A merchant of London,whose wealth was not small,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.
"And,if thou wilt marry with me,"quoth the knight,"I'll make thee a lady with joy and delight;
My heart's so inthrall-ed by thy beaut-ie,That soon I shall die for pretty Bessee."
The gentleman said,"Come,marry with me,As fine as a lady my Bessy shall be:
My life is distress-ed:O hear me,"quoth he;
And grant me thy love,my pretty Bessee."
"Let me be thy husband,"the merchant could 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."
Then Bessy she sigh-ed,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 pretty Bessee."
To every one this answer she made,Wherefore unto her they joyfully said,--
"This thing to fulfil we all do agree:
But where dwells thy father,my pretty Bessee?"
"My father,"she said,"is soon to be seen:
The seely blind beggar of Bethnal Green,That daily sits begging for charit-ie,He is the good father of pretty Bessee."
"His marks and his tokens are known very well;
He always is led with a dog and a bell:
A seely old man,God knoweth,is he,Yet he is the father of pretty Bessee."
"Nay then,"quoth the merchant,"thou art not for me:"
"Nor,"quoth the innholder,"my wife thou shalt be:"
"I loathe,"said the gentle,"a beggar's degree,And therefore adieu,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 unto me,my pretty Bessee:
"With thee to thy father forthwith I will go."
"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."
But soon after this,by the break of the day,The knight had from Rumford stole Bessy away.