Page:Dorsetshire garland, or, The beggar's wedding.pdf/3

 What has paſt betwixt us, I'll take ſpecial care,

How I do bring up your dear Son and Heir;

And if that ſo long the Lord give him life

My beautiful Daughter I'll give him to Wife.

And ſo for the Babes they ſent for with ſpeed,

The Merchant he cry'd, My heart it does bleed,

To leave you behind me, but it muſt be done,

For death calls me hence, and my glaſs it is run.

The Will being done I'm content he did ſay,

He kiſs'd the ſweet Babies, with lips cold as clay:

So both in one minute did yield up their breath,

The happieſt couple that e'er liv'd on earth,

The Merchant and Wife being laid in the grave,

He took home the Child and kept him moſt brave,

The Knight's only Daughter and the Merchant's Son,

Became all the talk of the neighbouring town.

Theſe children they loved each other dear,

This covetous Knight he began for to fear,

This promiſe which he did count but a jeſt,

He muſt perform, which diſturbed his reſt.

My Daughter, ſaid he, is of beauty moſt bright,

And the will be fit for a Lord or a Knight

But ten thouſand pounds there is left to this boy,

I'd find out a means his life to deſtroy.

E hired a beggar this child for to kill

The innocent Babies thinking no ill,

As they in innocent ſport were at play,

With a treacherous laugh this falſe Knight did ſay,

Come Jemmy, go forth for to take the air;

And I, worthy Sir, ſaid his Daughter ſo fair;