Page:Factor's garland (5).pdf/5



He said, Noble lady, I've good news to tell,

The old prince, your father, and mother's both well;

And your royal parents the thing have design'd,

In the bond of wedlock we both should be join'd.

Perhaps, noble lady, you would not agree,

To marry a poor man, especially me;

Sir, was you a beggar, I would be your wife,

Because, when just dying, you saved my life

I never shall forget that great token of love,

Of all men now breathing I prize thee above,

SineeSince [sic] it is so ordered, I'm well pleased I vow,

And glad my dear father these things doth allow.

Pray, sell off your goods that you have in store,

And give all your money to those that are poor;

And let us be jogging away o'er the main,

For I long to see my dear parents again.

This thing was soon done, and they sailed away

In the ship that her father sent for her convoy,

But mark what was acted on the ocean wide,

To deprive the Factor of his royal bride.

The Captain who convoy'd them over the deep,

One night as the Factor was laid in his sleep,

Being under sail, overboard did him throw,

Saying, now I shall have this young creature I know.

There happened to be a small island at hand,

To whiehwhich [sic] the Factor swam as I understand:

And there we leave him a while for to mourn,

And unto the ship again we'll return.

Next morning, as soon as day-light did peep,

He waked the young Princess out of her sleep,

And said, noble lady, the Factor's not here,

He's fall'n overboard and drowned I fear.

To hear the sad news, then her eyes they did flow,

He said, noble lady, since now it is so,