图书图片
PDF
ePub

The Beggar's Daughter of Bednall Green.

[graphic]

HIS popular old Ballad, famous for its modesty and simplicity, was written in the reign of Elizabeth, as appears, not only from verse twenty-three, where the Arms of England are called the "Queenes Arms," but from its tunes being quoted in other old pieces, written in her time.

In comparing the old Ballad with two ancient printed copies, the second part, which contains the old Beggar's discovery of himself, is made more consistent with history; for this informs us, that at the decisive battle of Evesham (fought August 4, 1265), when Simon de Montfort, the great Earl of Leicester, was slain at the head of the barons, his eldest son, Henry, fell by his side, and in consequence of that defeat, his whole family sunk for ever; the King bestowing their great honors and possessions on his second son, Edmund, Earl of Lancaster.

The Beggar's Daughter of Bednall Green.

PART THE FIRST.

Irr was a blind beggar, had long lost his sight,
He had a faire daughter, of bewty most bright;
And many a gallant brave suitor had shee-
For none was so comelye as prettye Bessee.

And though shee was of favor most faire,
Yett seeing shee was but a poor beggars heyre,
Of ancyent housekeepers despised was shee,
Whose sonnes came as suitors to prettye Bessee.
Wherefore in great sorrow, faire Bessy did say,
Good father, and mother, let me goe away
To seeke out my fortune, whatever itt bee,
This suite then they granted to prettye Bessee.
Then Bessy, that was of bewtye so bright,
All cladd in gray russett, and late in the night,
From father and mother alone parted shee;
Who sighed and sobbed for prettye Bessee,

She went till she came to Stratford-le-Bow;

Then knew shee not whither, nor which way to goe;
With teares shee lamented her hard destinie;
Soe sad and soe heavy was prettye Bessee.

Shee kept on her journey untill it was day,
And went unto Rumford, along the hyeway,
Where, at the Queenes Arms, entertainèd was shee;
Soe faire and well favoured was pretty Bessee.

Shee had not been there a month to an end,
But master and mistres and all was her friend;
And
everye brave gallant, that once did her see,
Was straightway enamoured of pretty Bessee.

Great gifts they did send her of silver and gold,
And in their songs, daylye, her love was extold:
Her bewtye was blazèd in everye degree,
Soe faire and soe comelye was pretty Bessee.

The young men of Rumford in her had their joy;
She shewed herself curteous, and modestlye coye;
And at her commandment still wold they all bee;
Soe faire and soe comely was pretty Bessee.

Foure suitors att once unto her did goe,
They craved her favor, but still she sayd "Noe,
I wold not wish gentles to marry with mee,"
Yet ever they honoured prettye Bessee.

The first of them was a gallant young knight,
And he came unto her disguised in the night;
The second a gentleman of good degree,
Who wooed and sued for prettye Bessee.

A merchant of London, whose wealth was not small,
He was the third suitor-and proper, withall:
Her masters own sonne the fourth man must be,
Who swore he would dye for pretty Bessee.

"And, if thou wilt marry with mee," quoth the knight, Ile make thee a ladye with joy and delight;

My harts soe inthralled by thy bewtie,
That soone I shall dye for prettye Bessee."

The gentleman sayd, "Come marry with mee;
As fine as a ladye my Bessy shall be;

My life is distressed, Oh; heare mee," quoth hee;
"And grant me thy love, my prettye Bessee."

"Let mee bee thy husband," the merchant cold say, "Thou shalt live in London both gallant and gay; My shippes shall bring home rych jewels for thee, And I will for ever love prettye Bessee."

Then Bessy she sighed, and thus shee did saye,
"My father and mother I meane to obey;
First gett their good will, and be faithful to me,
And you shall enjoye your prettye Bessee,'

To everye one this answer shee made,
Wherefore unto her they joyfullye said,
"This thing to fulfil we all doe agree,

[ocr errors]

But where dwells thy father, my prettye Bessee."

"My father, she said, "is soon to be seen;
The seely blind beggar of Bednall-greene
That daylie sits begging for charitye,
He is the good father of pretty Bessee.

"His markes and his tokens are known
He always is led with a dogg and a bell;
A seely old man, God knoweth, is hee,
Yet hee is the father of prettye Bessee."

very well

;

"Nay, then," quoth the merchant, "thou art not for mee;" Nor," quoth the innholder, "my wife shalt thou bee."

[ocr errors]

"I lothe," quoth the gentle, "a beggars degree,

And therefore, adewe, my prettye Bessee."

"Why then," quoth the knight, "hap better or worse,
I waighe not true love by the waight of my pursse;
And bewtye is bewtye in every degree;

Then welcome unto me, my prettye Bessee."

"With thee to thy father forthwith I will goe

[ocr errors]

Nay, soft," quoth his kinsmen, "It must not be soe!
A poor beggars daughter noe ladye shal bee,
Then take thy adew of prettye Bessee."

But soone after this, by breake of the daye
The knight had from Rumford, stole Bessy away.

The young men of Rumford, as thicke as might be,
Rode after to feitch againe prettye Bessee.

[ocr errors]

As swifte as the winde to ryde they were seene,
Until they came near unto Bednall greene,
And as the knight lighted most courteouslie,
They all fought against him for pretty Bessee.

But rescew came speedilye over the plaine,
Or else the young knighte for his love had been slain.
This fray being ended, then straitway he see,
His kinsmen come ralying at pretty Bessee.

Then spake the blind beggar. "Although I bee poore,
Yett rayle not against my child at my owne doore!
Thoughe shee be not decked in velvett or pearle,
Yett will I drop angells with you for my girle.

And then, if my gold may better her birthe,
And equall the gold that you lay on the earth,
Then neyther rayle nor grudge you to see
The blind beggars daughter a ladye to bee.

But first you shall promise, and have itt well knowne,
The gold that you drop shall all be your owne,'
With that they replyd, "Contented bee wee,'
"Then heres," quoth the beggar, "for pretty Bessee."

With that an angell he dropt on the ground,
And dropped in angells full three thousand pound;
And oftentimes itt was proved most plaine,

For the gentlemens one the beggar droppt twaine!

Soe that the place, wherein they did sitt,
With gold it was covered every whitt;

The gentlemen then having droppt all their store,
Sayd, "Now, beggar, hold, for wee have noe more,

"Thou hast fulfill'd thy promise arright" "Then marrye," quoth he "this girle to this knighte; And heere," added he, "I will now throwe you downe, A hundred pounds more, to buy her a gowne."

« 上一页继续 »