A gallant master amongst them all, (The master of a faire and goodlie ship was he) 50 Who there stood waiting in the hall, To speake with her father, if it might be. She kindly takes him by the hand: "Good sir," said shee, "would you speake with any heere?" Quoth he, "Faire maid, therefore I stand:" 55 "Then, gentle sir, I pray you draw neere." Into a pleasant parlour by, With hand in hand she brings the seaman all alone; Sighing to him most piteously, She thus to him did make her moane. 60 Shee falls upon her tender knee: "Good sir," she said, "now pittie you a woman's woe, And prove a faithfull friend to me, That I my griefe to you may shew." "Sith you repose your trust," he said, 65 "To me that am unknowne, and eke a stranger heere, Be you assur'd, most proper maid, Most faithfull still I will appeare." "I have a brother, then," quoth shee, "Whom as my life I love and favour tenderlie: 70 In Padua, alas! is he, Full sicke, God wot, and like to die. "And faine I would my brother see, But that my father will not yeeld to let me goe; Wherefore, good sir, be good to mee, 75 And unto me this favour shew. "Some ship-boye's garment bring to mee, That I disguis'd may goe away from hence unknowne; And unto sea Ile goe with thee, If thus much favour may be showne." 80 "Faire maid," quoth he, "take heere my hand: I will fulfill each thing that you desire, And set you safe in that same land, And in that place that you require." She gave him then a tender kisse, 85 And saith, "Your servant, gallant master, will I be, And prove your faithfull friend for this: Sweet master, then, forget not me." This done, as they had both decreed, Soone after (early) before the breake of day, 90 He brings her garments then with speed, Wherein she doth her selfe array: And ere her father did arise, Shee meets her master as he walkes in the hall: Shee did attend on him likewise, 95 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 away!" 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."