Page 283 - the-merry-adventures-of-robin-hood

or my body. Didst thou ever see a beggar so? I tell thee I am
as honest a man as thou art. Look, friend.’ Here he took the
purse of money from his breast and showed to the dazzled
eyes of the Corn Engrosser the bright golden pieces. ‘Friend,
these rags serve but to hide an honest rich man from the
eyes of Robin Hood.’
‘Put up thy money, lad,’ cried the other quickly. ‘Art thou
a fool, to trust to beggar’s rags to shield thee from Robin
Hood? If he caught thee, he would strip thee to the skin, for
he hates a lusty beggar as he doth a fat priest or those of my
kind.’
‘Is it indeed so?’ quoth Robin. ‘Had I known this, mayhap
I had not come hereabouts in this garb. But I must go for-
ward now, as much depends upon my journeying. Where
goest thou, friend?’
‘I go to Grantham,’ said the Corn Engrosser, ‘but I shall
lodge tonight at Newark, if I can get so far upon my way.’
‘Why, I myself am on the way to Newark,’ quoth merry
Robin, ‘so that, as two honest men are better than one in
roads beset by such a fellow as this Robin Hood, I will jog
along with thee, if thou hast no dislike to my company.’
‘Why, as thou art an honest fellow and a rich fellow,’ said
the Corn Engrosser, ‘I mind not thy company; but, in sooth,
I have no great fondness for beggars.’
‘Then forward,’ quoth Robin, ‘for the day wanes and it
will be dark ere we reach Newark.’ So off they went, the lean
horse hobbling along as before, and Robin running beside,
albeit he was so quaking with laughter within him that he
could hardly stand; yet he dared not laugh aloud, lest the

The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood