Page:Weather-beaten sodger, or, the Burgo-Master of Venice.pdf/5

[5] And do not let the be told,

So thou shall never want for gold.

He vow’d he would conceal the same,

Soon after this the ’Squire he came,

Saying, Why was you so unkind?

The piss-pot made me almost blind.

The youthful damsel answer’d thus,

’Tis good enough if it were worse:

Because you thought to ruin me,

My honour and my chastity.

III. N part the third we must return,

Unto a mighty great concern,

Consisting of some thousand pounds,

Which the poor soldier’s fortune crowns.

Behold her wealthy father he,

Did send four mighty ships to sea,

Laden with glorious merchandize,

Rich silks with other wares likewise.

They had been gone full seven years,

No tale nor tiding they could hear

Of them; at length he gave them o’er,

And never thought to see them more.

At length there was a letter brought,

The ships were safe with riches fraught,

Near to the borders of the land;

Which news came to his daughter’s hand.

Then having view’d and read the same,

She to the ragged soldier came;

Crying, My dear, be true to me,

You shall a Burgo-master be.

My Father thinks his ships are lost,

Which now are on the Venice coast;

And ere he does the tidings hear,

Go buy his right in them my dear.