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Thy father likewise is of noble degree, And thou art well worthy a lady to be."

Thus was the feast ended with joy and delight,

A bridegroom most happy then was the young knight;

In joy and felicity long lived he,
All with his fair lady the pretty Bessie.

Here endeth

The rarest ballad that ever was seen
Of the Blind Beggar's Daughter

of Bethnal Green.

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The Babes in the Wood.

OW ponder well, you parents dear,

These words which I shall

write :

A doleful story you shall hear,
In time brought forth to light.
A gentleman of good account
In Norfolk dwelt of late,

Who did in honour far surmount
Most men of his estate.

Sore sick he was, and like to die,
No help his life could save;
His wife by him as sick did lie,
And both possessed one grave:
No love between these two was lost,
Each was to other kind;

In love they lived, in love they died,
And left two babes behind.

The one a fine and pretty boy,
Not passing three years old;
The other a girl, more young than he,
And framed in beauty's mould.
The father left his little son,

As plainly doth appear,

When he to perfect age should come, Three hundred pounds a year.

And to his little daughter, Jane,
Five hundred pounds in gold,
To be paid down on marriage day,
Which might not be controlled:
But if the children chanced to die,
Ere they to age should come,
Their uncle should possess their wealth,
For so the will did run.

"Now, brother," said the dying man, Look to my children dear,

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Be good unto my boy and girl-
No friends else have they here:
To God and you I recommend
My children dear, this day;
But little while, be sure we have
Within this world to stay.

"You must be father and mother both, And uncle, all in one :

God knows what will become of them, When I am dead and gone."

With that bespake their mother dear: O brother kind!" quoth she,

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"You are the man must bring our To wealth or misery.

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[babes

And if you keep them carefully, Then God will you reward; But if you otherwise should deal, God will your deeds regard." With lips as cold as any stone They kissed their children small, God bless you both my children dear!"

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With that their tears did fall.

These speeches then their brother spoke,

To this sick couple there:
"The keeping of your little ones,
Sweet sister, do not fear:
God never prosper me nor mine,
Nor aught else that I have,
If I do wrong your children dear,
When you are laid in grave."

The parents being dead and gone,
The children home he takes,

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