Читать «Стихотворения 1906-1941» онлайн - страница 220

Then he put on the old man's shoes,

Were patched both beneath and aboon;

Then Robin Hood swore a solemn oath,

It 's good habit that makes a man.

Now Robin Hood is to Nottingham gone,

With a link a down and a down,

And there he met with the proud sheriff,

Was walking along the town.

"O save, O save, O sheriff," he said,

"O save, and you may see!

And what will you give "to a silly old man

To-day will your hangman be?"

"Some suits, some suits," the sheriff he said,

"Some suits I 'II give to thee;

Some suits, some suits, and pence thirteen

To-day's a hangman's fee."

Then Robin he turns him round about,

And jumps from stock to stone;

"By the truth of my body," the sheriff he said,

"That's well jumpt, thou nimble old man."

"I was ne'er a hangman in all my life,

Nor yet intends to trade;

But curst be he," said bold Robin,

"That first a hangman was made.

"I've a bag for meal, and a bag for malt,

And a bag for barley and corn;

A bag for bread, and a bag for beef,

And a bag for my little small horn.

"I have a horn in my pocket,

I got it from Robin Hood,

And still when I set it to my mouth,

For thee it blows little good."

"O wind thy horn, thou proud fellow,

Of thee I have no doubt;

I wish that thou give such a blast

Till both thy eyes fall out."

The first loud blast that he did blow,

He blew both loud and shrill;

A hundred and fifty of Robin Hood's men

Came riding over the hill.

The next loud blast that he did give,

He blew both loud and amain, And quickly sixty of Robin

Hood's men

Came shining over the plain.

"O who are yon," the sheriff he said,

"Come tripping over the lee?"

"Th're my attendants," brave Robin did say,

"They'll pay a visit to thee."

They took the gallows from the slack,

They set it in the glen,

They hanged the proud sheriff on that,

Released their own three men.