Page 68 - the-merry-adventures-of-robin-hood

shouldst take aught of me! An honest man am I, and have
wronged neither man nor maid; so trouble me not, good
master, as I have never troubled thee.’
‘Nay, Heaven forbid, indeed,’ quoth Robin, ‘that I should
take from such as thee, jolly fellow! Not so much as one
farthing would I take from thee, for I love a fair Saxon face
like thine right well— more especially when it cometh from
Locksley Town, and most especially when the man that
owneth it is to marry a bonny lass on Thursday next. But
come, tell me for what price thou wilt sell me all of thy meat
and thy horse and cart.’
‘At four marks do I value meat, cart, and mare,’ quoth the
Butcher, ‘but if I do not sell all my meat I will not have four
marks in value.’
Then Robin Hood plucked the purse from his girdle, and
quoth he, ‘Here in this purse are six marks. Now, I would
fain be a butcher for the day and sell my meat in Notting-
ham Town. Wilt thou close a bargain with me and take six
marks for thine outfit?’
‘Now may the blessings of all the saints fall on thine
honest head!’ cried the Butcher right joyfully, as he leaped
down from his cart and took the purse that Robin held out
to him.
‘Nay,’ quoth Robin, laughing loudly, ‘many do like me
and wish me well, but few call me honest. Now get thee
gone back to thy lass, and give her a sweet kiss from me.’ So
saying, he donned the Butcher’s apron, and, climbing into
the cart, he took the reins in his hand and drove off through
the forest to Nottingham Town.