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 grew red and her eyes grew bright, as she locked her hand in her
lover's, and tripped lightly with him into the church.

"This marriage will not stand," said the bishop, "for they have not been
thrice asked in church."

"We will ask them seven times," said Little John, "lest three should not
suffice."

"And in the meantime," said Robin, "the knight and the bishop shall
dance to my harping."

So Robin sat in the church porch and played away merrily, while his
foresters formed a ring, in the centre of which the knight and bishop
danced with exemplary alacrity; and if they relaxed their exertions,
Scarlet gently touched them up with the point of an arrow.

The knight grimaced ruefully, and begged Robin to think of his gout.

"So I do," said Robin; "this is the true antipodagron: you shall dance
the gout away, and be thankful to me while you live. I told you," he
added to the bishop, "I would play at this wedding; but you did not tell
me that you would dance at it. The next couple you marry, think of the
Roman law."

The bishop was too much out of breath to reply; and now the young couple
issued from church, and the bride having made a farewell obeisance to
her paren