ancient poems-第9节

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Now　one　of　them　was　a　gallant　young　knight；　And　he　came　unto　her　disguised　in　the　night；　The　second；　a　gentleman　of　high　degree；　Who　wooed　and　sued　for　pretty　Bessee。

A　merchant　of　London；　whose　wealth　was　not　small；　Was　then　the　third　suitor；　and　proper　withal；　Her　master's　own　son　the　fourth　man　must　be；　Who　swore　he　would　die　for　pretty　Bessee。

'If　that　thou　wilt　marry　with　me；'　quoth　the　knight；　'I'll　make　thee　a　lady　with　joy　and　delight；　My　heart　is　enthralled　in　thy　fair　beauty；　Then　grant　me　thy　favour；　my　pretty　Bessee。'

The　gentleman　said；　'Come　marry　with　me；　In　silks　and　in　velvet　my　Bessee　shall　be；　My　heart　lies　distracted；　oh！　hear　me；'　quoth　he；　'And　grant　me　thy　love；　my　dear　pretty　Bessee。'

'Let　me　be　thy　husband；'　the　merchant　did　say；　'Thou　shalt　live　in　London　most　gallant　and　gay；　My　ships　shall　bring　home　rich　jewels　for　thee；　And　I　will　for　ever　love　pretty　Bessee。'

Then　Bessee　she　sighed　and　thus　she　did　say：　'My　father　and　mother　I　mean　to　obey；　First　get　their　good　will；　and　be　faithful　to　me；　And　you　shall　enjoy　your　dear　pretty　Bessee。'

To　every　one　of　them　that　answer　she　made；　Therefore　unto　her　they　joyfully　said：　'This　thing　to　fulfil　we　all　now　agree；　But　where　dwells　thy　father；　my　pretty　Bessee？'

'My　father；'　quoth　she；　'is　soon　to　be　seen：　The　silly　blind　beggar　of　Bednall　Green；　That　daily　sits　begging　for　charity；　He　is　the　kind　father　of　pretty　Bessee。

'His　marks　and　his　token　are　knowen　full　well；　He　always　is　led　by　a　dog　and　a　bell；　A　poor　silly　old　man；　God　knoweth；　is　he；　Yet　he's　the　true　father　of　pretty　Bessee。'

'Nay；　nay；'　quoth　the　merchant；　'thou　art　not　for　me。'　'She；'　quoth　the　innholder；　'my　wife　shall　not　be。'　'I　loathe；'　said　the　gentleman；　'a　beggar's　degree；　Therefore；　now　farewell；　my　pretty　Bessee。'

'Why　then；'　quoth　the　knight；　'hap　better　or　worse；　I　weigh　not　true　love　by　the　weight　of　the　purse；　And　beauty　is　beauty　in　every　degree；　Then　welcome　to　me；　my　dear　pretty　Bessee。

'With　thee　to　thy　father　forthwith　I　will　go。'　'Nay；　forbear；'　quoth　his　kinsman；　'it　must　not　be　so：　A　poor　beggar's　daughter　a　lady　shan't　be；　Then　take　thy　adieu　of　thy　pretty　Bessee。'

As　soon　then　as　it　was　break　of　the　day；　The　knight　had　from　Rumford　stole　Bessee　away；　The　young　men　of　Rumford；　so　sick　as　may　be；　Rode　after　to　fetch　again　pretty　Bessee。

As　swift　as　the　wind　to　ride　they　were　seen；　Until　they　came　near　unto　Bednall　Green；　And　as　the　knight　lighted　most　courteously；　They　fought　against　him　for　pretty　Bessee。

But　rescue　came　presently　over　the　plain；　Or　else　the　knight　there　for　his　love　had　been　slain；　The　fray　being　ended；　they　straightway　did　see　His　kinsman　come　railing　at　pretty　Bessee。

Then　bespoke　the　blind　beggar；　'Although　I　be　poor；　Rail　not　against　my　child　at　my　own　door；　Though　she　be　not　decked　in　velvet　and　pearl；　Yet　I　will　drop　angels　with　thee　for　my　girl；

