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332 the merchant's daughter.
And ere her father did arise, Shee meets her master as he walkes in the hall: Shee did attend on him likewise, 03
Even till her father did him call.
But ere the Merchant made an end
Of all the matters to the master he could say,
His wife came weeping in with speed,
Saying, " Our daughter is gone a^ay!" 100
The Merchant, thus amaz'd in mind,
" Yonder vile wretch intic'd away my child," quoth he;
" But, well I wot, I shall him find
At Padua, in Italy."
With that bespake the master brave : 105
" Worshipfull master, thither goes this pretty youth, And any thing that you would have, He will performe it, and write the truth."
" Sweet youth," quoth hee, " if it be so,
Beare me a letter to the English merehants there, 110
And gold on thee I will bestow:
My daughter's welfare I do feare."
Her mother takes her by the hand ;
" Faire youth," qd she, " if there thou dost my daughter
see, Let me thereof soone understand, 115
And there is twenty crownes for thee."
Thus, through the daughter's strange disguise,
The mother knew not when shee spake unto her child;
And after her master straightway shee hies,
Taking her leave with countenance milde. 120 |
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