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<div style="background:#fff;border:#bbb dashed 1px;padding:5px"><a href="http://en.citatepedia.ro/comments.php?id=346090" style="color:#000;text-decoration:none"><div style="margin:10px 0"><strong>The Beggar's Daughter of Bednall-Green</strong></div><div style="margin:10px 0">Part the First<br>Itt was a blind beggar, had long lost his sight,<br>He had a faire daughter of bewty most bright;<br>And many a gallant brave suiter had shee,<br>For none was soe comelye as pretty Bessee.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">And though shee was of favor most faire,<br>Yett seing shee was but a poor beggars heyre,<br>Of ancyent housekeepers despised was shee,<br>Whose sonnes came as suitors to prettye Bessee.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Wherefore in great sorrow faire Bessy did say,<br>'Good father, and mother, let me goe away<br>To seeke out my fortune, whatever itt bee.'<br>This suite then they granted to prettye Bessee.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Then Bessy, that was of bewtye soe bright,<br>All cladd in gray russett, and late in the night<br>From father and mother alone parted shee,<br>Who sighed and sobbed for prettye Bessee.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Shee went till shee came to Stratford-le-Bow,<br>Then knew shee not whither, nor which way to goe;<br>With teares shee lamented her hard destinie,<br>So sadd and soe heavy was pretty Bessee.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Shee kept on her journey untill it was day,<br>And went unto Rumford along the hye way;<br>Where at the Queenes Armes entertained was shee,<br>Soe faire and wel favoured was pretty Bessee.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Shee had not beene there a month to an end,<br>But master and mistres and all was her friend;<br>And every brave gallant that once did her see<br>Was straight-way enamoured of pretty Bessee.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Great gifts they did send her of silver and gold,<br>And in their songs daylye her love was extold;<br>Her beawtye was blazed in every degree,<br>Soe faire and soe comelye was pretty Bessee.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">The young men of Rumford in her had their joy;<br>Shee shewed herself courteous, and modestlye coye,<br>And at her commandment still wold they bee,<br>Soe fayre and so comelye was pretty Bessee.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Foure suitors att once unto her did goe,<br>They craved her favor, but still she sayd noe;<br>'I wild not wish gentles to marry with mee,-'<br>Yett ever they honored pretty Bessee.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">The first of them was a gallant young knight,<br>And he came unto her disguisde in the night;<br>The second a gentleman of good degree,<br>Who wooed and sued for prettye Bessee.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">A merchant of London, whose wealth was not small,<br>He was the third suiter, and proper withall;<br>Her masters owne sonne the fourth man must bee,<br>Who swore he would dye for pretty Bessee.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">'And, if thou wilt marry with mee,' quoth the knight,<br>'Ile make thee a ladye with joy and delight;<br>My hart's so enthralled by thy bewtie,<br>That soone I shall dye for prettye Bessee.'</div><div style="margin:10px 0">The gentleman sayd, 'Come marry with mee,<br>As fine as a ladye my Bessy shal bee;<br>My life is distressed, O heare me,' quoth hee,<br>'And grant me thy love, my prettye Bessee.'</div><div style="margin:10px 0">'Let me bee thy husband,' the merchant cold say,<br>'Thou shalt live in London both gallant and gay;<br>My shippes shall bring home rych jewells for thee,<br>And I will for ever love pretty Bessee.'</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Then Bessy shee sighed, and thus shee did say;<br>'My father and mother I meane to obey;<br>First gett their good will, and be faithfull to me,<br>And you shall enjoye your prettye Bessee.'</div><div style="margin:10px 0">To every one this answer shee made; <br>Wherfore unto her they joyfullye sayd,<br>'This thing to fulfill we all doe agree;<br>But where dwells thy father, my prettye Bessee?'</div><div style="margin:10px 0">'My father,' shee said, 'is soone to be seene;<br>The seely blind beggar of Bednall-greene,<br>That daylye sits begging for charitie,<br>He is the good father of pretty Bessee.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">'His markes and his tokens are knowen very well;<br>He always is led with a dogg and a bell;<br>A seely olde man, God knoweth, is hee,<br>Yet hee is the father of pretty Bessee.'</div><div style="margin:10px 0">'Nay then,' quoth the merchant, 'thou art not for mee;'<br>'Nor,' quoth the innholder, 'my wiffe thou shalt bee;'<br>'I lothe,' sayd the gentle, 'a beggars degree,<br>And therefore, adewe, my pretty Bessee!'</div><div style="margin:10px 0">'Why then,' quoth the knight, 'hap better or worse,<br>I waighe not true love by the waight of the pursse,<br>And bewtye is bewtye in every degree;<br>Then welcome unto me, my pretty Bessee.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">'With thee to thy father forthwith I will goe.'<br>'Nay soft,' quoth his kinsmen, 'it must not be soe:<br>A poor beggars daughter noe ladye shal bee;<br>Then take thy adew of pretty Bessee.'</div><div style="margin:10px 0">But soone after this, by breake of the day,<br>The knight had from Rumford stole Bessy away;<br>The younge men of Rumford, as thicke might bee,<br>Rode after to feitch againe pretty Bessee.