'And　then　if　my　gold　should　better　her　birth；　And　equal　the　gold　you　lay　on　the　earth；　Then　neither　rail　you；　nor　grudge　you　to　see　The　blind　beggar's　daughter　a　lady　to　be。

'But　first；　I　will　hear；　and　have　it　well　known；　The　gold　that　you　drop　it　shall　be　all　your　own。'　With　that　they　replied；　'Contented　we　be！'　'Then　here's；'　quoth　the　beggar；　'for　pretty　Bessee！'

With　that　an　angel　he　dropped　on　the　ground；　And　dropped；　in　angels；　full　three　thousand　pound；　And　oftentimes　it　proved　most　plain；　For　the　gentleman's　one；　the　beggar　dropped　twain；

So　that　the　whole　place　wherein　they　did　sit；　With　gold　was　covered　every　whit。　The　gentleman　having　dropped　all　his　store；　Said；　'Beggar！　your　hand　hold；　for　I　have　no　more。'

'Thou　hast　fulfilled　thy　promise　aright；　Then　marry　my　girl；'　quoth　he　to　the　knight；　'And　then；'　quoth　he；　'I　will　throw　you　down；　An　hundred　pound　more　to　buy　her　a　gown。'

The　gentlemen　all；　who　his　treasure　had　seen；　Admired　the　beggar　of　Bednall　Green；　And　those　that　had　been　her　suitors　before；　Their　tender　flesh　for　anger　they　tore。

Thus　was　the　fair　Bessee　matched　to　a　knight；　And　made　a　lady　in　other's　despite。　A　fairer　lady　there　never　was　seen　Than　the　blind　beggar's　daughter　of　Bednall　Green。

But　of　her　sumptuous　marriage　and　feast；　And　what　fine　lords　and　ladies　there　prest；　The　second　part　shall　set　forth　to　your　sight；　With　marvellous　pleasure　and　wished…for　delight。

Of　a　blind　beggar's　daughter　so　bright；　That　late　was　betrothed　to　a　young　knight；　All　the　whole　discourse　therefore　you　may　see；　But　now　comes　the　wedding　of　pretty　Bessee。

PART　II。

It　was　in　a　gallant　palace　most　brave；　Adorned　with　all　the　cost　they　could　have；　This　wedding　it　was　kept　most　sumptuously；　And　all　for　the　love　of　pretty　Bessee。

And　all　kind　of　dainties　and　delicates　sweet；　Was　brought　to　their　banquet；　as　it　was　thought　meet；　Partridge；　and　plover；　and　venison　most　free；　Against　the　brave　wedding　of　pretty　Bessee。

The　wedding　through　England　was　spread　by　report；　So　that　a　great　number　thereto　did　resort　Of　nobles　and　gentles　of　every　degree；　And　all　for　the　fame　of　pretty　Bessee。

To　church　then　away　went　this　gallant　young　knight；　His　bride　followed　after；　an　angel　most　bright；　With　troops　of　ladies；　the　like　was　ne'er　seen；　As　went　with　sweet　Bessee　of　Bednall　Green。

This　wedding　being　solemnized　then；　With　music　performed　by　skilfullest　men；　The　nobles　and　gentlemen　down　at　the　side；　Each　one　beholding　the　beautiful　bride。

But　after　the　sumptuous　dinner　was　done；　To　talk　and　to　reason　a　number　begun；　And　of　the　blind　beggar's　daughter　most　bright；　And　what　with　his　daughter　he　gave　to　the　knight。

Then　spoke　the　nobles；　'Much　marvel　have　we　This　jolly　blind　beggar　we　cannot　yet　see！'　'My　lords；'　quoth　the　bride；　'my　father　so　base　Is　loth　with　his　presence　these　states　to　disgrace。'

'The　praise　of　a　woman　in　question　to　bring；　Before　her　own　face　is　a　flattering　thing；　But　we　think　thy　father's　baseness；'　quoth　they；　'Might　by　thy　beauty　be　clean　put　away。'

They　no　sooner　this　pleasant　word　spoke；　But　in　comes　the　beggar　in　a　silken　cloak；　A　velvet　cap　and　a　feather　had　he；　And　now　a　musician；　forsooth；　he　would　be。

