Page:Dorsetshire garland, or, The beggar's wedding.pdf/2



you that delight in a jeſt that is true,

Give ear to theſe lines I unfold unto you

I'm ſure you will ſmile when theſe lines you do hear

This frolick was acted in fair Dorſetſshire.

A noble Knight of renown, lived there,

And he had a daughter of beauty moſt fair.

Hard by liv'd a Merchant who had riches ſtore,

And he had a ſon whom he did adore.

The knight & the merchant being neighbours ſo near

In friendſhip did live, and love'd each other dear,

And they had agreed thoſe ſweet infants ſo fair,

Should be man and wife wheuwhen [sic] come to ripe years

This Merchant fell ſick, and his Lady likewiſe,

They ſent for the Knight with tears in there eyes,

Saying, With this world we ſhortly muſt part,

And leave our ſweet baby the joy of our heart,

I hope if we leave this ſweet babe in your care,

And all our eſtate and worldly affair,

You'll take care of him when we're laid in the grave

And furthermore great us the thing that we crave,

That you will not break your promiſe to me,

But give your fair Daughter his Bride for to be:

But if that he die ere to age he do come,

Then all I leave him it ſhall be your own.

To the church of England I'd have him upbrougt

To ſerve his high Maker, I'd have him be taught,

That we may meet together in heaven above.

Dear Sir, ſays the Knight, for your friendſhip & love.