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">As swifte as the winde to ryde they were seene,<br>Until they came neare unto Rednall-greene,<br>And as the knight lighted most courteouslie, <br>They all fought against him for pretty Bessee.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">But rescew came speedilye over the plaine,<br>Or else the young knight for his love had been slaine;<br>This fray being ended, then straitway he see<br>His kinsmen come rayling at pretty Bessee.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Then spake the blind beggar, 'Although I bee poore,<br>Yett rayle not against my child at my own doore;<br>Though shee be not decked in velvett and pearle,<br>Yet will I dropp angells with you for my girle;</div><div style="margin:10px 0">'And then if my gold may better her birthe,<br>And equall the gold that you lay on the earth,<br>Then neyther rayle nor grudge you to see<br>The blind beggars daughter a lady to bee.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">'But first you shall promise, and have itt well knowne,<br>The gold that you drop shall all be your owne.'<br>With that they replyed, 'Contented bee wee.'<br>'Then here's,' quoth the beggar, 'for pretty Bessee.'</div><div style="margin:10px 0">With that an angell he cast on the ground,<br>And dropped, in angels, full three thousand pound;<br>And oftentimes itt was proved most plaine,<br>For the gentlemens one, the beggar droppt twayne:</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Soe that the place wherin they did sitt<br>With gold it was covered every whitt;<br>The gentlemen then having dropt all their store,<br>Sayd, 'Now, beggar, hold, for wee have noe more.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">'Thou hast fulfilled thy promise arright;'<br>'Then marry,' quoth he, 'my girle to this knight;<br>And heere,' added hee, 'I will now throwe you downe,<br>A hundred pounds more to buy her a gowne.'</div><div style="margin:10px 0">The gentlemen all, that this treasure had seene,<br>Admired the beggar of Bednall-greene.<br>And all those that were her suitors before,<br>There fleshe for very anger they tore.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Thus was faire Besse matched to the knight,<br>And then made a ladye in others despite:<br>A fairer ladye there never was seene,<br>Than the blind beggars daughter of Bednall-greene.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">But of their sumptuous marriage and feast,<br>What brave lords and knights thither were prest,<br>The Second Fitt shall set forth to your sight, <br>With marveilous pleasure, and wished delight.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Part the Second</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Off a blind beggars daughter most bright,<br>That late was betrothed unto a younge knight,<br>All the discourse therof you did see,<br>But now comes the wedding of pretty Bessee.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Within a gorgeous palace most brave,<br>Adorned with all the cost they cold have,<br>This wedding was kept most sumptuouslie,<br>And all for the creditt of pretty Bessee.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">All kind of dainties and delicates sweete<br>Were bought for the banquet, as it was most meete;<br>Partridge, and plover, and venison most free,<br>Against the brave wedding of pretty Bessee.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">This marriage through England was spread by report,<br>Soe that a great number thereto did resort,<br>Of nobles and gentles in every degree,<br>And all for the fame of prettye Bessee.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">To church then went this gallant younge knight;<br>His bride followed after, an angell most bright,<br>With troopes of ladyes, the like nere was seene <br>As went with sweete Bessy of Bednall-greene.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">This marryage being solempnized then,<br>With musicke performed by the skilfullest men,<br>The nobles and gentles sate downe at that tyde,<br>Each one admiring the beautifull bryde.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Now, after the sumptuous dinner was done,<br>To talke and to reason a number begunn,<br>They talkt of the blind beggars daughter most bright,<br>And what with his daughter he gave to the knight.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Then spake the nobles, 'Much marveil have wee<br>This jolly blind beggar wee cannot here see.'<br>'My Lords,' qouth the bride, 'my father's so base<br>He is loth with his presence these states to disgrace.'</div><div style="margin:10px 0">'The prayse of a woman in questyon to bringe,<br>Before her own face, were a flattering thinge;<br>But wee thinke thy father's baseness,' quoth they,<br>'Might by thy bewtye be cleane put away.'</div><div style="margin:10px 0">They had noe sooner these pleasant words spoke,<br>But in comes the beggar cladd in a silke cloke,<br>A faire velvet capp and a fether had hee,<br>And now a musicyan, forsooth, he wold bee.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">He had a daintye lute under his arme,<br>He touched the strings, which made such a charme;<br>Saies, 'Please you to heare any musicke of mee,<br>Ile sing you a song of pretty Bessee.'</div><div style="margin:10px 0">With that his lute he twanged straightway,<br>And thereon begann most sweetlye to play,<br>And after that lessons were playd two or three,<br>He strayn'd out this song most delicatlie:</div><div style="margin:10px 0">'A poore beggars daughter did dwell on a greene,<br>Who for her fairenesse might well be a queene,<br>A blithe bonny lasse, and a daintye was shee,<br>And many one called her pretty Bessee.