This page has been validated.
( 5 )
The young man immediately fell to the ground,Pretending as if he had been in a swoon;In a passion then smiting his hand on his side,What have you done, cruel master? he cried.
Master, with a vengeance, the old man replied,Yes, yes, your my master the young man he cried;O pray be but easy and to you I'll tell,The saddest misfortune that ever befel.
When my mistress heard I to London must go,She craved, nay, begg'd and intreated me so,To be dress'd in my clothes for to go with you,Because she had a mind that city to view.
Adzooks said the old man what have I done,I've ruin'd my daughter, O where shall I run?The Devil's bewitch'd me for coveting gold,The life of my innocent daughter I've sold.
The old man ran raving away to the barn,And snatching a halter under his arm,To a beam near at hand he immediately run,With a rop about his neck away be swung.
The young man immediately whipp'd out his knife,And cut him down e'er he finish'd his life,Said, dear Sir, have patience and do not complain,And I'll do what I can to fetch her again.
The old man he star'd like a fox in a snare,Saying, Bring my darling whom I love so dear,And that very minute you bring her to town,That moment I'll pay thee five hundred pound.
Nay, that is not all, to finish the strife,I freely agree to make her your wife,And if that I forty years longer remain,I never, no never, will cross her again.
The young man replied, I'm not free to trust,But if you will give me a writing first,I'll bring her though never such hazards I run,A match said the old man the same shall be done.
