the merry adventures of robin hood-第36章

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Said　the　Bishop　to　himself；　while　he　looked　grimly　at　Robin；　〃When　this　wedding　is　gone　by　I　will　have　this　fellow　well　whipped　for　his　saucy　tongue　and　bold　speech。〃

And　now　fair　Ellen　and　Sir　Stephen　stood　before　the　altar；　and　the　Bishop　himself　came　in　his　robes　and　opened　his　book；　whereat　fair　Ellen　looked　up　and　about　her　in　bitter　despair；　like　the　fawn　that　finds　the　hounds　on　her　haunch。　Then；　in　all　his　fluttering　tags　and　ribbons　of　red　and　yellow；　Robin　Hood　strode　forward。　　Three　steps　he　took　from　the　pillar　whereby　he　leaned；　and　stood　between　the　bride　and　bridegroom。

〃Let　me　look　upon　this　lass；〃　he　said　in　a　loud　voice。　　〃Why；　how　now！　What　have　we　here？　　Here　be　lilies　in　the　cheeks；　and　not　roses　such　as　befit　a　bonny　bride。　　This　is　no　fit　wedding。　　Thou；　Sir　Knight；　so　old；　and　she　so　young；　and　thou　thinkest　to　make　her　thy　wife？　I　tell　thee　it　may　not　be；　for　thou　art　not　her　own　true　love。〃

At　this　all　stood　amazed；　and　knew　not　where　to　look　nor　what　to　think　or　say；　for　they　were　all　bewildered　with　the　happening；　so；　while　everyone　looked　at　Robin　as　though　they　had　been　changed　to　stone；　he　clapped　his　bugle　horn　to　his　lips　and　blew　three　blasts　so　loud　and　clear；　they　echoed　from　floor　to　rafter　as　though　they　were　sounded　by　the　trump　of　doom。　Then　straightway　Little　John　and　Will　Stutely　came　leaping　and　stood　upon　either　side　of　Robin　Hood；　and　quickly　drew　their　broadswords；　the　while　a　mighty　voice　rolled　over　the　heads　of　all；　〃Here　be　I；　good　master；　when　thou　wantest　me〃；　for　it　was　Friar　Tuck　that　so　called　from　the　organ　loft。

And　now　all　was　hubbub　and　noise。　　Stout　Edward　strode　forward　raging；　and　would　have　seized　his　daughter　to　drag　her　away；　but　Little　John　stepped　between　and　thrust　him　back。　　〃Stand　back；　old　man；〃　said　he；　〃thou　art　a　hobbled　horse　this　day。〃

〃Down　with　the　villains！〃　cried　Sir　Stephen；　and　felt　for　his　sword；　but　it　hung　not　beside　him　on　his　wedding　day。

Then　the　men…at…arms　drew　their　swords；　and　it　seemed　like　that　blood　would　wet　the　stones；　but　suddenly　came　a　bustle　at　the　door　and　loud　voices；　steel　flashed　in　the　light；　and　the　crash　of　blows　sounded。　The　men…at…arms　fell　back；　and　up　the　aisle　came　leaping　eighteen　stout　yeomen　all　clad　in　Lincoln　green；　with　Allan　a　Dale　at　their　head。　In　his　hand　he　bore　Robin　Hood's　good　stout　trusty　bow　of　yew；　and　this　he　gave　to　him；　kneeling　the　while　upon　one　knee。

Then　up　spake　Edward　of　Deirwold　in　a　deep　voice　of　anger；　〃Is　it　thou；　Allan　a　Dale；　that　hath　bred　all　this　coil　in　a　church？〃

〃Nay；〃　quoth　merry　Robin；　〃that　have　I　done；　and　I　care　not　who　knoweth　it；　for　my　name　is　Robin　Hood。〃

At　this　name　a　sudden　silence　fell。　　The　Prior　of　Emmet　and　those　that　belonged　to　him　gathered　together　like　a　flock　of　frightened　sheep　when　the　scent　of　the　wolf　is　nigh；　while　the　Bishop　of　Hereford；　laying　aside　his　book；　crossed　himself　devoutly。　〃Now　Heaven　keep　us　this　day；〃　said　he；　〃from　that　evil　man！〃

〃Nay；〃　quoth　Robin；　〃I　mean　you　no　harm；　but　here　is　fair　Ellen's　betrothed　husband；　and　she　shall　marry　him　or　pain　will　be　bred　to　some　of　you。〃

Then　up　spake　stout　Edward　in　a　loud　and　angry　voice；　〃Now　I　say　nay！　I　am　her　father；　and　she　shall　marry　Sir　Stephen　and　none　other。〃

Now　all　this　time；　while　everything　was　in　turmoil　about　him；　Sir　Stephen　had　been　standing　in　proud　and　scornful　silence。　〃Nay；　fellow；〃　said　he　coldly；　〃thou　mayst　take　thy　daughter　back　again；　I　would　not　marry　her　after　this　day's　doings　could　I　gain　all　merry　England　thereby。　　I　tell　thee　plainly；　I　loved　thy　daughter；　old　as　I　am；　and　would　have　taken　her　up　like　a　jewel　from　the　sty；　yet；　truly；　I　knew　not　that　she　did　love　this　fellow；　and　was　beloved　by　him。　　Maiden；　if　thou　dost　rather　choose　a　beggarly　minstrel　than　a　high…born　knight；　take　thy　choice。　I　do　feel　it　shame　that　I　should　thus　stand　talking　amid　this　herd；　and　so　I　will　leave　you。〃　　Thus　saying；　he　turned　and；　gathering　his　men　about　him；　walked　proudly　down　the　aisle。　Then　all　the　yeomen　were　silenced　by　the　scorn　of　his　words。　Only　Friar　Tuck　leaned　over　the　edge　of　the　choir　loft　and　called　out　to　him　ere　he　had　gone；　〃Good　den；　Sir　Knight。　　Thou　wottest　old　bones　must　alway　make　room　for　young　blood。〃　　Sir　Stephen　neither　answered　nor　looked　up；　but　passed　out　from　the　church　as　though　he　had　heard　nought；　his　men　following　him。

