Page 67 - the-merry-adventures-of-robin-hood

Robin Hood often turned over in his mind many means of
making an even score with the Sheriff. At last he began to
fret at his confinement; so one day he took up his stout cud-
gel and set forth to seek adventure, strolling blithely along
until he came to the edge of Sherwood. There, as he rambled
along the sunlit road, he met a lusty young butcher driving
a fine mare and riding in a stout new cart, all hung about
with meat. Merrily whistled the Butcher as he jogged along,
for he was going to the market, and the day was fresh and
sweet, making his heart blithe within him.
‘Good morrow to thee, jolly fellow,’ quoth Robin, ‘thou
seemest happy this merry morn.’
‘Ay, that am I,’ quoth the jolly Butcher, ‘and why should I
not be so? Am I not hale in wind and limb? Have I not the
bonniest lass in all Nottinghamshire? And lastly, am I not
to be married to her on Thursday next in sweet Locksley
Town?’
‘Ha,’ said Robin, ‘comest thou from Locksley Town? Well
do I know that fair place for miles about, and well do I know
each hedgerow and gentle pebbly stream, and even all the
bright little fishes therein, for there I was born and bred.
Now, where goest thou with thy meat, my fair friend?’
‘I go to the market at Nottingham Town to sell my beef
and my mutton,’ answered the Butcher. ‘But who art thou
that comest from Locksley Town?’
‘A yeoman am I, and men do call me Robin Hood.’
‘Now, by Our Lady’s grace,’ cried the Butcher, ‘well do I
know thy name, and many a time have I heard thy deeds
both sung and spoken of. But Heaven forbid that thou

The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood