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PART I
I
IT was a blind beggar, had long lost his sight, | |
| He had a fair daughter of beauty most bright; | |
| And many a gallant brave suitor had she, | |
| For none was so comely as pretty Bessee. | |
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II
And though she was of favour most faire, | 5 |
| Yet seeing she was but a poor beggar’s heyre, | |
| Of ancyent housekeepers despiséd was she, | |
| Whose sons came as suitors to pretty Bessee. | |
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III
Wherefore in great sorrow fair Bessy did say, | |
| ‘Good father, and mother, let me go away | 10 |
| To seek out my fortune, whatever it be.’ | |
| This suit then they granted to pretty Bessee. | |
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IV
Then Bessy, that was of beauty so bright, | |
| All clad in grey russet, and late in the night, | |
| From father and mother alone parted she; | 15 |
| Who sighéd and sobbèd for pretty Bessee. | |
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V
She went till she came to Stratford-le-Bow; | |
| Then knew she not whither, nor which way to go: | |
| With tears she lamented her hard destinìe, | |
| So sad and so heavy was pretty Bessee. | 20 |
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VI
She kept on her journey until it was day, | |
| She went unto Rumford along the high way; | |
| Where at the Queen’s Arms entertainèd was she: | |
| So fair and well favoured was pretty Bessee. | |
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VII
She had not been there a month to an end, | 25 |
| But master and mistress and all was her friend: | |
| And every brave gallant, that once did her see, | |
| Was straightway enamour’d of pretty Bessee. | |
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VIII
Great gifts they did send her of silver and gold, | |
| And in their songs daily her love was extoll’d; | 30 |
| Her beauty was blazèd in every degree; | |
| So fair and so comely was pretty Bessee. | |
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IX
The young men of Rumford in her had their joy; | |
| She showed herself courteous, and modestly coy; | |
| And at her commandèment still would they be; | 35 |
| So fair and so comely was pretty Bessee. | |
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X
Four suitors at once unto her did go; | |
| They cravèd her favour, but still she said ‘no; | |
| I would not wish gentles to marry with me.’— | |
| Yet ever they honoured pretty Bessee. | 40 |
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XI
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 wooèd and suèd for pretty Bessee. | |
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XII
A merchant of London, whose wealth was not small, | 45 |
| He was the third suitor, and proper withal: | |
| Her master’s own son the fourth man must be, | |
| Who swore he would die for pretty Bessee. | |
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XIII
‘And, if thou wilt marry with me,’ quoth the knight, | |
| ‘I’ll make thee a lady with joy and delight; | 50 |
| My heart so enthrallèd is by thy beautìe, | |
| That soon I shall die for pretty Bessee.’ | |
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XIV
The gentleman said, ‘Come, marry with me, | |
| As fine as a lady my Bessy shall be: | |
| My life is distressèd: O hear me,’ quoth he; | 55 |
| ‘And grant me thy love, my pretty Bessee.’— | |
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XV
‘Let me be thy husband,’ the merchant did say, | |
| ‘Thou shalt live in London both gallant and gay; | |
| My ships shall bring home rich jewels for thee, | |
| And I will for ever love pretty Bessee.’ | 60 |
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XVI
Then Bessy 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 then you shall marry your pretty Bessee.’ | |
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XVII
To every one this answer she made, | 65 |
| Wherefore unto her they joyfully said, | |
| ‘This thing to fulfil we all do agree; | |
| But where dwells thy father, my pretty Bessee?’ | |
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XVIII
‘My father,’ she said, ‘is soon to be seen: | |
| The silly blind beggar of Bednall-green, | 70 |
| That daily sits begging for charitìe, | |
| He is the good father of pretty Bessee. | |
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XIX
‘His marks and his tokens are known very well; | |
| He always is led with a dog and a bell: | |
| A silly old man, God knoweth, is he, | 75 |
| Yet he is the father of pretty Bessee.’ | |
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XX
‘Nay then,’ quoth the merchant, ‘thou art not for me!’ | |
| ‘Nor,’ quoth the innholder, ‘my wife thou shalt be.’ | |
| ‘I lothe,’ said the gentle, ‘a beggar’s degree, | |
| And therefore adieu, my pretty Bessee!’ | 80 |
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XXI
‘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 unto me, my pretty Bessee. | |
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XXII
‘With thee to thy father forthwith I will go.’— | 85 |
| ‘Nay soft,’ quoth his kinsmen, ‘it must not be so; | |
| A poor beggar’s daughter no lady shall be, | |
| Then take thy adieu of pretty Bessee.’ | |
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XXIII
But soon after this, by break of the day | |
| The Knight had from Rumford stole Bessy away. | 90 |
| The young men of Rumford, as thick as might be, | |
| Rode after to fetch again pretty Bessee. | |
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XXIV
As swift as the wind to ryde they were seen, | |
