Ancient Poems [19]
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
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