Page 256 - the-merry-adventures-of-robin-hood

‘Marry, come up!’ quoth Little John. ‘Disgrace, sayest
thou? Methinks it is more disgrace for one of our garb to
wring hard-earned farthings out of the gripe of poor lean
peasants. It is not so, brother?’
At this the Tinker and the Peddler and the Beggar nudged
one another, and all grinned, and the friars scowled blackly
at Little John; but they could think of nothing further to say,
so they turned to their horses. Then Little John arose of a
sudden from the bench where he sat, and ran to where the
brothers of Fountain Abbey were mounting. Quoth he, ‘Let
me hold your horses’ bridles for you. Truly, your words have
smitten my sinful heart, so that I will abide no longer in this
den of evil, but will go forward with you. No vile tempta-
tion, I wot, will fall upon me in such holy company.’
‘Nay, fellow,’ said the lean Brother harshly, for he saw that
Little John made sport of them, ‘we want none of thy com-
pany, so get thee gone.’
‘Alas,’ quoth Little John, ‘I am truly sorry that ye like me
not nor my company, but as for leaving you, it may not be,
for my heart is so moved, that, willy-nilly, I must go with
you for the sake of your holy company.’
Now, at this talk all the good fellows on the bench
grinned till their teeth glistened, and even the landlord
could not forbear to smile. As for the friars, they looked at
one another with a puzzled look, and knew not what to do
in the matter. They were so proud that it made them feel sick
with shame to think of riding along the highroad with a
strolling friar, in robes all too short for him, running beside
them, but yet they could not make Little John stay against