Latest / Robin Hood / 16 - Robin Hood by J Walker McSpadden

Transcript

16 - Robin Hood by J Walker McSpadden · Robin Hood

• 0:00
  Speaker 1: Our Robin Hood met Sir Richard of the Leah, then
• 0:04
  Speaker 1: answered him the gentle Knight with words both there and
• 0:08
  Speaker 1: THEE God save thee my good Robin and all thy company.
• 0:13
  Speaker 1: Now you must know that some months passed by the
• 0:16
  Speaker 1: winter dragged its weary length through sherwood forest, and Robin
• 0:19
  Speaker 1: Hood and his merry men found what cheer they could
• 0:22
  Speaker 1: in the big crackling fires before their woodland cave. Friar
• 0:26
  Speaker 1: Tuck had built him a little hermitage not far away,
• 0:29
  Speaker 1: where he lived comfortably with his numerous dogs. The winter,
• 0:33
  Speaker 1: I say, reached an end at last, and the blessed
• 0:36
  Speaker 1: spring came and went. Another summer passed on apace, and
• 0:40
  Speaker 1: still neither king, nor sheriff nor bishop could catch the outlaws,
• 0:44
  Speaker 1: who meanwhile thrived and prospered mightily in their outlawry. The
• 0:49
  Speaker 1: band had been increased from time to time by picked
• 0:52
  Speaker 1: men such as Arthur of Bland and David of Doncaster,
• 0:56
  Speaker 1: he who was the jolliest cobbler for miles around, until
• 1:00
  Speaker 1: it now numbered a full seven score of men, seven companies,
• 1:04
  Speaker 1: each with its stout lieutenant serving under robin Hood. And
• 1:08
  Speaker 1: still they relieved the purses of the rich and aided
• 1:10
  Speaker 1: the poor and feasted upon king's deer until the lank
• 1:14
  Speaker 1: Sheriff of Nottingham was well nigh distracted. Indeed, that official
• 1:19
  Speaker 1: would probably have lost his office entirely had it not
• 1:22
  Speaker 1: been for the fact of the king's death. Henry passed
• 1:26
  Speaker 1: away as all kings will in common with ordinary men,
• 1:30
  Speaker 1: and Richard of the Lion Heart was proclaimed as his successor.
• 1:34
  Speaker 1: Then Robin and his men, after earnest debate, resolved to
• 1:38
  Speaker 1: throw themselves upon the mercy of the new king, swear
• 1:41
  Speaker 1: allegiance and asked to be organized into royal foresters. So
• 1:45
  Speaker 1: Will Scarlett and will Stuteley and Little John were sent
• 1:48
  Speaker 1: to London with this message, which they were first to
• 1:51
  Speaker 1: intrust privately to Maid Marian. But they soon returned with
• 1:55
  Speaker 1: bad tidings. The new king had formerly set forth upon
• 1:59
  Speaker 1: a crusade to the and Prince John his brother, was
• 2:03
  Speaker 1: impossible to deal with. Being crafty, cruel and treacherous, he
• 2:07
  Speaker 1: was laying his hands upon all the property which could
• 2:10
  Speaker 1: easily be seized, among other estates, that of the Earl
• 2:14
  Speaker 1: of Huntington, Robin's old enemy and Marian's father, who had
• 2:18
  Speaker 1: lately died. Marian herself was in sore straits. Not only
• 2:23
  Speaker 1: had her estates been taken away and the maid been
• 2:26
  Speaker 1: deprived of the former protection of the Queen, but the
• 2:29
  Speaker 1: evil Prince John had persecuted her with his attentions. He
• 2:33
  Speaker 1: thought that, since the maid was defenseless, he could carry
• 2:36
  Speaker 1: her away to one of his castles, and none would
• 2:38
  Speaker 1: gainsay him. No word of this peril reached Robin's ears,
• 2:43
  Speaker 1: although his men brought him word of the seizure of
• 2:45
  Speaker 1: the Huntingdon lands. Naythless, he was greatly alarmed for the
• 2:50
  Speaker 1: safety of Maid Marian, and his heart cried out for
• 2:53
  Speaker 1: her strongly. She had been continually in his thoughts ever
• 2:57
  Speaker 1: since the memorable shooting at London Town. One morning in
• 3:01
  Speaker 1: early autumn, when the leaves were beginning to turn gold
• 3:04
  Speaker 1: at the edges, the chestnut pods to swell with promise
• 3:07
