Part V
Now in the fifth part I’ll endeavour to show,How things with her parents and sister did go;Her mother and sister of life are bereft,And now all alone the old squire is left.
Who hearing his daughter was married so brave,He said, ‘In my noddle a fancy I have;Dressed like a poor man now a journey I’ll make,And see if she on me some pity will take.’
Then dressed like a beggar he went to her gate,Where stood his daughter, who looked very great;He cried, ‘Noble lady, a poor man I be,And am now forced to crave charity.’
With a blush she asked him from whence that he came;And with that he told her, and likewise his name.She cried ‘I’m your daughter, whom you slighted so,Yet, nevertheless, to you kindness I’ll show.
‘Through mercy the Lord hath provided for me;Pray, father, come in and sit down then,’ said she.Then the best provisions the house could afford,For to make him welcome was set on the board.
She said, ‘You are welcome, feed hearty, I pray,And, if you are willing, with me you shall stay,So long as you live.’ Then he made this reply:‘I only am come now thy love for to try.
‘Through mercy, my dear child, I’m rich and not poor,I have gold and silver enough now in store;And for this love which at thy hands I have found,For thy portion I’ll give thee ten thousand pound.’
So in a few days after, as I understand,This man he went home, and sold off all his land,And ten thousand pounds to his daughter did give,And now altogether in love they do live.