Robin Hood Compasses a Marriage

           ANDNOWhadcomethemorningwhenfairEllenwastobemarried,andonwhichmerryRobinhadswornthatAllanaDaleshould,asitwere,eatoutoftheplatterthathadbeenfilledforSirStephenofTrent.UproseRobinHood,blitheandgay,uprosehismerrymenoneandall,anduproselastofallstoutFriarTuck,winkingthesmartofsleepfromouthiseyes.Then,whiletheairseemedtobrimoverwiththesongofmanybirds,allblendedtogetherandalljoyinginthemistymorn,eachmanravedfaceandhandsintheleapingbrook,andsothedaybegan.

           "Now,"quothRobin,whentheyhadbrokentheirfast,andeachmanhadeatenhisfill,"itistimeforustosetforthupontheundertakingthatwehaveinhandfortoday.Iwillchoosemeonescoreofmygoodmentogowithme,forImayneedaid;andthou,WillScarlet,wiltabidehereandbethechiefwhileIamgone."Thensearchingthroughalltheband,eachmanofwhomcrowdedforwardeagertobechosen,Robincalledsuchashewishedbyname,untilhehadascoreofstoutfellows,theveryflowerofhisyeomanrie.BesidesLittleJohnandWillStutelywerenighallthosefamousladsofwhomIhavealreadytoldyou.Then,whilethosesochosenranleaping,fullofjoy,toarmthemselveswithbowandshaftandbroadsword,RobinHoodsteppedasideintothecovert,andtheredonnedagay,beribbonedcoatsuchasmighthavebeenwornbysomestrollingminstrel,andslungaharpacrosshisshoulder,thebettertocarryoutthatpart.