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 parents, they departed together with the foresters,
the parents storming, the attendants laughing, the bishop puffing
and blowing, and the knight rubbing his gouty foot, and uttering
doleful lamentations for the gold and jewels with which he had
so unwittingly adorned and cowered the bride.
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