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〃For none can I find in the good greenwood； All on the fallen leaves so
brown。〃
〃No money have we； good brother；〃 said they： 〃Then；〃 said he； 〃we
three for money will pray： Singing； hey down； ho down； down；
derry down： And whatever shall come at the end of our prayer； We
three holy friars will piously share； All on the fallen leaves so
brown。〃
〃We will not pray with thee； good brother； God wot： For truly； good
brother； thou pleasest us not； Singing hey down； ho down； down；
derry down：〃 Then up they both started from Robin to run； But down
on their knees Robin pulled them each one； All on the fallen leaves
so brown。
The grey friars prayed with a doleful face； But bold Robin prayed
with a right merry grace； Singing； hey down； ho down； down； derry
down： And when they had prayed； their portmanteau he took； And
from it a hundred good angels he shook； All on the fallen leaves so
brown。
〃The saints；〃 said bold Robin； 〃have hearkened our prayer； And
here's a good angel apiece for your share： If more you would have； you
must win ere you wear： Singing hey down； ho down； down； derry
down：〃 Then he blew his good horn with a musical cheer； And fifty
green bowmen came trooping full near； And away the grey friars they
bounded like deer； All on the fallen leaves so brown。
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CHAPTER XIII
What can a young lassie； what shall a young lassie； What can a
young lassie do wi'an auld man？BURNS。
〃Here is but five shillings and a ring；〃 said Little John； 〃and the
young man has spoken true。〃
〃Then；〃 said Robin to the stranger； 〃if want of money be the cause of
your melancholy； speak。 Little John is my treasurer； and he shall
disburse to you。〃
〃It is； and it is not；〃 said the stranger； 〃it is； because； had I not wanted
money I had never lost my love； it is not； because； now that I have lost her；
money would come too late to regain her。〃
〃In what way have you lost her？〃 said Robin： 〃let us clearly know
that she is past regaining； before we give up our wishes to restore her to
you。〃
〃She is to be married this day；〃 said the stranger； 〃and perhaps is
married by this； to a rich old knight； and yesterday I knew it not。〃
〃What is your name？〃 said Robin。
〃Allen；〃 said the stranger。
〃And where is the marriage to take place； Allen？〃 said Robin。
〃At Edwinstow church；〃 said Allen； 〃by the bishop of Nottingham。〃
〃I know that bishop；〃 said Robin； 〃he dined with me a month since；
and paid three hundred pounds for his dinner。 He has a good ear and
loves music。 The friar sang to him to some tune。 Give me my harper's
cloak； and I will play a part at this wedding。
〃These are dangerous times； Robin；〃 said Marian； 〃for playing pranks
out of the forest。〃
〃Fear not；〃 said Robin； 〃Edwinstow lies not Nottingham…ward； and I
will take my precautions。〃
Robin put on his harper's cloak； while Little John painted his eyebrows
and cheeks； tipped his nose with red； and tied him on a comely beard。
Marian confessed； that had she not been present at the metamorphosis； she
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should not have known her own true Robin。 Robin took his harp and
went to the wedding。
Robin found the bishop and his train in the church porch； impatiently
expecting the arrival of the bride and bridegroom。 The clerk was observing
to the bishop that the knight was somewhat gouty； and that the necessity of
walking the last quarter of a mile from the road to the churchyard probably
detained the lively bridegroom rather longer than had been calculated
upon。
〃Oh！ by my fey；〃 said the music…loving bishop； 〃here comes a harper
in the nick of time； and now I care not how long they tarry。 Ho！ honest
friend； are you come to play at the wedding？〃
〃I am come to play anywhere；〃 answered Robin； 〃where I can get a
cup of sack； for which I will sing the praise of the donor in lofty verse； and
emblazon him with any virtue which he may wish to have the credit of
possessing； without the trouble of practising。
〃A most courtly harper；〃 said the bishop； 〃I will fill thee with sack； I
will make thee a walking butt of sack； if thou wilt delight my ears with thy
melodies。〃 〃That will I；〃 said Robin； 〃in what branch of my art shall I
exert my faculty？ I am passing well in all； from the anthem to the glee；
and from the dirge to the coranto。〃
〃It would be idle；〃 said the bishop； 〃to give thee sack for playing me
anthems； seeing that I myself do receive sack for hearing them sung。
Therefore； as the occasion is festive； thou shalt play me a coranto。〃
Robin struck up and played away merrily； the bishop all the while in
great delight； noddling his head； and beating time with his foot； till the
bride and bridegroom appeared。 The bridegroom was richly apparelled；
and came slowly and painfully forward； hobbling and leering； and pursing
up his mouth into a smile of resolute defiance to the gout； and of tender
complacency towards his lady love； who； shining like gold at the old
knight's expense； followed slowly between her father and mother； her
cheeks pale； her head drooping； her steps faltering； and her eyes reddened
with tears。
Robin stopped his minstrelsy； and said to the bishop； 〃This seems to
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me an unfit match。〃
〃What do you say； rascal？〃 said the old knight； hobbling up to him。
〃I say；〃 said Robin； 〃this seems to me an unfit match。 What； in the
devil's name； can you want with a young wife； who have one foot in
flannels and the other in the grave？〃
〃What is that to thee； sirrah varlet？〃 said the old knight； 〃stand away
from the porch； or I will fracture thy sconce with my cane。〃
〃I will not stand away from the porch；〃 said Robin； 〃unless the bride
bid me； and tell me that you are her own true love。〃
〃Speak；〃 said the bride's father； in a severe tone； and with a look of
significant menace。 The girl looked alternately at her father and Robin。
She attempted to speak； but her voice failed in the effort； and she burst
into tears。
〃Here is lawful cause and just impediment；〃 said Robin； 〃and I forbid
the banns。〃
〃Who are you； villain？〃 said the old knight； stamping his sound foot
with rage。
〃I am the Roman law；〃 said Robin； 〃which says that there shall not be
more than ten years between a man and his wife； and here are five times
ten： and so says the law of nature。〃
〃Honest harper；〃 said the bishop； 〃you are somewhat over…officious
here； and less courtly than I deemed you。 If you love sack； forbear； for this
course will never bring you a drop。 As to your Roman law； and your law
of nature； what right have they to say any thing which the law of Holy
Writ says not？〃
〃The law of Holy Writ does say it；〃 said Robin； 〃I expound it so to say；
and I will produce sixty commentators to establish my exposition。〃
And so saying； he produced a horn from beneath his cloak； and blew
three blasts； and threescore bowmen in green came leaping from the
bushes and trees； and young Allen was the first among them to give Robin
his sword； while Friar Tuck and Little John marched up to the altar。 Robin
stripped the bishop and clerk of their robes； and put them on the friar and
Little John； and Allen advanced to take the hand of the bride。 Her cheeks
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grew red and her eyes grew bright； as she locked her hand in her lover's；
and tripped lightly with him into the church。