The Oxford Book of Ballads - online book

A Selection Of The Best English Lyric Ballads Chosen & Edited by Arthur Quiller-Couch

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ROBIN HOOD AND ALAN A DALE
XVII
' O welcome, O welcome ! ' the Bishop he said, i That musick best pleaseth me.'—
' You shall have no musick,' quoth Robin Hood, ' Till the bride and the bridegroom I see.'
XVIII
With that came in a wealthy knight,
Which was both grave and old, And after him a finikin lass,
Did shine like glistering gold.
XIX
i This is no fit match,' cuoth bold Robin Hood, i That you do seem to make here ;
For since we are come unto the church, The bride she shall chuse her own dear.'
xx
Then Robin Hood put his horn to his mouth.
And blew blasts two or three ; When four and twenty bowmen bold
Come leaping over the lee.
XXI
And when they came into the churchyard,
Marching all on a row, The first man was Alan a Dale,
To give bold Robin his bow.
XXII
' This is thy true-love,' Robin he said,
' Young Alan, as I hear say ; And you shall be married at this same time,
Before we depart away.'
6lQ
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