Приключения Робин Гуда
Robin Hood Shoots Before Queen Eleanor
TheBishopofHereforddidnotlaugh,neitherdidtheKing,butheturnedtotheQueen,andquothhe,"Whoarethesementhatthouhastbroughtbeforeus?"
ThenupspoketheBishophastily,forhecouldholdhispeacenolonger:"YourMajesty,"quothhe,"yonfellowinblueisacertainoutlawedthiefofthemid-country,namedRobinHood;yontall,strappingvillaingoethbythenameofLittleJohn;theotherfellowingreenisacertainbackslidinggentleman,knownasWillScarlet;themaninredisarogueofanorthernminstrel,namedAllanaDale."
AtthisspeechtheKing’sbrowsdrewtogetherblackly,andheturnedtotheQueen."Isthistrue?"saidhesternly.
"Yea,"saidtheQueen,smiling,"theBishophathtoldthetruth;andtrulyheshouldknowthemwell,forheandtwoofhisfriarsspentthreedaysinmerrysportwithRobinHoodinSherwoodForest.IdidlittlethinkthatthegoodBishopwouldsobetrayhisfriends.Butbearinmindthatthouhastpledgedthypromiseforthesafetyofthesegoodyeomenforfortydays."
"Iwillkeepmypromise,"saidtheKing,inadeepvoicethatshowedtheangerinhisheart,"butwhenthesefortydaysaregoneletthisoutlawlooktohimself,formayhapthingswillnotgososmoothlywithhimashewouldlike."Thenheturnedtohisarchers,whostoodneartheSherwoodyeomen,listeningandwonderingatallthatpassed.
