Приключения Робин Гуда

           "

           "Butwhatwouldstthousay,"quothQueenEleanor,"ifIweretofindthreearcherstomatchthebestthreeyeomenofallthyguard?"

           "IwouldsaythouhastdonewhatIcouldnotdo,"saidtheKing,laughing,"forItelltheetherelivesnotinalltheworldthreearcherstomatchTepusandGilbertandCliftonofBuckinghamshire."

           "Now,"saidtheQueen,"Iknowofthreeyeomen,andintruthIhaveseenthemnotlongsince,thatIwouldnotfeartomatchagainstanythreethatthoucanstchoosefromamongallthyfortyscorearchers;and,moreover,Iwillmatchthemherethisveryday.ButIwillonlymatchthemwiththyarchersprovidingthatthouwiltgrantafreepardontoallthatmaycomeinmybehalf."

           Atthis,theKinglaughedloudandlong."Truly,"saidhe,"thouarttakingupwithstrangemattersforaqueen.Ifthouwiltbringthosethreefellowsthatthouspeakestof,Iwillpromisefaithfullytogivethemfreepardonforfortydays,tocomeortogowheresoevertheyplease,norwillIharmahairoftheirheadsinallthattime.Moreover,ifthesethatthoubringestshootbetterthanmyyeomen,manforman,theyshallhavetheprizesforthemselvesaccordingtotheirshooting.Butasthouhastsotakenupofasuddenwithsportsofthiskind,hastthouamindforawager?"

           "Why,insooth,"saidQueenEleanor,laughing,"Iknownoughtofsuchmatters,butifthouhastamindtodosomewhatinthatway,Iwillstrivetopleasurethee.