Приключения Робин Гуда
Robin Hood Seeks the Curtal Friar
"Looktothyself,"criedRobin,drawinghisgoodsword.
"Ay,marry,"quoththeFriar,whoheldhisalreadyinhishand.So,withoutmoreado,theycametogether,andthereuponbeganafierceandmightybattle.Rightandleft,andupanddownandbackandforththeyfought.Theswordsflashedinthesunandthenmetwithaclashthatsoundedfarandnear.Iwotthiswasnoplayfulboutatquarterstaff,butagrimandseriousfightofrealearnest.Thustheystroveforanhourormore,pausingeverynowandthentorest,atwhichtimeseachlookedattheotherwithwonder,andthoughtthatneverhadheseensostoutafellow;thenonceagaintheywouldgoatitmorefiercelythanever.Yetinallthistimeneitherhadharmedtheothernorcausedhisbloodtoflow.AtlastmerryRobincried,"Holdthyhand,goodfriend!"whereuponbothloweredtheirswords.
"NowIcraveaboonerewebeginagain,"quothRobin,wipingthesweatfromhisbrow;fortheyhadstrivensolongthathebegantothinkthatitwouldbeanill-donethingeithertobesmittenhimselfortosmitesostoutandbraveafellow.
"Whatwouldstthouhaveofme?"askedtheFriar.
"Onlythis,"quothRobin;"thatthouwiltletmeblowthriceuponmybuglehorn."
TheFriarbenthisbrowsandlookedshrewdlyatRobinHood."NowIdoverilythinkthatthouhastsomecunningtrickinthis,"quothhe.