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！
saw good canary thrown away。 But you are welcome to laugh if it so
please you。 None shall laugh in my company； though it be at my expense；
but I will have my share of the merriment。 The world is a stage； and life is
a farce； and he that laughs most has most profit of the performance。 The
worst thing is good enough to be laughed at； though it be good for nothing
else； and the best thing； though it be good for something else； is good for
nothing better。〃
And he struck up a song in praise of laughing and quaffing； without
further adverting to Marian's insinuated accusation； being； perhaps； of
94
… Page 95…
Maid Marian
opinion； that it was a subject on which the least said would be the soonest
mended。
So passed the night。 In the morning a forester came to the friar； with
intelligence that Prince John had been compelled； by the urgency of his
affairs in other quarters； to disembarrass Nottingham Castle of his royal
presence。 Our wanderers returned joyfully to their forest…dominion；
being thus relieved from the vicinity of any more formidable belligerent
than their old bruised and beaten enemy the sheriff of Nottingham。
95
… Page 96…
Maid Marian
CHAPTER XVII
Oh！ this life Is nobler than attending for a check；
Richer than doing nothing for a bribe Prouder than rustling in unpaid…for
silk。Cymbeline。
So Robin and Marian dwelt and reigned in the forest； ranging the
glades and the greenwoods from the matins of the lark to the vespers of
the nightingale； and administering natural justice according to Robin's
ideas of rectifying the inequalities of human condition： raising genial dews
from the bags of the rich and idle； and returning them in fertilising
showers on the poor and industrious： an operation which more enlightened
statesmen have happily reversed； to the unspeakable benefit of the
community at large。 The light footsteps of Marian were impressed on the
morning dew beside the firmer step of her lover； and they shook its large
drops about them as they cleared themselves a passage through the thick
tall fern； without any fear of catching cold； which was not much in fashion
in the twelfth century。 Robin was as hospitable as Cathmor； for seven
men stood on seven paths to call the stranger to his feast。 It is true； he
superadded the small improvement of making the stranger pay for it：
than which what could be more generous？ For Cathmor was himself the
prime giver of his feast； whereas Robin was only the agent to a series of
strangers； who provided in turn for the entertainment of their successors；
which is carrying the disinterestedness of hospitality to its acme。 Marian
often killed the deer；
Which Scarlet dressed； and Friar Tuck blessed While Little John
wandered in search of a guest。
Robin was very devout； though there was great unity in his religion： it
was exclusively given to our Lady the Virgin； and he never set forth in a
morning till he had said three prayers； and had heard the sweet voice of his
Marian singing a hymn to their mutual patroness。 Each of his men had；
as usual； a patron saint according to his name or taste。 The friar chose a
saint for himself； and fixed on Saint Botolph； whom he euphonised into
96
… Page 97…
Maid Marian
Saint Bottle； and maintained that he was that very Panomphic
Pantagruelian saint； well known in ancient France as a female divinity； by
the name of La Dive Bouteille； whose oracular monosyllable 〃Trincq；'； is
celebrated and under…stood by all nations； and is expounded by the learned
doctor Alcofribas；＇6＇ who has treated at large on the subject； to signify
〃drink。〃 Saint Bottle； then； was the saint of Friar Tuck； who did not yield
even to Robin and Marian in the assiduity of his devotions to his chosen
patron。 Such was their summer life； and in their winter caves they had
sufficient furniture； ample provender； store of old wine； and assuredly no
lack of fuel； with joyous music and pleasant discourse to charm away the
season of darkness and storms。
＇6＇ Alcofribas Nasier： an anagram of Francois Rabelais； and his
assumed appellation。
The reader who desires to know more about this oracular divinity； may
consult the said doctor Alcofribas Nasier； who will usher him into the
adytum through the medium of the high priestess Bacbuc。
Many moons had waxed and waned； when on the afternoon of a lovely
summer day a lusty broad…boned knight was riding through the forest of
Sherwood。 The sun shone brilliantly on the full green foliage； and
afforded the knight a fine opportunity of observing picturesque effects； of
which it is to be feared he did not avail himself。 But he had not proceeded
far； before he had an opportunity of observing something much more
interesting； namely； a fine young outlaw leaning； in the true Sherwood
fashion； with his back against a tree。 The knight was preparing to ask the
stranger a question； the answer to which； if correctly given； would have
relieved him from a doubt that pressed heavily on his mind； as to whether
he was in the right road or the wrong； when the youth prevented the
inquiry by saying： 〃In God's name； sir knight； you are late to your meals。
My master has tarried dinner for you these three hours。〃
〃I doubt；〃 said the knight； 〃I am not he you wot of。 I am no where
bidden to day and I know none in this vicinage。〃
〃We feared；〃 said the youth； 〃your memory would be treacherous：
97
… Page 98…
Maid Marian
therefore am I stationed here to refresh it。〃
〃Who is your master？〃 said the knight； 〃and where does he abide？〃
〃My master；〃 said the youth； 〃is called Robin Hood； and he abides
hard by。〃
〃And what knows he of me？〃 said the knight。
〃He knows you；〃 answered the youth 〃as he does every way…faring
knight and friar； by instinct。〃
〃Gramercy；〃 said the knight； 〃then I understand his bidding： but how if
I say I will not come？〃
〃I am enjoined to bring you；〃 said the youth。 〃If persuasion avail not；
I must use other argument。〃
〃Say'st thou so？〃 said the knight； 〃I doubt if thy stripling rhetoric
would convince me。〃
〃That；〃 said the young forester； 〃we will see。〃
〃We are not equally matched； boy；〃 said the knight。 〃I should get less
honour by thy conquest； than grief by thy injury。〃
〃Perhaps；〃 said the youth； 〃my strength is more than my seeming； and
my cunning more than my strength。 Therefore let it please your
knighthood to dismount。〃
〃It shall please my knighthood to chastise thy presumption；〃 said the
knight； springing from his saddle。
Hereupon； which in those days was usually the result of a meeting
between any two persons anywhere； they proceeded to fight。 The knight
had in an uncommon degree both strength and skill： the forester had less
strength； but not less skill than the knight； and showed such a mastery of
his weapon as reduced the latter to great admiration。
They had not fought many minutes by the forest clock； the sun； and
had as yet done each other no worse injury than that the knight had
wounded the forester's jerkin； and the forester had disabled the knight's
plume； when they were interrupted by a voice from a thicket； exclaiming；
〃Well fought； girl： well fought。 Mass； that had nigh been a shrewd hit。
Thou owest him for that； lass。 Marry； stand by； I'll pay him for thee。〃
The knight turning to the voice； beheld a tall friar issuing from the
98
… Page 99…
Maid Marian
thicket； brandishing