第 24 节
作者:空白协议书      更新:2021-02-19 21:36      字数:9320
  parla。
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  Maid Marian
  CHAPTER XVI
  Carry me over the water; thou fine fellowe。             Old Ballad。
  The pilgrims; without experiencing further molestation; arrived at the
  retreat of Sir Guy of Gamwell。           They found the old knight a cup too low;
  partly   from   being   cut   off   from   the   scenes   of   his   old   hospitality   and   the
  shouts of his Nottinghamshire vassals; who were wont to make the rafters
  of   his   ancient   hall   re…echo   to   their   revelry;   but   principally   from   being
  parted   from  his   son;   who   had   long   been   the   better   half   of   his   flask   and
  pasty。   The   arrival   of   our   visitors   cheered   him   up;   and   finding   that   the
  baron was to remain with him; he testified his delight and the cordiality of
  his welcome by pegging him in the ribs till he made him roar。
  Robin and Marian took an affectionate leave of the baron and the old
  knight;    and    before   they   quitted   the  vicinity    of  Barnsdale;    deeming      it
  prudent   to   return   in   a   different   disguise;   they   laid   aside   their   pilgrim's
  attire; and assumed the habits and appurtenances of wandering minstrels。
  They travelled in this character safely and pleasantly; till one evening
  at a late hour they arrived by the side of a river; where Robin looking out
  for a mode of passage perceived a ferry…boat safely moored in a nook on
  the opposite bank; near which a chimney sending up a wreath of smoke
  through the thick…set willows; was the only symptom of human habitation;
  and Robin naturally conceiving the said chimney and wreath of smoke to
  be the outward signs of the inward ferryman; shouted 〃Over!〃 with much
  strength   and   clearness;   but   no   voice   replied;   and   no   ferryman   appeared。
  Robin raised his voice; and shouted with redoubled energy; 〃Over; Over;
  O…o…o…over!〃 A faint echo alone responded 〃Over!〃 and again died away
  into deep silence: but after a brief interval a voice from among the willows;
  in a strange kind   of mingled   intonation that   was   half a shout   and   half   a
  song; answered:
  Over;   over;   over;   jolly;   jolly   rover; Would   you   then   come   over?
  Over;   over;   over?     Jolly;   jolly   rover;   here's   one   lives   in   clover: Who
  finds the clover? The jolly; jolly rover。           He finds the clover; let him then
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  come over;       The jolly; jolly rover; over; over; over;
  〃I much doubt;〃 said Marian; 〃if this ferryman do not mean by clover
  something more than the toll of his ferry…boat。〃
  〃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;
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  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。〃
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  〃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。〃