Page 71 - the-merry-adventures-of-robin-hood

ing the greater number, the others came round, one by one
to their way of thinking.
Then some of the butchers came to him to make his ac-
quaintance. ‘Come, brother,’ quoth one who was the head
of them all, ‘we be all of one trade, so wilt thou go dine with
us? For this day the Sheriff hath asked all the Butcher Guild
to feast with him at the Guild Hall. There will be stout fare
and much to drink, and that thou likest, or I much mistake
thee.’
‘Now, beshrew his heart,’ quoth jolly Robin, ‘that would
deny a butcher. And, moreover, I will go dine with you all,
my sweet lads, and that as fast as I can hie.’ Whereupon,
having sold all his meat, he closed his stall and went with
them to the great Guild Hall.
There the Sheriff had already come in state, and with him
many butchers. When Robin and those that were with him
came in, all laughing at some merry jest he had been tell-
ing them, those that were near the Sheriff whispered to him,
‘Yon is a right mad blade, for he hath sold more meat for one
penny this day than we could sell for three, and to what-
soever merry lass gave him a kiss he gave meat for nought.’
And others said, ‘He is some prodigal that hath sold his land
for silver and gold, and meaneth to spend all right merrily.’
Then the Sheriff called Robin to him, not knowing him
in his butcher’s dress, and made him sit close to him on his
right hand; for he loved a rich young prodigal—especially
when he thought that he might lighten that prodigal’s pock-
ets into his own most worshipful purse. So he made much
of Robin, and laughed and talked with him more than with

0 The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood