لیدی ماریان و کلانتر ناتینگام

CHAPTER 8 - Lady Marian and the Sheriff of Nottingham

Every year in summer, Marian’s father had a great party. Lords and ladies and the people from the villages came. They ate and drank. This year, the Sheriff of Nottingham came too, with fifty of his men. He watched Marian carefully.

‘She is very beautiful,’ he thought, ‘and Robin Hood loves her. I know he will come today. Then my men can catch him.’ The music started and people began to dance. A man went to Marian and spoke to her. She smiled and gave him her hand.

The sheriff stood up and called loudly to his men, ‘That’s him! That’s Robin Hood! Take him!’

The sheriff’s men took out their swords and moved through the dancers.

Suddenly ten of the dancers ran for their swords too. They were, of course, Robin’s men, and a great fight began. Robin’s men were better fighters than the sheriff’s. Marian wanted to fight too, but her father stopped her.

‘Marian, what are you doing? Put down that sword! I am sorry about Robin — no other man will marry you. You are only interested in fighting!’ The sheriff heard Marian’s father and smiled.

‘Lady Marian is really very lovely,’ he thought. ‘Her father wants to find another husband for her? Good. I will marry her, then she will help me find Robin Hood.’