双语故事:塔克修士
Robin Hood was told that Friar Tuck, who lived alone in a valley, was the best fighter in the world, at least as good as Robin Hood himself. Hearing this, Robin Hood went to the valley, where he found the Friar by the river. Robin Hood came up to him and said, “Carry me over the river, Friar, or else your life will be in danger.” The Friar said nothing but took up Robin Hood and carried him on his back to the other side of the river. The Friar gently laid him down on the bank and said to Robin Hood, “It is now your turn. Carry me over the river, or else you will regret.” Robin Hood took the Friar on his back, without saying a word to him, carried him over the water, and laid him gently down on the bank. Then he turned to the friar and ordered him carry him over the river once more. The Friar smiled and took him up, but when he came in the midst of the stream, he shook him off his shoulders, and said to him, “Now choose, whether you will sink or swim.”
When Robin Hood and the Friar swam to the bank, they began to fight. Robin Hood first shoot at the Friar. Though none of the arrows missed the mark, the Friar was not hurt because his armours protected him. Then they drew out their swords and continued their fight. They fought for hours but could not hurt each other. At last Robin Hood asked the Friar to stop for a moment and allow him to blow his horn.
Robin Hood took his horn and sounded it three times. Soon fifty men with their bows came to his help. Seeing this, the Friar asked Robin Hood to let him whistle three times. He put his fist to his mouth, and whistled so loudly that the place echoed with the sound. At the sound fifty fierce dogs appeared and came upon Robin Hood and his men, and tore their coats into pieces. The men fought bravely and kept the dog back. The Friar admired Robin Hood and his men for their strength and courage. He especially marvelled at Little John’s skill in fighting, and asked him who he was. Little John said, “I am Little John, and belong to Robin Hood, who has fought with you for hours; and if you will not surrender you will die.” The Friar, seeing that it was impossible for him to deal with so many at once, agreed to join Robin Hood’s band.
有人告诉罗宾汉说，有个叫做塔克的修士，住在一条山谷里，他武艺高强，罗宾汉本人都未必能敌得过。听了这话，罗宾汉就找到那条山谷，在河边见到了修士。罗宾汉走过去说：“修士，你若要保命，就背我过河。”修士二话没说，背起罗宾汉就到了河对岸。修士把罗宾汉轻轻放在岸边说：“这回轮到你了。把我背过河去，不然会后悔莫及的。”罗宾汉二话没说，背起修士就到了河对岸，也把他轻轻放在岸边。然后他转身命令修士再把他背过河去。修士微微一笑，又把罗宾汉背起来。但这次走到河中央时，修士把罗宾汉丢在水里，说：“是游到岸上，还是沉底喂鱼，自己看着办吧。”
两人游上岸，一场恶战开始了。罗宾汉先用弓箭，虽箭无虚发，但修士身披铠甲，罗宾汉奈何他不得。然后两人又拔剑相向。苦战了几个小时，不分胜负。这时罗宾汉叫了个暂停，说要吹一吹号角。
号角刚落，就有50条大汉赶来相助。见势不妙，修士也叫了个暂停，说要吹三声口哨。他把手放在嘴里一吹，尖厉的口哨声响彻山谷。随着哨声，50条恶犬蹿了出来，朝罗宾汉的人扑过去就咬，把他们的衣服都扯破了。罗宾汉的人奋力与恶犬搏斗，总算击退了它们。修士在一旁观战，不由得佩服这伙人的力量和勇气。他特别赞赏小约翰的武艺。他问小约翰来者何人。小约翰自报了姓名，说自己为罗宾汉效力，罗宾汉就是刚才与修士交手，几小时不分胜负的人。小约翰说塔克修士若不服输，就死到临头了。修士自知寡不敌众，就加入了罗宾汉一伙。
题外话：有几部电影以罗宾汉的故事为题。一部是道格拉斯•费尔邦克主演的默片《罗宾汉（Robin Hood）》（1922），一部是艾洛•费林主演的《侠盗罗宾汉（Adventures of Robin Hood）》（1938）。这部影片获多项奥斯卡金像奖，是罗宾汉题材影片的经典之作，艾洛•弗林已成为罗宾汉的代表形象。最近的一部是《侠盗之王罗宾汉（Robin Hood:Prince of Thieves）》（1991），由凯文•科斯纳主演。此片缺少罗宾汉故事轻松、幽默、快活的气氛，与民间传说不符。
