"In secrette she nurst him, and swaged his paine, While he throughe the realme was beleeved to be slaine At lengthe his faire bride she consented to bee, And made him glad father of prettye Bessee. "And nowe lest oure foes our lives sholde betraye, We clothed ourselves in beggars arraye; Her jewelles shee solde, and hither came wee: All our comfort and care was our prettye Bessee. "And here have we lived in fortunes despite, Thoughe poore, yet contented with humble delighte: Full forty winters thus have I beene A silly blind beggar of Bednall-greene. "And here, noble lordes, is ended the song Of one, that once to your own ranke did belong: And thus have you learned a secrette from mee, That ne'er had been knowne, but for prettye Bessee." Now when the faire companye everye one, Had heard the strange tale in the song he had showne, They all were amazed, as well they might bee, Both at the blinde beggar, and pretty Bessee. With that the faire bride they all did embrace, Saying, Sure thou art come of an honourable race, Thy father likewise is of noble degree, And thou art well worthy a lady to bee. Thus was the feast ended with joye and delighte, A bridegroome most happy then was the younge knighte, In joy and felicitie long lived hee, All with his faire ladye, the pretty Bessee. [Illustration: Hand dropping gold coins] THOMAS THE RHYMER Thomas lay on the Huntlie bank, A spying ferlies wi his eee, And he did spy a lady gay, Come riding down by the lang lee. Her steed was o the dapple grey, And at its mane there hung bells nine; He thought he heard that lady say, "They gowden bells sall a' be thine." Her mantle was o velvet green, And a' set round wi jewels fine; Her hawk and hounds were at her side, And her bugle-horn wi gowd did shine. Thomas took aff baith cloak and cap, For to salute this gay lady: "O save ye, save ye, fair Queen o Heavn, And ay weel met ye save and see!" "I'm no the Queen o Heavn, Thomas; I never carried my head sae hee; For I am but a lady gay, Come out to hunt in my follee. "Now gin ye kiss my mouth, Thomas, Ye mauna miss my fair bodee; Then ye may een gang hame and tell That ye've lain wi a gay ladee." "O gin I loe a lady fair, Nae ill tales o her wad I tell, And it's wi thee I fain wad gae, Tho it were een to heavn or hell." "Then harp and carp, Thomas," she said, "Then harp and carp alang wi me; But it will be seven years and a day Till ye win back to yere ain countrie." The lady rade, True Thomas ran, Until they cam to a water wan; O it was night, and nae delight, And Thomas wade aboon the knee. It was dark night, and nae starn-light, And on they waded lang days three, And they heard the roaring o a flood, And Thomas a waefou man was he.