That must be altered, cried Will Scarlett. We will call a feast, and because he is full seven feet tall and round the waist at least an ell,
威尔·斯卡利特大叫道,名字必须改一下,我们称为大鱼,因为他有7英尺高,腰围至少有一埃尔。
he shall be called Little John. And thus it was done. But at the feast Little John, who always liked to know exactly what work he had to do,
应该叫他小约翰,就这么决定,但对于小约翰而言,他想知道他究竟需要做什么事情,
put some questions to Robin Hood. Before I join hands with you, tell me what sort of life this is you lead.
他问了罗宾汉一些问题,在我和你们联手之前,告诉我你们是如何生活的。
How am I to know whose goods I shall take, and whose I shall leave? Whom shall I beat, and whom shall I refrain from beating?
我如何知道我应该拿谁的物品,不应该拿谁的?我应该对抗谁,不应该对抗谁?
And Robin answered: Look that you harm not any tiller of the ground, nor any yeoman of the greenwood,
罗宾汉回答道,你不要伤害农耕的人,也不要伤害绿林中的自耕农,
no, nor any knight or squire, unless you have heard him ill spoken of. But if rich men with money-bags come your way,
也不要伤害任何骑士或乡绅,除非你听到他说了坏话,但如果钱包鼓鼓的富人上了你的地盘,
see that you take their belongings. But above all else, see that you keep in your mind the High Sheriff of Nottingham.
你可以拿他们的物品,但最主要的,记住诺丁汉的郡长。
This being settled, Robin Hood declared Little John to be second in command to himself among the forest band.
事情处理完毕,罗宾汉任命小约翰是他队伍中的二号人物。
The new outlaw never forgot to keep in mind the High Sheriff of Nottingham, who was the bitterest enemy the foresters had.
这名新逃犯从未忘记诺丁汉的郡长,他是这伙人最大的敌人。
Robin Hood, however, had no liking for a company of idle men about him;
当然,罗宾汉不喜欢周围是一群闲散人员;
so he at once sent off Little John and Will Scarlett to the great road known as Watling Street,
所以他立即派小约翰和威尔·斯卡利特去一个名叫惠特灵大道的地方,
with orders to hide among the trees and wait till some adventure might come to them.
要求他们躲避在树丛中,等待迎接他们的冒险。
If they took captive earl or baron, abbot or knight, he was to be brought unharmed back to Robin Hood.
如果逮捕了伯爵或是男爵,男修院院长或是骑士,那么要完好无损地带到罗宾汉面前。
But all along Watling Street the road was bare; white and hard it lay in the sun,
但惠特灵大道四下无人,在太阳光下面,大道显得苍白和寒冷,
without the tiniest cloud of dust to show that a rich company might be coming.
能够证明一群富人带来的一点点尘土都没有。
Three At length, just where a side path turned into the broad highway, there rode a knight,
第三部分,最终,在即将转入宽广公路的旁道上来了一个骑马的骑士,
and never did a more pitiful man than he ride a horse on a summer day. One foot only was in the stirrup;
没有比他在烈日下骑马更可怜的人,他只有一只脚放在马镫上;
the other hung carelessly by his side. His head was bowed, the reins dropped loose, and his horse went on as he would.
另一只懒散地悬空着,他弯下了头,缰绳松脱了,他的马随意向前走。
At so sad a sight, the hearts of the outlaws were filled with pity,
多么悲凉的景色,逃犯的心里很不是滋味,
and Little John fell on his knees and bade the knight welcome in the name of his master.
小约翰跪了下来,他以主人的名义欢迎他。