And　being　led　in　from　catching　of　harm；　He　had　a　dainty　lute　under　his　arm；　Said；　'Please　you　to　hear　any　music　of　me；　A　song　I　will　sing　you　of　pretty　Bessee。'

With　that　his　lute　he　twanged　straightway；　And　thereon　began　most　sweetly　to　play；　And　after　a　lesson　was　played　two　or　three；　He　strained　out　this　song　most　delicately：…

'A　beggar's　daughter　did　dwell　on　a　green；　Who　for　her　beauty　may　well　be　a　queen；　A　blithe　bonny　lass；　and　dainty　was　she；　And　many　one　called　her　pretty　Bessee。

'Her　father　he　had　no　goods　nor　no　lands；　But　begged　for　a　penny　all　day　with　his　hands；　And　yet　for　her　marriage　gave　thousands　three；　Yet　still　he　hath　somewhat　for　pretty　Bessee。

'And　here　if　any　one　do　her　disdain；　Her　father　is　ready　with　might　and　with　main　To　prove　she　is　come　of　noble　degree；　Therefore　let　none　flout　at　my　pretty　Bessee。'

With　that　the　lords　and　the　company　round　With　a　hearty　laughter　were　ready　to　swound；　At　last　said　the　lords；　'Full　well　we　may　see；　The　bride　and　the　bridegroom's　beholden　to　thee。'

With　that　the　fair　bride　all　blushing　did　rise；　With　crystal　water　all　in　her　bright　eyes；　'Pardon　my　father；　brave　nobles；'　quoth　she；　'That　through　blind　affection　thus　doats　upon　me。'

'If　this　be　thy　father；'　the　nobles　did　say；　'Well　may　he　be　proud　of　this　happy　day；　Yet　by　his　countenance　well　may　we　see；　His　birth　with　his　fortune　could　never　agree；

And　therefore；　blind　beggar；　we　pray　thee　bewray；　And　look　to　us　then　the　truth　thou　dost　say；　Thy　birth　and　thy　parentage　what　it　may　be；　E'en　for　the　love　thou　bearest　pretty　Bessee。'

'Then　give　me　leave；　ye　gentles　each　one；　A　song　more　to　sing　and　then　I'll　begone；　And　if　that　I　do　not　win　good　report；　Then　do　not　give　me　one　groat　for　my　sport：…

'When　first　our　king　his　fame　did　advance；　And　sought　his　title　in　delicate　France；　In　many　places　great　perils　passed　he；　But　then　was　not　born　my　pretty　Bessee。

'And　at　those　wars　went　over　to　fight；　Many　a　brave　duke；　a　lord；　and　a　knight；　And　with　them　young　Monford　of　courage　so　free；　But　then　was　not　born　my　pretty　Bessee。

'And　there　did　young　Monford　with　a　blow　on　the　face　Lose　both　his　eyes　in　a　very　short　space；　His　life　had　been　gone　away　with　his　sight；　Had　not　a　young　woman　gone　forth　in　the　night。

'Among　the　said　men；　her　fancy　did　move；　To　search　and　to　seek　for　her　own　true　love；　Who　seeing　young　Monford　there　gasping　to　die；　She　saved　his　life　through　her　charity。

'And　then　all　our　victuals　in　beggar's　attire；　At　the　hands　of　good　people　we　then　did　require；　At　last　into　England；　as　now　it　is　seen；　We　came；　and　remained　in　Bednall　Green。

'And　thus　we　have　lived　in　Fortune's　despite；　Though　poor；　yet　contented　with　humble　delight；　And　in　my　old　years；　a　comfort　to　me；　God　sent　me　a　daughter　called　pretty　Bessee。

And　thus；　ye　nobles；　my　song　I　do　end；　Hoping　by　the　same　no　man　to　offend；　Full　forty　long　winters　thus　I　have　been；　A　silly　blind　beggar　of　Bednall　Green。'

Now　when　the　company　every　one；　Did　hear　the　strange　tale　he　told　in　his　song；　They　were　amazed；　as　well　they　might　be；　Both　at　the　blind　beggar　and　pre