Page 277 - the-merry-adventures-of-robin-hood

ing into the talk, ‘I would not doubt our brother here, but
bear in mind we know him not. What art thou, brother?
Upright-man, Jurkman, Clapper-dudgeon, Dommerer, or
Abraham-man?’
At these words Robin looked from one man to the other
with mouth agape. ‘Truly,’ quoth he, ‘I trust I am an up-
right man, at least, I strive to be; but I know not what thou
meanest by such jargon, brother. It were much more seemly,
methinks, if yon Dumb man, who hath a sweet voice, would
give us a song.’
At these words a silence fell on all, and after a while the
Blind man spoke again. Quoth he, ‘Thou dost surely jest
when thou sayest that thou dost not understand such words.
Answer me this: Hast thou ever fibbed a chouse quarrons in
the Rome pad for the loure in his bung?’[4]
[4] I.E., in old beggar’s cant, ‘beaten a man or gallant
upon the highway for the money in his purse.’ Dakkar’s
ENGLISH VILLAINIES.
‘Now out upon it,’ quoth Robin Hood testily, ‘an ye make
sport of me by pattering such gibberish, it will be ill for you
all, I tell you. I have the best part of a mind to crack the
heads of all four of you, and would do so, too, but for the
sweet Malmsey ye have given me. Brother, pass the pottle
lest it grow cold.’
But all the four beggars leaped to their feet when Robin
had done speaking, and the Blind man snatched up a heavy
knotted cudgel that lay beside him on the grass, as did the
others likewise. Then Robin, seeing that things were like
to go ill with him, albeit he knew not what all the coil was

The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood