Приключения Робин Гуда

           Butscoresofgoodfellowswereleftbehindhim,stretchedoutallstiffbeneaththesweetgreenboughs.

           ButthoughRobinHoodhadbeatenoffhisenemiesinfairfight,allthislayheavilyuponhismind,sothathebroodedoverituntilafeverseizeduponhim.Forthreedaysitheldhim,andthoughhestrovetofightitoff,hewasforcedtoyieldatlast.Thusitcamethat,onthemorningofthefourthday,hecalledLittleJohntohim,andtoldhimthathecouldnotshakethefeverfromhim,andthathewouldgotohiscousin,theprioressofthenunnerynearKirklees,inYorkshire,whowasaskillfulleech,andhewouldhaveheropenaveininhisarmandtakealittlebloodfromhim,forthebetteringofhishealth.ThenhebadeLittleJohnmakereadytogoalso,forhemightperchanceneedaidinhisjourneying.SoLittleJohnandhetooktheirleaveoftheothers,andRobinHoodbadeWillStutelybethecaptainofthebanduntiltheyshouldcomeback.ThustheycamebyeasystagesandslowjourneyinguntiltheyreachedtheNunneryofKirklees.

           NowRobinhaddonemuchtoaidthiscousinofhis;foritwasthroughKingRichard’sloveofhimthatshehadbeenmadeprioressoftheplace.Butthereisnoughtintheworldsoeasilyforgotasgratitude;so,whenthePrioressofKirkleeshadheardhowhercousin,theEarlofHuntingdon,hadthrownawayhisearldomandgonebackagaintoSherwood,shewasvexedtothesoul,andfearedlesthercousinshipwithhimshouldbringtheKing’swrathuponheralso.