第85章

``Ho！ho！mykingdomandmysubjects?’’answeredRichard，impatiently；``Itellthee，SirWilfred，thebestofthemaremostwillingtorepaymyfolliesinkind——Forexample，myveryfaithfulservant，WilfredofIvanhoe，willnotobeymypositivecommands，andyetreadshiskingahomily，becausehedoesnotwalkexactlybyhisadvice。

Whichofushasmostreasontoupbraidtheother?——

Yetforgiveme，myfaithfulWilfred。ThetimeIhavespent，andamyettospendinconcealment，is，asIexplainedtotheeatSaintBotolph’s，necessarytogivemyfriendsandfaithfulnoblestimetoassembletheirforces，thatwhenRichard’sreturnisannounced，heshouldbeattheheadofsuchaforceasenemiesshalltrembletoface，andthussubduethemeditatedtreason，withoutevenunsheathingasword。EstotevilleandBohunwillnotbestrongenoughtomoveforwardtoYorkfortwenty-fourhours。ImusthavenewsofSalisburyfromthesouth；andofBeauchamp，inWarwickshire；

andofMultonandPercyinthenorth。TheChancellormustmakesureofLondon。Toosuddenanappearancewouldsubjectmetodangers，otherthanmylanceandsword，thoughbackedbythebowofboldRobin，orthequarter-staffofFriarTuck，andthehornofthesageWamba，maybeabletorescuemefrom。’’

Wilfredbowedinsubmission，wellknowinghowvainitwastocontendwiththewildspiritofchivalrywhichsooftenimpelledhismasterupondangerswhichhemighteasilyhaveavoided，orrather，whichitwasunpardonableinhimtohavesoughtout。Theyoungknightsighed，therefore，andheldhispeace；whileRichard，rejoicedathavingsilencedhiscounsellor，thoughhisheartacknowledgedthejusticeofthechargehehadbroughtagainsthim，wentoninconversationwithRobinHood——``KingofOutlaws，’’hesaid，``haveyounorefreshmenttooffertoyourbrothersovereign?forthesedeadknaveshavefoundmebothinexerciseandappetite。’’

``Introth，’’repliedtheOutlaw，``forIscorntolietoyourGrace，ourlarderischieflysuppliedwith——’’Hestopped，andwassomewhatembarrassed。

``Withvenison，Isuppose?’’saidRichard，gaily；

``betterfoodatneedtherecanbenone——andtruly，ifakingwillnotremainathomeandslayhisowngame，methinksheshouldnotbrawltooloudifhefindsitkilledtohishand。’’

``IfyourGrace，then，’’saidRobin，``willagainhonourwithyourpresenceoneofRobinHood’splacesofrendezvous，thevenisonshallnotbelacking；

andastoupofale，anditmaybeacupofreasonablygoodwine，torelishitwithal。’’

TheOutlawaccordinglyledtheway，followedbythebuxomMonarch，morehappy，probably，inthischancemeetingwithRobinHoodandhisforesters，thanhewouldhavebeeninagainassuminghisroyalstate，andpresidingoverasplendidcircleofpeersandnobles。NoveltyinsocietyandadventurewerethezestoflifetoRichardCur-de-Lion，andithaditshighestrelishwhenenhancedbydangersencounteredandsurmounted。Inthelion-heartedKing，thebrilliant，butuselesscharacter，ofaknightofromance，wasinagreatmeasurerealizedandrevived；andthepersonalglorywhichheacquiredbyhisowndeedsofarms，wasfarmoredeartohisexcitedimagination，thanthatwhichacourseofpolicyandwisdomwouldhavespreadaroundhisgovernment。Accordingly，hisreignwaslikethecourseofabrilliantandrapidmeteor，whichshootsalongthefaceofHeaven，sheddingaroundanunnecessaryandportentouslight，whichisinstantlyswallowedupbyuniversaldarkness；hisfeatsofchivalryfurnishingthemesforbardsandminstrels，butaffordingnoneofthosesolidbenefitstohiscountryonwhichhistorylovestopause，andholdupasanexampletoposterity。ButinhispresentcompanyRichardshowedtothegreatestimaginableadvantage。Hewasgay，good-humoured，andfondofmanhoodineveryrankoflife。

Beneathahugeoak-treethesilvanrepastwashastilypreparedfortheKingofEngland，surroundedbymenoutlawstohisgovernment，butw