  Speaker 1: of fatness, and the whole wide woodland was redolent with
• 3:11
  Speaker 1: the ripe fragrance of fruit and flour, Robin was walking
• 3:14
  Speaker 1: along the edge of a small open glade, busy with
• 3:17
  Speaker 1: his thoughts. The peace of the woods was upon him
• 3:21
  Speaker 1: despite his broodings of Marion, and he paid little heed
• 3:24
  Speaker 1: to a group of doughs quietly feeding among the trees
• 3:27
  Speaker 1: at the far edge of the glade. But presently this
• 3:30
  Speaker 1: Sylvan picture was rudely disturbed for him. A stag, wild
• 3:34
  Speaker 1: and furious, dashed suddenly forth from among the trees, scattering
• 3:37
  Speaker 1: the doze in swift alarm. The vicious beasts eyed the
• 3:41
  Speaker 1: green and gold tunic of Robin, and, lowering its head,
• 3:44
  Speaker 1: charged at him impetuously. So sudden was its attack that
• 3:48
  Speaker 1: Robin had no time to bend his bow. He sprang
• 3:51
  Speaker 1: behind a tree while he seized his weapon. A moment later,
• 3:55
  Speaker 1: the wild stag crashed blindly into the tree trunk with
• 3:58
  Speaker 1: a shock, which sent the beast really backward, while the
• 4:01
  Speaker 1: dislodging leaves from the shivering tree fell in a small
• 4:04
  Speaker 1: shower over Robin's head. By my halidom, I am glad
• 4:09
  Speaker 1: it was not me you struck, my gentle friend, quoth Robin,
• 4:12
  Speaker 1: fixing an arrow upon the string. Sorry. Indeed, would be
• 4:15
  Speaker 1: any one's plight who should encounter you in this black humor.
• 4:19
  Speaker 1: Scarcely had he spoken when he saw the stag veer
• 4:22
  Speaker 1: about and fix its glances rigidly on the bushes to
• 4:25
  Speaker 1: the left side of the glade. These were parted by
• 4:28
  Speaker 1: a delicate hand, and through the opening appeared the slight
• 4:32
  Speaker 1: figure of a page. It was made Marian come back
• 4:35
  Speaker 1: again to the greenwood. She advanced unconscious, alike of Robin's
• 4:40
  Speaker 1: horrified gaze and the evil theory of the stag. She
• 4:43
  Speaker 1: was directly in line with the animal, so Robin dared
• 4:46
  Speaker 1: not launch an arrow. Her own bow was slung across
• 4:50
  Speaker 1: her shoulder, and her small sword would be useless against
• 4:52
  Speaker 1: the beast's charge. But now as she caught sight of
• 4:56
  Speaker 1: the stag, she pursed her lips as though she would
• 4:58
  Speaker 1: whistle to it. For the love of God, dear Lady,
• 5:01
  Speaker 1: cried Robin, and then the words died in his throat.
• 5:05
  Speaker 1: With a savage snort of rage. The beast rushed at
• 5:08
  Speaker 1: this new and inviting target, rushed so swiftly and from
• 5:11
  Speaker 1: so short a distance that she could not defend herself.
• 5:15
  Speaker 1: She sprang to one side as it charged down upon her,
• 5:18
  Speaker 1: but a side blow from its antlers stretched her upon
• 5:20
  Speaker 1: the ground. The stag stopped, turned and lowered its head,
• 5:24
  Speaker 1: preparing to gore her to death. Already its cruel horns
• 5:28
  Speaker 1: were coming straight for her. While she white a face
• 5:31
  Speaker 1: and bewildered by the sudden attack. Was struggling to rise
• 5:34
  Speaker 1: and draw her sword. A moment more and the end
• 5:37
  Speaker 1: would come. But the sharp voice of Robin had already
• 5:40
  Speaker 1: spoken down Marian. He cried, and the girl instinctively obeyed,
• 5:45
  Speaker 1: just as the shaft from Robin's bolt went whizzing close
• 5:48
  Speaker 1: above her head and struck with terrific force full in
• 5:51
  Speaker 1: the center of the stag's forehead. The beast stumbled in
• 5:54
  Speaker 1: its charge and fell dead across the body of the
• 5:57
  Speaker 1: fainting maid. Robin was quickly by her side and dragged
• 6:01
  Speaker 1: the beast from off the girl. Picking her up in
• 6:03
  Speaker 1: his strong arms, he bore her swiftly to the side
• 6:06
  Speaker 1: of one of the many brooks which watered the veil.
• 6:09
  Speaker 1: He dashed cool water upon her face, roughly, almost in
• 6:13
  Speaker 1: his agony of fear that she was already dead, and
• 6:16
  Speaker 1: he could have shed tears of joy to see those
• 6:18
  Speaker 1: poor closed eyelids tremble. He redoubled his efforts, and presently
• 6:22
  Speaker 1: she gave a little gasp, Where where am I? What
• 6:26
  Speaker 1: is it? You are in sherwood? Dear maid? Though I
• 6:29
  Speaker 1: faith we gave you a rude reception, She opened her
• 6:33
  Speaker 1: eyes and sat up. Methinks you have rescued me from
• 6:37
  Speaker 1: sudden danger, sir, she said. Then she recognized Robin for
• 6:41
  Speaker 1: the first time, an a radiant smile came over her face,
• 6:44
  Speaker 1: together with the rare blush of returned vitality, and her
• 6:48
  Speaker 1: head sank upon his shoulder with a little tremble and
• 6:51
  Speaker 1: sigh of relief. Oh, Robin, it is you, she murmured.
• 6:55
  Speaker 1: I tis I Thank Heaven I was at hand to
• 6:59
  Speaker 1: do you service. Robin's tones were deep and full of feeling.
• 7:04
  Speaker 1: I swear, dear Marian, that I will not let you
• 7:06
  Speaker 1: from my care henceforth. Not another word was spoken for
• 7:10
  Speaker 1: some moments, while her head still rested confidingly upon his breast.
• 7:15
  Speaker 1: Then recollecting, he suddenly cried, Gray mercy, but I make
• 7:19
  Speaker 1: a poor nurse. I have not even asked if any
• 7:22
  Speaker 1: of your bones were broken. No, not any, she answered,
• 7:26
  Speaker 1: springing lightly to her feet to show him that foolish
• 7:29
  Speaker 1: dizziness o'ercame me for the nods. But we can now
• 7:32
  Speaker 1: proceed on our way. Nay, I meant not that, he protested,
• 7:37
  Speaker 1: Why should we haste first tell me of the news
• 7:40
  Speaker 1: in London town and of yourself. So she told him
• 7:43
  Speaker 1: how that the Prince had seized upon her father's lands,
• 7:46
  Speaker 1: and had promised to restore them to her if she
• 7:49
  Speaker 1: would listen to his suit. And how that she knew
• 7:52
  Speaker 1: he meant her no good, for he was even then
• 7:55
  Speaker 1: suing for a princess's hand. That is all, Robin, she
• 7:59
  Speaker 1: ended simply, And that is why I donned again my
• 8:02
  Speaker 1: page's costume and came to you in the Greenwood. Robin's
• 8:06
  Speaker 1: brow had grown fiercely black at the recital of her wrong,
• 8:09
  Speaker 1: and he had lain stern hand upon the hilt of
• 8:12
  Speaker 1: his sword. By this sword, which Queen Elinor gave me,
• 8:16
  Speaker 1: he said impetuously, and which was devoted to the service
• 8:19
  Speaker 1: of all womankind. I take oath that Prince John and
• 8:23
  Speaker 1: all his armies shall not harm you. So that is
• 8:26
  Speaker 1: how Maid Marian came to take up her abode in
• 8:28
  Speaker 1: the Greenwood, where the whole band of yeomen welcomed her
• 8:31
  Speaker 1: gladly and swore fealty, and where the sweet lady of
• 8:34
  Speaker 1: allan a Dale made her fully at home. But this
• 8:38
  Speaker 1: was a day of deeds in sherwood forest, and we
• 8:40
  Speaker 1: had gained to tell you another happening which led to
• 8:42
  Speaker 1: later events. While Robin and Marian were having their encounter
• 8:46
  Speaker 1: with the stag. Little John, much the miller's son, and
• 8:50
  Speaker 1: Will Scarlett had sallied forth to watch the high road
• 8:53
  Speaker 1: leading to Barnsdale, if perchance they might find some haughty
• 8:56
  Speaker 1: knight or fat priest whose wallet needed lightning. They had
• 9:00
  Speaker 1: scarcely watched the great road known as Watling Street, which
• 9:03
  Speaker 1: runs from Dover in Kent to Chestertown for many minutes,
• 9:07
  Speaker 1: when they espied a knight riding by in a very
• 9:10
  Speaker 1: forlorn and careless manner. All dreary was his semblance, and
• 9:14
  Speaker 1: little was his pride. His one foot in the stirrup,
• 9:17
  Speaker 1: stood his other waved beside his visor, hung down o'er
• 9:21
  Speaker 1: his eyes. He rode in single array, a sorrier man
• 9:25
  Speaker 1: than he was one rode never in summer's day. Little
• 9:29
  Speaker 1: John came up to the night and bade him stay,
• 9:32
  Speaker 1: for who can judge of a man's wealth by his looks?
• 9:35
  Speaker 1: The outlaw bent his knee in all courtesy and prayed
• 9:38
  Speaker 1: him to accept the hospitality of the forest. My master
• 9:42
  Speaker 1: expects you to dine with him to day, quoth he,
• 9:45
  Speaker 1: and indeed has been fasting while awaiting your coming these
• 9:48
  Speaker 1: three hours. Who is your master? Asked the Knight, none
• 9:53
  Speaker 1: other than Robin Hood, replied Little John, laying his hand
• 9:56
  Speaker 1: upon the Knight's bridle. Seeing the other two outlaws approaching,
• 10:00
  Speaker 1: the Knight shrugged his shoulders and replied indifferently, tis clear
• 10:04
  Speaker 1: that your invitation is too urgent to admit of refusal,
• 10:08
  Speaker 1: quoth he, and I go with you right willingly, my friends.
• 10:12
  Speaker 1: My purpose was to have dined to day at blythe
• 10:14
  Speaker 1: or Doncaster. But nothing matters greatly, so, in the same
• 10:18
  Speaker 1: lackadaisical fashion which had marked all his actions that day,
• 10:22
  Speaker 1: the Knight suffered his horse to be led to the
• 10:24
  Speaker 1: rendezvous of the band in the Greenwood. Marian had not
• 10:28
  Speaker 1: yet had time to change her page's attire. When the
• 10:31
  Speaker 1: three escorts of the Knight hove in sight. She recognized
• 10:35
  Speaker 1: their captive as Sir Richard of the Leah, whom she
• 10:38
  Speaker 1: had often seen at court, and, fearing least he might
• 10:41
  Speaker 1: recognize her, she would have fled, but Robin asked her
• 10:45
  Speaker 1: with a twinkle if she would not like to play
• 10:47
  Speaker 1: page that day, and she, in roguish mood, consented to
• 10:50
  Speaker 1: do so. Welcome, Sir Knight, said Robin courteously. You are
• 10:55
  Speaker 1: come in good time, for we were just preparing to
• 10:58
  Speaker 1: sit down to meet God save him. Thank you, good master,
• 11:01
  Speaker 1: Robin returned the Knight and all your company. It likes
• 11:05
  Speaker 1: me well to break the fast with you. So, while
• 11:08
  Speaker 1: his horse was cared for, the Knight laid aside his
• 11:11
  Speaker 1: own heavy gear, and laved his face and hands, and
• 11:14
  Speaker 1: sat down with Robin and all his men to a
• 11:17
  Speaker 1: most plentiful repast of venison, swans, pheasants, various small birds, cake,
• 11:22
  Speaker 1: and ale and Marian stood behind Robin and filled his
• 11:25
  Speaker 1: cup and that of the guest. After eating right heartily
• 11:29
  Speaker 1: of the good cheer, the Knight brightened up greatly and
• 11:32
  Speaker 1: vowed that he had not enjoyed so good a dinner
• 11:34
  Speaker 1: for nigh three weeks. He also said that if ever
• 11:37
  Speaker 1: Robin and his fellows should come to his domains, he
• 11:40
  Speaker 1: would strive to set them down to as good a
• 11:42
  Speaker 1: dinner on his own behalf. But this was not exactly
• 11:46
  Speaker 1: the sort of payment which Robin had expected to receive.
• 11:49
  Speaker 1: He thanked the Knight therefore in set phrase, but reminded
• 11:53
  Speaker 1: him that a yeoman like himself might hardly offer such
• 11:56
  Speaker 1: a dinner to a Knight as a gift of charity.
• 11:59
  Speaker 1: I have no money, Master, Robin answered the Knight, frankly,
• 12:03
  Speaker 1: I have so little of the world's goods in sooth
• 12:05
  Speaker 1: that I should be ashamed to offer you the whole
• 12:07
  Speaker 1: of it. Money, However, little always jingles merrily in our pockets,
• 12:12
  Speaker 1: said Robin, smiling. Pray you tell me what you deem
• 12:15
  Speaker 1: A little sum I have of my own. Ten silver pennies,
• 12:19
  Speaker 1: said the Knight. Here they are, and I wish they
• 12:22
  Speaker 1: were ten times as many. He handed Little John his pouch,
• 12:26
  Speaker 1: and Robin nodded carelessly. What say you to the total?
• 12:30
  Speaker 1: Little John, he asked, as though in jest, tis true enough,
• 12:34
  Speaker 1: as the worthy Knight hath said, responded the big fellow, gravely,
• 12:38
  Speaker 1: emptying the contents on his cloak. Robin signed to Marian,
• 12:42
  Speaker 1: who filled a bumper of wine for himself and his guest.
• 12:46
  Speaker 1: Pledge me, Sir Knight, cried the merry outlaw, and pledge
• 12:49
  Speaker 1: me heartily for these sorry times. I see that your
• 12:53
  Speaker 1: armor is bent, and that your clothes are torn. Yet
• 12:56
  Speaker 1: methinks I saw you at court once upon a day,
• 12:59
  Speaker 1: and in more prospersuise. Tell me now, were you a
• 13:03
  Speaker 1: yeoman and made a knight by force? Or have you
• 13:05
  Speaker 1: been a bad steward to yourself, and wasted your property
• 13:09
  Speaker 1: in law suits and the like. Be not bashful with us,
• 13:12
  Speaker 1: We shall not betray your secrets. I am a Saxon
• 13:15
  Speaker 1: knight in my own right, and I have always lived
• 13:18
  Speaker 1: a sober and quiet life. The sorrowful guest replied, tis
• 13:22
  Speaker 1: true you have seen me at court, mayhap, for I
• 13:25
  Speaker 1: was an excited witness of your shooting before King Harry,
• 13:28
  Speaker 1: God rest his bones. My name is Sir Richard of
• 13:31
  Speaker 1: the Leah, and I dwell in a castle not a
• 13:34
  Speaker 1: league from one of the gates of Nottingham, which has
• 13:37
  Speaker 1: belonged to my father, and his father, and his father's
• 13:40
  Speaker 1: father before him. Within two or three years ago, my
• 13:44
  Speaker 1: neighbors might have told you that a matter of four
• 13:47
  Speaker 1: hundred pounds one way or the other was as not
• 13:49
  Speaker 1: to me. But now I have only these ten pennies
• 13:52
  Speaker 1: of silver, and my wife and son. In what manner
• 13:56
  Speaker 1: have you lost your riches? Asked Robin through folly and kindness,
• 14:00
  Speaker 1: said the knight, sighing, I went with King Richard upon
• 14:03
  Speaker 1: a crusade, from which I am but lately returned in
• 14:06
  Speaker 1: time to find my son, a goodly youth grown up.
• 14:10
  Speaker 1: He was but twenty. Yet he had achieved a squire's
• 14:13
  Speaker 1: training and could play prettily in jousts and tournaments and
• 14:16
  Speaker 1: other knightly games. But about this time he had the
• 14:19
  Speaker 1: ill luck to push his sport too far and did
• 14:22
  Speaker 1: accidentally kill a knight in the open lists. To save
• 14:25
  Speaker 1: the boy, I had to sell my lands and mortgage
• 14:28
  Speaker 1: my ancestral castle, and this not being enough in the end,
• 14:32
  Speaker 1: I have had to borrow money at a ruinous interest
• 14:35
  Speaker 1: from my Lord of Hereford, a most worthy bishop, said
• 14:39
  Speaker 1: Robin ironically. What is the sum of your debt? Four
• 14:43
  Speaker 1: hundred pounds, said Sir Richard, and the bishop swears he
• 14:46
  Speaker 1: will foreclose the mortgage if they are not paid promptly.
