Sunny Times 2

A legendary character Rileggi il racconto. Robin Hood is a legendary character. The stories about him are very old and nobody knows if he was a real person or a fantasy character. In the legend, he was a skilled archer, he was brave and fearless. Over time, he became famous for robbing the rich and giving to the poor , and nowadays he is still a loved hero in literature, films and theatre. England, 1191 A.D. The reign of King Richard the First was very different from the times we live in now. The roads were very bad and full of robbers. The poor were oppressed, they lived like animals and no woman was safe. There was a great number of large forests in the country, inhabited by lots of deer. At that time Robin Hood lived near the city of Nottingham. He was of noble birth. But after his father s death, the Sheriff of Nottingham robbed him of his lands. That s why Robin decided to live in the forest of Sherwood, not far from the city of Nottingham. At that time he was about twenty years old. A great number of young men followed him and began a new life in the forest. They became outlaws and made Robin Hood their leader. Robin s faithful man was named Little John. Here is the story of Robin s first meeting with Little John. One day in summertime, Robin left to go for a walk in Sherwood forest. Will Scarlet, one of his faithful men, asked to go with him. He wanted to protect Robin from his old enemy, the Sheriff of Nottingham. Robin refused: I know the forest very well... I can take my horn with me . Blow it, if you need my help, Will Scarlet said. Robin walked miles and miles and arrived at a stream. There was a long trunk across it and the passage was for one man at a time. Robin got on the trunk and it began to move. He looked up and saw a strange man on the other side of the trunk. He was a real giant. Move over and let me pass! Robin said. Stop and let me pass! the stranger replied. Robin took his bow in his hand. Do not move, otherwise this arrow is ready for you! he shouted. If you are not a coward, do not do it! You have got a bow, while I have just this stick for walking, the man said. Robin went away and looked for a good stick, then he came back to the stream and shouted: Now I have got a stick too, so let s fight on this trunk. If one falls into the water, the other is the winner . I like fighting like this! the stranger said and reached the middle of the trunk. Robin wasn t used to fighting with a stick, but he was young and strong, so he took his stick and struck the giant hard. Then the stranger struck Robin back with his stick. It was difficult to walk on that trunk and to fight at the same time. Mainly the stranger was in difficulty because he was very big and tall. He was more than seven feet tall. Robin looked the giant in the eye and struck him again, but the man struck Robin on his head very quickly. Robin fell into the stream. As soon as he disappeared in the water, the giant called him: Where are you? Hey are you all right? . Robin came out of the water and laughed. Here I am, he said. You you are a good fighter and you are fair too. Then he reached the giant and took his horn. The echo resounded in the forest. Some minutes later a dozen men were beside Robin, among them was Will Scarlet. What s the matter, my master? Who is that man? Did he hurt you? Will shouted. All the archers took their bows in their hands. Let him go! Robin replied. He is a brave man. I hope he can be one of us . I can t , the giant said because I m going into the forest to meet a man called Robin Hood. I want to be his servant . Robin laughed again: I am the man you are looking for. I am Robin Hood and I welcome you to my band. What s your name, my good fellow? . My name is John Little, the giant said in a low voice. This time all the archers began to laugh except Robin. It is not a bad name Robin said but if you want to be an outlaw, you must change it. We name you Little John . All the men clapped their hands and Little John smiled. That is the way Robin Hood met the most faithful of his men. Little John wasn t a violent guy, he just liked fighting for pleasure in some village fairs. But one day at Nottingham fair, he saw a noble, named Guy of Gisborne, striking a peasant. So Little John knocked Guy of Gisborne down with a punch. In this way he became an outlaw, but his only crime was to defend a poor peasant against an arrogant man. THE END 9