Page 173 - the-merry-adventures-of-robin-hood

Here, with his broad back against the rugged trunk of the
willow tree, and half hidden by the soft ferns around him,
sat a stout, brawny fellow, but no other man was there. His
head was as round as a ball, and covered with a mat of
close-clipped, curly black hair that grew low down on his
forehead. But his crown was shorn as smooth as the palm of
one’s hand, which, together with his loose robe, cowl, and
string of beads, showed that which his looks never would
have done, that he was a friar. His cheeks were as red and
shining as a winter crab, albeit they were nearly covered
over with a close curly black beard, as were his chin and
upper lip likewise. His neck was thick like that of a north
country bull, and his round head closely set upon shoul-
ders e’en a match for those of Little John himself. Beneath
his bushy black brows danced a pair of little gray eyes that
could not stand still for very drollery of humor. No man
could look into his face and not feel his heartstrings tick-
led by the merriment of their look. By his side lay a steel
cap, which he had laid off for the sake of the coolness to his
crown. His legs were stretched wide apart, and betwixt his
knees he held a great pasty compounded of juicy meats of
divers kinds made savory with tender young onions, both
meat and onions being mingled with a good rich gravy. In
his right fist he held a great piece of brown crust at which
he munched sturdily, and every now and then he thrust his
left hand into the pie and drew it forth full of meat; anon he
would take a mighty pull at a great bottle of Malmsey that
lay beside him.
‘By my faith,’ quoth Robin to himself, ‘I do verily be-

1 The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood