Page 94 - the-merry-adventures-of-robin-hood

he came to him, and, putting one arm over his shoulder,
‘Alas, sweet friend!’ quoth he—for the Cook was a tall, stout
man—‘seest thou what that vile knave Reynold Greenleaf
hath done? He hath broken in upon our master’s goods, and
hath smitten me a buffet upon the ear, so that I thought I
was dead. Good Cook, I love thee well, and thou shalt have
a good pottle of our master’s best wine every day, for thou
art an old and faithful servant. Also, good Cook, I have ten
shillings that I mean to give as a gift to thee. But hatest thou
not to see a vile upstart like this Reynold Greenleaf taking
it upon him so bravely?’
‘Ay, marry, that do I,’ quoth the Cook boldly, for he liked
the Steward because of his talk of the wine and of the ten
shillings. ‘Get thee gone straightway to thy room, and I will
bring out this knave by his ears.’ So saying, he laid aside his
spit and drew the sword that hung by his side; whereupon
the Steward left as quickly as he could, for he hated the sight
of naked steel.
Then the Cook walked straightway to the broken pantry
door, through which he saw Little John tucking a napkin
beneath his chin and preparing to make himself merry.
‘Why, how now, Reynold Greenleaf?’ said the Cook, ‘thou
art no better than a thief, I wot. Come thou straight forth,
man, or I will carve thee as I would carve a sucking pig.’
‘Nay, good Cook, bear thou thyself more seemingly, or
else I will come forth to thy dole. At most times I am as a
yearling lamb, but when one cometh between me and my
meat, I am a raging lion, as it were.’
‘Lion or no lion,’ quoth the valorous Cook, ‘come thou