• 14:50
  Speaker 1: Have you any friends who would become surety for you?
• 14:53
  Speaker 1: Not one? If good King Richard were here, the tale
• 14:56
  Speaker 1: might be otherwise. Fill your goblet again, Sir, said Robin,
• 15:01
  Speaker 1: and he turned to whisper a word in Marian's ear.
• 15:04
  Speaker 1: She nodded and drew Little John and will Scarlet aside,
• 15:07
  Speaker 1: and talked earnestly with them in a low tone. Here
• 15:10
  Speaker 1: is health and prosperity to you, gallant Robin, said Sir Richard,
• 15:14
  Speaker 1: tilting his goalblet I hope I may pay your cheer
• 15:17
  Speaker 1: more worthily. The next time I ride by. Will Scarlet
• 15:22
  Speaker 1: and Little John had meanwhile fallen in with Marian's idea,
• 15:25
  Speaker 1: For they consulted the other outlaws, who nodded their heads. Thereupon,
• 15:30
  Speaker 1: Little John and will Scarlet went into the cave near by,
• 15:33
  Speaker 1: and presently returned bearing a bag of gold. This they
• 15:36
  Speaker 1: counted out before the astonished Knight, and there were four
• 15:39
  Speaker 1: times one hundred gold pieces in it. Take this loan
• 15:43
  Speaker 1: from us, sir Knight, and pay your debt to the bishop,
• 15:46
  Speaker 1: then said Robin. Nay, no, thanks, you are but exchanging creditors.
• 15:51
  Speaker 1: Mayhap we shall not be so hard upon you as
• 15:54
  Speaker 1: the Christian bishop. Yet again we may be harder. Who
• 15:57
  Speaker 1: can tell. There were actual tears in Sir Richard's eyes
• 16:01
  Speaker 1: as he essayed to thank the foresters. But at this
• 16:04
  Speaker 1: juncture much the miller's son came from the cave dragging
• 16:07
  Speaker 1: a bale of cloth. The Knight should have a suit
• 16:11
  Speaker 1: worthy of his rank, master, think you not so measure
• 16:14
  Speaker 1: him twenty els of it? Ordered Robin. Give him a
• 16:18
  Speaker 1: good horse. Also, whispered Marian, 'tis a gift which will
• 16:21
  Speaker 1: come back fourfold. For this is a worthy man. I
• 16:24
  Speaker 1: know him well. So the horse was given also, and
• 16:28
  Speaker 1: Robin bade Arthur a bland ride with the Knight as
• 16:30
  Speaker 1: far as his castle as esquire. The Knight was sorrowful
• 16:35
  Speaker 1: no longer, yet he could hardly voice his thanks through
• 16:37
  Speaker 1: his broken utterance. And having spent the night in rest
• 16:41
  Speaker 1: and listening to allan a Dale's singing, he mounted his
• 16:44
  Speaker 1: new steed the following morning, and altogether different man. God
• 16:48
  Speaker 1: save you, comrades, and keep you all, said he, with
• 16:51
  Speaker 1: deep feeling in his tones. And God give me a
• 16:55
  Speaker 1: grateful heart. We shall wait for you twelve months from
• 16:58
  Speaker 1: to day here in this place, said Robin, shaking him
• 17:01
  Speaker 1: by the hand. And then you will repay us the loan.
• 17:04
  Speaker 1: If you have been prospered, I shall return it to
• 17:07
  Speaker 1: you within the year upon my honor as Sir Richard
• 17:10
  Speaker 1: of the leh And for all time pray count on
• 17:13
  Speaker 1: me as a steadfast friend. So saying the Knight in
• 17:17
  Speaker 1: his esquire rode down the forest glade till they were
• 17:20
  Speaker 1: lost to view. So ends chapter sixteen.