"
"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 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.
Pages:
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115