Then　the　Bishop　of　Hereford　spoke　hastily；　〃I；　too；　have　no　business　here；　and　so　will　depart。〃　　And　he　made　as　though　he　would　go。　But　Robin　Hood　laid　hold　of　his　clothes　and　held　him。　〃Stay；　my　Lord　Bishop；〃　said　he；　〃I　have　yet　somewhat　to　say　to　thee。〃　The　Bishop's　face　fell；　but　he　stayed　as　Robin　bade　him；　for　he　saw　he　could　not　go。

Then　Robin　Hood　turned　to　stout　Edward　of　Deirwold；　and　said　he；　〃Give　thy　blessing　on　thy　daughter's　marriage　to　this　yeoman；　and　all　will　be　well。　　Little　John；　give　me　the　bags　of　gold。　　Look；　farmer。　Here　are　two　hundred　bright　golden　angels；　give　thy　blessing；　as　I　say；　and　I　will　count　them　out　to　thee　as　thy　daughter's　dower。　Give　not　thy　blessing；　and　she　shall　be　married　all　the　same；　but　not　so　much　as　a　cracked　farthing　shall　cross　thy　palm。　　Choose。〃

Then　Edward　looked　upon　the　ground　with　bent　brows；　turning　the　matter　over　and　over　in　his　mind；　but　he　was　a　shrewd　man　and　one；　withal；　that　made　the　best　use　of　a　cracked　pipkin；　so　at　last　he　looked　up　and　said；　but　in　no　joyous　tone；　〃If　the　wench　will　go　her　own　gait；　let　her　go。　I　had　thought　to　make　a　lady　of　her；　yet　if　she　chooses　to　be　what　she　is　like　to　be；　I　have　nought　to　do　with　her　henceforth。　Ne'ertheless　I　will　give　her　my　blessing　when　she　is　duly　wedded。〃

〃It　may　not　be；〃　spake　up　one　of　those　of　Emmet。　　〃The　banns　have　not　been　duly　published；　neither　is　there　any　priest　here　to　marry　them。〃

〃How　sayst　thou？〃　roared　Tuck　from　the　choir　loft。　　〃No　priest？　Marry；　here　stands　as　holy　a　man　as　thou　art；　any　day　of　the　week；　a　clerk　in　orders；　I　would　have　thee　know。　　As　for　the　question　of　banns；　stumble　not　over　that　straw；　brother；　for　I　will　publish　them。〃　So　saying；　he　called　the　banns；　and；　says　the　old　ballad；　lest　three　times　should　not　be　enough；　he　published　them　nine　times　o'er。　Then　straightway　he　came　down　from　the　loft　and　forthwith　performed　the　marriage　service；　and　so　Allan　and　Ellen　were　duly　wedded。

And　now　Robin　counted　out　two　hundred　golden　angels　to　Edward　of　Deirwold；　and　he；　upon　his　part；　gave　his　blessing；　yet　not；　I　wot；　as　though　he　meant　it　with　overmuch　good　will。　Then　the　stout　yeomen　crowded　around　and　grasped　Allan's　palm；　and　he；　holding　Ellen's　hand　within　his　own；　looked　about　him　all　dizzy　with　his　happiness。

Then　at　last　jolly　Robin　turned　to　the　Bishop　of　Hereford；　who　had　been　looking　on　at　all　that　passed　with　a　grim　look。　〃My　Lord　Bishop；〃　quoth　he；　〃thou　mayst　bring　to　thy　mind　that　thou　didst　promise　me　that　did　I　play　in　such　wise　as　to　cause　this　fair　lass　to　love　her　husband；　thou　wouldst　give　me　whatsoever　I　asked　in　reason。　　I　have　played　my　play；　and　she　loveth　her　husband；　which　she　would　not　have　done　but　for　me；　so　now　fulfill　thy　promise。　Thou　hast　upon　thee　that　which；　methinks；　thou　wouldst　be　the　better　without；　therefore；　I　prythee；　give　me　that　golden　chain　that　hangeth　about　thy　neck　as　a　wedding　present　for　this　fair　bride。〃

Then　the　Bishop's　cheeks　grew　red　with　rage　and　his　eyes　flashed。　He　looked　at　Robin　with　a　fell　look；　but　saw　that　in　the　yeoman's　face　which　bade　him　pause。　　Then　slowly　he　took　the　chain　from　about　his　neck　and　handed　it　to　Robin；　who　flung　it　over　Ellen's　head　so　that　it　hung　glittering　about　her　shoulders。　Then　said　merry　Robin；　〃I　thank　thee；　on　the　bride's　part；　for　thy　handsome　gift；　and　truly　thou　thyself　art　more　seemly　without　it。　　Now；　shouldst　thou　ever　come　nigh　to　Sherwood　I　much　hope　that　I　shall　give　thee　there　such　a　feast　as　thou　hast　ne'er　had　in　all　thy　life　before。〃

〃May　Heaven　forfend！〃　cried　the　Bishop　earnestly；　for　he　knew　right　well　what　manner　of　feast　it　was　that　Robin　Hood　gave　his　guests　in　Sherwood　Forest。

But　now　Robin　Hood　gathered　his　men　together；　and；　with　Allan　and　his　young　bride　in　their　midst；　they　all　turned　their　footsteps　toward　the　woo