按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃I doubt not；〃 answered Robin； 〃he is a levier of toll and tithe； which I
shall put him upon proof of his right to receive； by making trial of his
might to enforce。〃
The ferryman emerged from the willows and stepped into his boat。 〃As
I live；〃 exclaimed Robin； 〃the ferryman is a friar。〃
〃With a sword；〃 said Marian； 〃stuck in his rope girdle。〃
The friar pushed his boat off manfully； and was presently half over the
river。
〃It is friar Tuck；〃 said Marian。
〃He will scarcely know us；〃 said Robin； 〃and if he do not； I will break
a staff with him for sport。〃
The friar came singing across the water： the boat touched the land：
Robin and Marian stepped on board： the friar pushed off again。
〃Silken doublets； silken doublets；〃 said the friar： 〃slenderly lined； I
bow： your wandering minstrel is always poor toll： your sweet angels of
voices pass current for a bed and a supper at the house of every lord that
likes to hear the fame of his valour without the trouble of fighting for it。
What need you of purse or pouch？ You may sing before thieves。 Pedlars；
pedlars： wandering from door to door with the small ware of lies and
cajolery： exploits for carpet…knights； honesty for courtiers； truth for
monks； and chastity for nuns： a good saleable stock that costs the vender
nothing； defies wear and tear； and when it has served a hundred customers
is as plentiful and as marketable as ever。 But； sirrahs； I'll none of your
balderdash。 You pass not hence without clink of brass； or I'll knock your
musical noddles together till they ring like a pair of cymbals。 That will be
a new tune for your minstrelships。〃
This friendly speech of the friar ended as they stepped on the opposite
bank。 Robin had noticed as they passed that the summer stream was low。
〃Why； thou brawling mongrel；〃 said Robin； 〃that whether thou be thief；
friar； or ferryman； or an ill…mixed compound of all three； passes conjecture；
89
… Page 90…
Maid Marian
though I judge thee to be simple thief； what barkest thou at thus？ Villain；
there is clink of brass for thee。 Dost thou see this coin？ Dost thou hear
this music？ Look and listen： for touch thou shalt not： my minstrelship
defies thee。 Thou shalt carry me on thy back over the water； and receive
nothing but a cracked sconce for thy trouble。〃
〃A bargain；〃 said the friar： 〃for the water is low； the labour is light；
and the reward is alluring。〃 And he stooped down for Robin； who
mounted his back； and the friar waded with him over the river。
〃Now； fine fellow；〃 said the friar； 〃thou shalt carry me back over the
water； and thou shalt have a cracked sconce for thy trouble。〃
Robin took the friar on his back； and waded with him into the middle
of the river； when by a dexterous jerk he suddenly flung him off and
plunged him horizontally over head and ears in the water。 Robin waded to
shore； and the friar； half swimming and half scrambling； followed。
〃Fine fellow； fine fellow；〃 said the friar； 〃now will I pay thee thy
cracked sconce。〃
〃Not so；〃 said Robin； 〃I have not earned it： but thou hast earned it；
and shalt have it。〃
It was not； even in those good old times； a sight of every day to see a
troubadour and a friar playing at single…stick by the side of a river； each
aiming with fell intent at the other's coxcomb。 The parties were both so
skilled in attack and defence； that their mutual efforts for a long time
expended themselves in quick and loud rappings on each other's oaken
staves。 At length Robin by a dexterous feint contrived to score one on
the friar's crown： but in the careless moment of triumph a splendid sweep
of the friar's staff struck Robin's out of his hand into the middle of the
river； and repaid his crack on the head with a degree of vigour that might
have passed the bounds of a jest if Marian had not retarded its descent by
catching the friar's arm。
〃How now； recreant friar；〃 said Marian； 〃what have you to say why
you should not suffer instant execution； being detected in open rebellion
against your liege lord？ Therefore kneel down； traitor； and submit your
neck to the sword of the offended law。〃
90
… Page 91…
Maid Marian
〃Benefit of clergy；〃 said the friar： 〃I plead my clergy。 And is it you
indeed； ye scapegraces？ Ye are well disguised： I knew ye not； by my
flask。 Robin； jolly Robin； he buys a jest dearly that pays for it with a
bloody coxcomb。 But here is balm for all bruises； outward and inward。
（The friar produced a flask of canary。） Wash thy wound twice and thy
throat thrice with this solar concoction； and thou shalt marvel where was
thy hurt。 But what moved ye to this frolic？ Knew ye not that ye could
not appear in a mask more fashioned to move my bile than in that of these
gilders and lackerers of the smooth surface of worthlessness； that bring the
gold of true valour into disrepute； by stamping the baser metal with the
fairer im…pression？ I marvelled to find any such given to fighting （for they
have an old instinct of self…preservation）： but I rejoiced thereat； that I
might discuss to them poetical justice： and therefore have I cracked thy
sconce： for which； let this be thy medicine。〃
〃But wherefore；〃 said Marian； 〃do we find you here； when we left you
joint lord warden of Sherwood？〃
〃I do but retire to my devotions；〃 replied the friar。 〃This is my
hermitage； in which I first took refuge when I escaped from my beloved
brethren of Rubygill； and to which I still retreat at times from the vanities
of the world； which else might cling to me too closely； since I have been
promoted to be peer…spiritual of your forest…court。 For； indeed； I do find in
myself certain indications and admonitions that my day has past its noon；
and none more cogent than this： that daily of bad wine I grow more
intolerant； and of good wine have a keener and more fastidious relish。
There is no surer symptom of receding years。 The ferryman is my
faithful varlet。 I send him on some piou