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第9节

ancient poems-第9节

小说: ancient poems 字数: 每页4000字

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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

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