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parla。
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Maid Marian
CHAPTER XVI
Carry me over the water； thou fine fellowe。 Old Ballad。
The pilgrims； without experiencing further molestation； arrived at the
retreat of Sir Guy of Gamwell。 They found the old knight a cup too low；
partly from being cut off from the scenes of his old hospitality and the
shouts of his Nottinghamshire vassals； who were wont to make the rafters
of his ancient hall re…echo to their revelry； but principally from being
parted from his son； who had long been the better half of his flask and
pasty。 The arrival of our visitors cheered him up； and finding that the
baron was to remain with him； he testified his delight and the cordiality of
his welcome by pegging him in the ribs till he made him roar。
Robin and Marian took an affectionate leave of the baron and the old
knight； and before they quitted the vicinity of Barnsdale； deeming it
prudent to return in a different disguise； they laid aside their pilgrim's
attire； and assumed the habits and appurtenances of wandering minstrels。
They travelled in this character safely and pleasantly； till one evening
at a late hour they arrived by the side of a river； where Robin looking out
for a mode of passage perceived a ferry…boat safely moored in a nook on
the opposite bank； near which a chimney sending up a wreath of smoke
through the thick…set willows； was the only symptom of human habitation；
and Robin naturally conceiving the said chimney and wreath of smoke to
be the outward signs of the inward ferryman； shouted 〃Over！〃 with much
strength and clearness； but no voice replied； and no ferryman appeared。
Robin raised his voice； and shouted with redoubled energy； 〃Over； Over；
O…o…o…over！〃 A faint echo alone responded 〃Over！〃 and again died away
into deep silence： but after a brief interval a voice from among the willows；
in a strange kind of mingled intonation that was half a shout and half a
song； answered：
Over； over； over； jolly； jolly rover； Would you then come over？
Over； over； over？ Jolly； jolly rover； here's one lives in clover： Who
finds the clover？ The jolly； jolly rover。 He finds the clover； let him then
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Maid Marian
come over； The jolly； jolly rover； over； over； over；
〃I much doubt；〃 said Marian； 〃if this ferryman do not mean by clover
something more than the toll of his ferry…boat。〃
〃I doubt not；〃 answered Robin； 〃he is a levier of toll and tithe； which I
shall put him upon proof of his right to receive； by making trial of his
might to enforce。〃
The ferryman emerged from the willows and stepped into his boat。 〃As
I live；〃 exclaimed Robin； 〃the ferryman is a friar。〃
〃With a sword；〃 said Marian； 〃stuck in his rope girdle。〃
The friar pushed his boat off manfully； and was presently half over the
river。
〃It is friar Tuck；〃 said Marian。
〃He will scarcely know us；〃 said Robin； 〃and if he do not； I will break
a staff with him for sport。〃
The friar came singing across the water： the boat touched the land：
Robin and Marian stepped on board： the friar pushed off again。
〃Silken doublets； silken doublets；〃 said the friar： 〃slenderly lined； I
bow： your wandering minstrel is always poor toll： your sweet angels of
voices pass current for a bed and a supper at the house of every lord that
likes to hear the fame of his valour without the trouble of fighting for it。
What need you of purse or pouch？ You may sing before thieves。 Pedlars；
pedlars： wandering from door to door with the small ware of lies and
cajolery： exploits for carpet…knights； honesty for courtiers； truth for
monks； and chastity for nuns： a good saleable stock that costs the vender
nothing； defies wear and tear； and when it has served a hundred customers
is as plentiful and as marketable as ever。 But； sirrahs； I'll none of your
balderdash。 You pass not hence without clink of brass； or I'll knock your
musical noddles together till they ring like a pair of cymbals。 That will be
a new tune for your minstrelships。〃
This friendly speech of the friar ended as they stepped on the opposite
bank。 Robin had noticed as they passed that the summer stream was low。
〃Why； thou brawling mongrel；〃 said Robin； 〃that whether thou be thief；
friar； or ferryman； or an ill…mixed compound of all three； passes conjecture；
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Maid Marian
though I judge thee to be simple thief； what barkest thou at thus？ Villain；
there is clink of brass for thee。 Dost thou see this coin？ Dost thou hear
this music？ Look and listen： for touch thou shalt not： my minstrelship
defies thee。 Thou shalt carry me on thy back over the water； and receive
nothing but a cracked sconce for thy trouble。〃
〃A bargain；〃 said the friar： 〃for the water is low； the labour is light；
and the reward is alluring。〃 And he stooped down for Robin； who
mounted his back； and the friar waded with him over the river。
〃Now； fine fellow；〃 said the friar； 〃thou shalt carry me back over the
water； and thou shalt have a cracked sconce for thy trouble。〃
Robin took the friar on his back； and waded with him into the middle
of the river； when by a dexterous jerk he suddenly flung him off and
plunged him horizontally over head and ears in the water。 Robin waded to
shore； and the friar； half swimming and half scrambling； followed。
〃Fine fellow； fine fellow；〃 said the friar； 〃now will I pay thee thy
cracked sconce。〃
〃Not so；〃 said Robin； 〃I have not earned it： but thou hast earned it；
and shalt have it。〃
It was not； even in those good old times； a sight of every day to see a
troubadour and a friar playing at single…stick by the side of a river； each
aiming with fell intent at the other's coxcomb。 The parties were both so
skilled in attack and defence； that their mutual efforts for a long time
expended themselves in quick and loud rappings on each other's oaken
staves。 At length Robin by a dexterous feint contrived to score one on
the friar's crown： but in the careless moment of triumph a splendid sweep
of the friar's staff struck Robin's out of his hand into the middle of the
river； and repaid his crack on the head with a degree of vigour that might
have passed the bounds of a jest if Marian had not retarded its descent by
catching the friar's arm。
〃How now； recreant friar；〃 said Marian； 〃what have you to say why
you should not suffer instant execution； being detected in open rebellion
against your liege lord？ Therefore kneel down； traitor； and submit your
neck to the sword of the offended law。〃
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〃Benefit of clergy；〃 said the friar： 〃I plead my clergy。 And is it you
indeed； ye scapegraces？ Ye are well disguised： I knew ye not； by my
flask。 Robin； jolly Robin； he buys a jest dearly that pays for it with a
bloody coxcomb。 But here is balm for all bruises； outward and inward。
（The friar produced a flask of canary。） Wash thy wound twice and thy
throat thrice with this solar concoction； and thou shalt marvel where was
thy hurt。 But what moved ye to this frolic？ Knew ye not that ye could
not appear in a mask more fashioned to move my bile than in that of these
gilders and lackerers of the smooth surface of worthlessness； that bring the
gold of true valour into disrepute； by stamping the baser metal with the
fairer im…pression？ I marvelled to find any such given to fighting （for they
have an old instinct of self…preservation）： but I rejoiced thereat； that I
might discuss to them poetical justice： and therefore have I cracked thy
sconce： for which； let this be thy medicine。〃