| Until they came near unto Bednall-green; | |
| And as the Knight lighted most courteouslìe, | 95 |
| They all fought against him for pretty Bessee. | |
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XXV
But rescue came speedily over the plain, | |
| Or else the young Knight for his love had been slain. | |
| This fray being ended, then straightway he see | |
| His kinsmen come railing at pretty Bessee. | 100 |
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XXVI
Then spake the blind beggar, ‘Although I be poor, | |
| Yet rail not against my child at my own door: | |
| Though she be not deckèd in velvet and pearl, | |
| Yet will I drop angels with you for my girl. | |
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XXVII
‘And then, if my gold may better her birth, | 105 |
| And equal the gold that you lay on the earth, | |
| Then neither rail nor grudge you to see | |
| The blind beggar’s daughter a lady to be. | |
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XXVIII
‘But first you shall promise, and have it well known, | |
| The gold that you dropt shall all be your own.’ | 110 |
| With that they replied, ‘Contented be we.’ | |
| ‘Then here’s,’ quoth the beggar, ‘for pretty Bessee!’ | |
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XXIX
With that an angel he cast on the ground, | |
| And dropped in angels full three thousand pound; | |
| And oftentimes it was provèd most plain, | 115 |
| For the gentlemen’s one the beggar dropt twain: | |
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XXX
So that the place, wherein they did sit, | |
| With gold it was coverèd every whit. | |
| The gentlemen then, having dropt all their store, | |
| Said, ‘Now, beggar, hold, for we have no more, | 120 |
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XXXI
‘Thou hast fulfilled thy promise aright.’— | |
| ‘Then marry,’ quoth he, ‘my girl to this Knight; | |
| And here,’ added he, ‘I will now throw you down | |
| A hundred pounds more to buy her a gown.’ | |
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XXXII
The gentlemen all, that this treasure had seen, | 125 |
| Admirèd the beggar of Bednall-green: | |
| And all those, that were her suitors before, | |
| Their flesh for very anger they tore. | |
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XXXIII
Thus was fair Bessy match’d to the Knight, | |
| And then made a lady in others’ despite: | 130 |
| A fairer lady there never was seen | |
| Than the blind beggar’s daughter of Bednall-green. | |
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XXXIV
But of their sumptuous marriage and feast, | |
| What brave lords and knights thither were prest, | |
| The second fitt shall set forth to your sight | 135 |
| With marvellous pleasure and wished delight. | |
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PART II
XXXV
Of a blind beggar’s daughter most bright, | |
| That late was betrothed unto a young Knight; | |
| All the discourse thereof you did see: | |
| But now comes the wedding of pretty Bessee. | 140 |
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XXXVI
Within a gorgeous palace most brave, | |
| Adornèd with all the cost they could have, | |
| This wedding was kept most sumptuouslìe, | |
| And all for the credit of pretty Bessee. | |
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XXXVII
All kind of dainties and delicates sweet | 145 |
| Were bought for the banquet, as it was most meet; | |
| Partridge, and plover, and venison most free, | |
| Against the brave wedding of pretty Bessee. | |
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XXXVIII
This marriage through England was spread by report, | |
| So that a great number thereto did resort | 150 |
| Of nobles and gentles in every degree; | |
| And all for the fame of pretty Bessee. | |
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XXXIX
To church then went this gallant young Knight; | |
| His bride followed after, an angel most bright, | |
| With troops of ladies—the like ne’er was seen | 155 |
| As went with sweet Bessy of Bednall-green. | |
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XL
This marriage being solemnized then, | |
| With musick performed by the skilfullest men, | |
| The nobles and gentles sat down at that tide, | |
| Each one admiring the beautiful bride. | 160 |
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XLI
Now, after the sumptuous dinner was done, | |
| To talk and to reason a number begun: | |
| They talk’d of the blind beggar’s daughter most bright, | |
| And what with his daughter he gave to the Knight. | |
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XLII
Then spake the nobles, ‘Much marvel have we, | 165 |
| This jolly blind beggar we cannot here see.’ | |
| ‘My lords,’ quoth the bride, ‘my father’s so base, | |
| He is loth with his presence these states to disgrace.’— | |
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XLIII
‘The praise of a woman in question to bring, | |
| Before her own face, were a flattering thing, | 170 |
| But we think thy father’s baseness,’ quoth they, | |
| ‘Might by thy beauty be clean put away.’ | |
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XLIV
They had no sooner these pleasant words spoke, | |
| But in comes the beggar clad in a silk cloak; | |
| A fair velvet cap, and a feather had he, | 175 |
| And now a musician forsooth he would be. | |
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XLV
He had a dainty lute under his arm, | |
| He touchèd the strings, which made such a charm, | |
| Says, ‘Please you to hear any musick of me, | |
| I’ll sing you a song of pretty Bessee.’ | 180 |
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XLVI
With that his lute he twangéd straightway, | |
| And thereon began most sweetly to play; | |
| And after that lessons were played two or three, | |
| He strain’d out this song most delicatelìe. | |
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XLVII
‘A poor beggar’s daughter did dwell on a green, | 185 |
| Who for her fairness might well be a queen: | |
| A blithe bonny lass, and a dainty was she, | |
| And many one callèd her pretty Bessee. | |
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XLVIII
‘Her father he had no goods, nor no land, | |
| But begg’d for a penny all day with his hand; | 190 |
| And yet to her marriage he gave thousands three, | |
| And still he hath somewhat for pretty Bessee. | |
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XLIX
‘And if any one here her birth do disdain, | |
| Her father is ready, with might and with main, | |
| To prove she is come of noble degree: | 195 |
| Therefore never flout at pretty Bessee.’ | |
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L
With that the lords and the company round | |
| With hearty laughter were ready to swound; | |
| At last said the lords, ‘Full well we may see, | |
| The bride and the beggar’s beholden to thee.’ | 200 |
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LI
On this the bride all blushing did rise, | |
| The pearly drops standing within her fair eyes, | |
| ‘O pardon my father, grave nobles,’ quoth she, | |
| ‘That through blind affection thus doteth on me.’ | |
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LII
‘If this be thy father,’ the nobles did say, | 205 |
| ‘Well may he be proud of this happy day; | |
| Yet by his countenance well may we see, | |
| His birth and his fortune did never agree: | |
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LIII
And therefore, blind man, we pray thee bewray | |
| (And look that the truth thou to us do say) | 210 |
| Thy birth and thy parentage, what it may be; | |
| For the love that thou bearest to pretty Bessee.’— | |
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LIV
‘Then give me leave, nobles and gentles, each one, | |
| One song more to sing, and then I have done; | |
| And if that it may not win good report, | 215 |
| Then do not give me a groat for my sport. | |
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LV
‘Sir Simon de Montfort my subject shall be; | |
| Once chief of all the great barons was he, | |
| Yet fortune so cruel this lord did abase, | |
| Now lost and forgotten are he and his race. | 220 |
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LVI
‘When the barons in arms did King Henry oppose, | |
| Sir Simon de Montfort their leader they chose; | |
| A leader of courage undaunted was he, | |
| And ofttimes he made their enemies flee. | |
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LVII
‘At length in the battle on Evesham plain, | 225 |
| The barons were routed, and Montfort was slain; | |
| Most fatal that battle did prove unto thee, | |
| Though thou wast not born then, my pretty Bessee! | |
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LVIII
‘Along with the nobles, that fell at that tide, | |
| His eldest son Henry, who fought by his side, | 230 |
| Was fell’d by a blow he received in the fight; | |
| A blow that deprived him for ever of sight. | |
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LIX
‘Among the dead bodies all lifeless he lay, | |
| Till evening drew on of the following day; | |
| When by a young lady discovered was he; | 235 |
| And this was thy mother, my pretty Bessee! | |
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LX
‘A baron’s fair daughter stept forth in the night | |
| To search for her father, who fell in the fight, | |
| And seeing young Montfort, where gasping he lay, | |
| Was movèd with pity, and brought him away. | 240 |
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LXI
‘In secret she nurst him, and swagèd his pain, | |
| While he through the realm was believed to be slain: | |
| At length his fair bride she consented to be, | |
| And made him glad father of pretty Bessee. | |
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LXII
‘And now, lest our foes our lives should betray, | 245 |
| We clothèd ourselves in beggars’ array; | |
| Her jewels she sold, and hither came we: | |
| All our comfort and care was our pretty Bessee. | |
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LXIII
‘And here have we livèd in fortune’s despite, | |
| Though poor, yet contented with humble delight: | 250 |
| Full forty winters thus have I been | |
| A silly blind beggar of Bednall-green. | |
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LXIV
‘And here, noble lords, is ended the song | |
| Of one that once to your own rank did belong: | |
| And thus have you learnèd a secret from me, | 255 |
| That ne’er had been known, but for pretty Bessee.’ | |
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LXV
Now when the fair company every one, | |
| Had heard the strange tale in the song he had shown, | |
| They all were amazèd, as well they might be, | |
| Both at the blind beggar, and pretty Bessee. | 260 |
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LXVI
With that the fair bride they all did embrace, | |
| Saying, ‘Sure thou art come of an hon’rable race; | |
| Thy father likewise is of noble degree, | |
| And thou art well worthy a lady to be.’ | |
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LXVII
Thus was the feast ended with joy and delight, | 265 |
| A bridegroom most happy then was the young Knight, | |
| In joy and felicitie long livèd he, | |
| All with his fair lady, the pretty Bessee. | |
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