of sound；
〃Tirila； lirila； tirila； lirila；〃 until it faded away and was lost。
Now it chanced that on that very morn Little John was walking
through a spur of the forest upon certain matters of business；
and as he paced along； sunk in meditation； the faint；
clear notes of a distant bugle horn came to his ear。
As leaps the stag when it feels the arrow at its heart；
so leaped Little John when that distant sound met his ear。
All the blood in his body seemed to rush like a flame into
his cheeks as he bent his head and listened。 Again came
the bugle note； thin and clear； and yet again it sounded。
Then Little John gave a great； wild cry of yearning； of joy； and yet
of grief； and； putting down his head； he dashed into the thicket。
Onward he plunged； crackling and rending； as the wild boar
rushes through the underbrush。 Little recked he of thorns
and briers that scratched his flesh and tore his clothing；
for all he thought of was to get； by the shortest way；
to the greenwood glade whence he knew the sound of the bugle
horn came。 Out he burst from the covert； at last； a shower
of little broken twigs falling about him； and； without pausing
a moment； rushed forward and flung himself at Robin's feet。
Then he clasped his arms around the master's knees； and all
his body was shaken with great sobs； neither could Robin nor
Allan a Dale speak； but stood looking down at Little John；
the tears rolling down their cheeks。
While they thus stood； seven royal rangers rushed into the open
glade and raised a great shout of joy at the sight of Robin；
and at their head was Will Stutely。 Then； after a while；
came four more； panting with their running； and two of
these four were Will Scathelock and Midge； the Miller；
for all of these had heard the sound of Robin Hood's horn。
All these ran to Robin and kissed his hands and his clothing；
with great sound of weeping。
After a while Robin looked around him with tear…dimmed eyes and said；
in a hu