Приключения Робин Гуда
Robin Hood and Guy of Gisbourne
Wiltthoutrythyhand?"
"Insooth,"saidLittleJohn,stillintheoldman’svoice,"Iha’neverdonesuchathingbefore;butanasixpenceistobeearnedsoeasilyImightaswellha’itasanybody.But,YourWorship,arethesenaughtyfellowsshrived?"
"Nay,"saidtheSheriff,laughing,"neverawhit;butthoumaystturnthyhandtothatalsoifthouartsominded.Buthasten,Iprythee,forIwouldgetbacktomineinnbetimes."
SoLittleJohncametowherethethreeyouthsstoodtrembling,and,puttinghisfacetothefirstfellow’scheekasthoughhewerelisteningtohim,hewhisperedsoftlyintohisear,"Standstill,brother,whenthoufeelestthybondscut,butwhenthouseestmethrowmywoolenwigandbeardfrommyheadandface,castthenoosefromthyneckandrunforthewoodlands."Thenheslylycutthecordthatboundtheyouth’shands;who,uponhispart,stoodstillasthoughhewereyetbound.Thenhewenttothesecondfellow,andspoketohiminthesameway,andalsocuthisbonds.Thishedidtothethirdlikewise,butallsoslylythattheSheriff,whosatuponhishorselaughing,wottednotwhatwasbeingdone,norhismeneither.
ThenLittleJohnturnedtotheSheriff."PleaseYourWorship,"saidhe,"willyougivemeleavetostringmybow?ForIwouldfainhelpthesefellowsalongtheway,whentheyareswinging,withanarrowbeneaththeribs."
"Withallmyheart,"saidtheSheriff,"only,asIsaidbefore,makethouhasteinthydoings.