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">'Her father hee had noe goods, nor noe land,<br>But beggd for a penny all day with his hand,<br>And yett to her marriage hee gave thousands three,<br>And still he hath somewhat for pretty Bessee.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">'And if any one here her berth doe disdaine,<br>Her father is ready, with might and with maine,<br>To proove shee is come of noble degree,<br>Therfore never flout att prettye Bessee.'</div><div style="margin:10px 0">With that the lords and the companye round<br>With harty laughter were readye to swound;<br>Att last said the lords, 'Full well wee may see,<br>The bride and the beggar's behoulden to thee.'</div><div style="margin:10px 0">On this the bride all blushing did rise,<br>The pearlie dropps standing within her faire eyes;<br>'O pardon my father, grave nobles,' quoth shee,<br>'That throughe blind affection thus doteth on mee.'</div><div style="margin:10px 0">'If this be thy father,' the nobles did say,<br>'Well may he be proud of this happy day,<br>Yett by his countenance well may wee see,<br>His birth and his fortune did never agree.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">'And therfore, blind man, we pray thee bewray,<br>(And looke that the truth thou to us doe say),<br>Thy birth and thy parentage what itt may bee,<br>For the love that thou bearest to pretty Bessee.'</div><div style="margin:10px 0">'Then give me leave, nobles and gentles, each one,<br>One song more to sing and then I have done;<br>And if that itt may not winn good report,<br>Then doe not give me a Groat for my sport:</div><div style="margin:10px 0">'[Sir Simon de Montfort my subject shal bee;<br>Once chiefe of all the great barons was hee,<br>Yet fortune so cruelle this lorde did abase,<br>Now loste and forgotten are hee and his race.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">'When the barons in armes did King Henrye oppose,<br>Sir Simon de Montfort their leader they chose;<br>A leader of courage undaunted was hee,<br>And oft-times he made their enemyes flee.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">'At length in the battle on Evashame plaine<br>The barons were routed, and Montfort was slaine;<br>Most fatall that battel did prove unto thee,<br>Thoughe thou wast not borne then, my prettye Bessee!</div><div style="margin:10px 0">'Along with the nobles that fell at that tyde,<br>His eldest son Henrye, who fought by his side,<br>Was fellde by a blowe he receivde in the fight!<br>A blowe that deprivde him for ever of sight.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">'Among the dead bodyes all lifelesse he laye,<br>Till evening drewe on of the following daye,<br>When by a yong ladye discoverd was hee;<br>And this was thy mother, my prettye Bessee!</div><div style="margin:10px 0">'A barons faire daughter stept forth in the nighte<br>To search for her father who fell in the fight,<br>And seeing yong Montfort, where gasping he laye,<br>Was moved with pitye and brought him awaye.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">'In secrette she nurst him and swaged his paine,<br>While he throughe the realme was beleevd to be slaine;<br>At lengthe his faire bride she consented to bee,<br>And made him glad father of prettye Bessee.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">'And nowe lest oure foes our lives sholde betraye,<br>We clothed ourselves in beggars arraye;<br>Her jewelles shee solde, and hither came wee;<br>All our comfort and care was our prettye Bessee.]</div><div style="margin:10px 0">'And here have wee lived in fortunes despite,<br>Thoughe poore, yet contented, with humble delighte:<br>Full forty winters thus have I beene<br>A silly blind beggar of Bednall-greene.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">'And here, noble lordes, is ended the song<br>Of one that once to your own ranke did belong;<br>And thus have you learned a secrette from mee,<br>That ne'er had beene knowne but for prettye Bessee.'</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Now when the faire companye everye one<br>Had heard the strange tale in the song he had showne,<br>They all were amazed, as well they might bee,<br>Both at the blinde beggar and pretty Bessee.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">With that the faire bride they all did embrace,<br>Saying, 'Sure thou art come of an honourable race;<br>Thy father likewise is of noble degree,<br>And thou art well worthy a lady to bee.'</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Thus was the feast ended with joye and delighte;<br>A bridegroome most happy then was the young knighte,<br>In joy and felicitie long lived hee,<br>All with his faire ladye, the pretty Bessee.</div><div style="margin:10px 0"><br /></a><br />poem by <a href="http://en.citatepedia.ro/by.php?a=Anonymous+Olde+English">Anonymous Olde English</a><div class=q>
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<script type="text/javascript" src="//s7.addthis.com/js/300/addthis_widget.js#pubid=citatepedia" async="async"></script><div style="display:inline-block" class="addthis_sharing_toolbox" data-url="http://en.citatepedia.ro/comments.php?id=346090" data-title="The Beggar's Daughter of Bednall-Green de Anonymous Olde English" data-description="Part the First
Itt was a blind beggar, had long lost his sight,
He had a faire daughter of bewty most bright;
And many a gallant brave suiter had shee,
For none was soe comelye as pretty Bessee.

And though shee was of favor most faire,
Yett seing..."></div>
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