Приключения Робин Гуда
How Little John Lived at the Sheriff’s
"Why,nomoredoI,"saidtheCook."IbearnoloveforthatpursySteward,butIthoughtthatwehadengagedtofightwithoneanotherandthatitmustbedone."
"Now,"quothLittleJohn,"itdothseemtomethatinsteadofstrivingtocutoneanother’sthroats,itwerebetterforustobebooncompanions.Whatsaystthou,jollyCook,wiltthougowithmetoSherwoodForestandjoinwithRobinHood’sband?Thoushaltliveamerrylifewithinthewoodlands,andsevenscoregoodcompanionsshaltthouhave,oneofwhomismineownself.ThoushalthavethreesuitsofLincolngreeneachyear,andfortymarksinpay."
"Now,thouartamanaftermineownheart!"criedtheCookrightheartily,"and,asthouspeakestofit,thatistheveryserviceforme.Iwillgowiththee,andthatrightgladly.Givemethypalm,sweetfellow,andIwillbethineowncompanionfromhenceforth.Whatmaybethyname,lad?"
"MendocallmeLittleJohn,goodfellow."
"How?AndartthouindeedLittleJohn,andRobinHood’sownright-handman?ManyatimeandoftIheardofthee,butneverdidIhopetoseteyesuponthee.AndthouartindeedthefamousLittleJohn!"AndtheCookseemedlostinamazement,andlookeduponhiscompanionwithopeneyes.
"IamLittleJohn,indeed,andIwillbringtoRobinHoodthisdayarightstoutfellowtojoinhismerryband.