StNicholas [serial] . es; at his side hisjeweled sword ; and over all hung gracefully, infull folds, a rich purple mantle of cloth. Onhis head he wore a helmet of burnished steelwith vizor raised ; from its peak proudly wavedfour snow-white plumes. Around his neck,falling over his mantle, was a heavy goldchain, badge of his kingly office. His knightswere similarly appareled, though none wore thepurple mantle, the plumes, and the gold chainthat denoted the King. Immediately behind the King and theknights came a company of archers in suitsof leather, each with his full quiver slung overhis shoul
StNicholas [serial] . es; at his side hisjeweled sword ; and over all hung gracefully, infull folds, a rich purple mantle of cloth. Onhis head he wore a helmet of burnished steelwith vizor raised ; from its peak proudly wavedfour snow-white plumes. Around his neck,falling over his mantle, was a heavy goldchain, badge of his kingly office. His knightswere similarly appareled, though none wore thepurple mantle, the plumes, and the gold chainthat denoted the King. Immediately behind the King and theknights came a company of archers in suitsof leather, each with his full quiver slung overhis shoulder, and longbow in hand, bent readyfor use. The sumpter-horses and groomsbrought up the rear. At sight of this martial retinue poor Robinsheart sank, and he bitterly realized he wasnothing more than a prisoner of the King. 38 THE FEAST IN THE FOREST. [Nov. He and his men were placed between the ceremony of court-life after perfect freedom,knights and the bowmen. The signal was filled Robin with such a longing for his. ROBIN BITTERLY REALIZED HE WAS NOTHING MORE THAN A PRISONER OF THE KING. given. Again the blare of trumpets, and thestately march was taken up. A fitful wind shuddered through the tree-tops a sigh of parting. Robin reechoed itas he cast a longing look down the cool darkglades of his beloved forest. It was soon leftbehind, obscured by a cloud of dust from hisback-turned gaze, and he saw it not again formany days. At first the novelty of life at court divertedRobin and his men; but one by one theyslipped away, until at the end of the year onlyRobin and a half-dozen of his followersremained. The noise and confusion after theforest silence, the glare and glitter after thewoodland lights and shades, the restraint and beloved Sherwood that he fell ill. He pinedfor the peace and quiet of woodland solitudes,to chase the dun deer through the cracklingunderbrush, to wander through secret wood-paths with only his stanch followers. When he could endure it no longer he sought
Size: 1802px × 1387px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookauthordodgemar, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, bookyear1873
