The young men of Rumford,as thick as might be,Rode after to fetch again pretty Bessee.
As swift as the wind to ride they were seen,Until they came near unto Bethnal Green;
And as the knight lighted most courteouslie,They all fought against him for pretty Bessee.
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.
Then spake the blind beggar,"Although I be poor,Yet rail not against my child at my own door:
Though she be not deck-ed in velvet and pearl,Yet will I drop angels with you for my girl.
"And then,if my gold may better her birth,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.
"But first you shall promise,and have it well known,The gold that you drop shall all be your own."
With that they repli-ed,"Contented be we."
"Then here's,"quoth the beggar,"for pretty Bessee!"
And with that an angel he cast on the ground,And dropp-ed in angels full three thousand pound;
And oftentimes it was prov-ed most plain,For the gentlemen's one the beggar dropped twain:
So that the place,wherein they did sit,With gold it was cover-ed every whit.
The gentlemen then having dropt all their store,Said,"Now,beggar,hold;for we have no more.
"Thou hast fulfill-ed 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."
The gentlemen all,that this treasure had seen,Admir-ed the beggar of Bethnal Green:
And all those,that were her suitors before,Their flesh for very anger they tore.
Thus the fair Bess was matched to the knight,And then made a lady in others'despite:
A fairer lady there never was seen Than the blind beggar's daughter of Bethnal Green.