Page 269 - the-merry-adventures-of-robin-hood

have and bless Saint Cedric for thy company. But, sweet
chuck, I prythee bring three quarts of ale at least, one for
thy drinking and two for mine, for my thirst is such that
methinks I can drink ale as the sands of the River Dee drink
salt water.’
So Robin straightway left the Beggar, who, upon his part,
went to a budding lime bush back of the hedge, and there
spread his feast upon the grass and roasted his eggs upon
a little fagot fire, with a deftness gained by long labor in
that line. After a while back came Robin bearing a goodly
skin of ale upon his shoulder, which he laid upon the grass.
Then, looking upon the feast spread upon the ground—and
a fair sight it was to look upon— he slowly rubbed his hand
over his stomach, for to his hungry eyes it seemed the fairest
sight that he had beheld in all his life.
‘Friend,’ said the Beggar, ‘let me feel the weight of that
skin.
‘Yea, truly,’ quoth Robin, ‘help thyself, sweet chuck, and
meantime let me see whether thy pigeon pie is fresh or no.’
So the one seized upon the ale and the other upon the
pigeon pie, and nothing was heard for a while but the
munching of food and the gurgle of ale as it left the skin.
At last, after a long time had passed thus, Robin pushed
the food from him and heaved a great sigh of deep content,
for he felt as though he had been made all over anew.
‘And now, good friend,’ quoth he, leaning upon one elbow,
‘I would have at thee about that other matter of seriousness
of which I spoke not long since.’
‘How!’ said the Beggar reproachfully, ‘thou wouldst sure-

The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood