"The gods preserve your majesty," The beggars all gan cry; 50 "Vouchsafe to give your charity, Our childrens food to buy!" The king to them his purse did cast, And they to part it made great haste; This silly woman was the last 55 That after them did hye. The king he cal'd her back again, And unto her he gave his chaine; And said, "With us you shall remain Till such time as we dye. 60 "For thou," quoth he, "shalt be my wife, And honoured like the queene; With thee I meane to lead my life, As shortly shall be seene: Our wedding day shall appointed be, 65 And every thing in their degree; Come on," quoth he, "and follow me, Thou shalt go shift thee cleane. What is thy name?--go on," quoth he. "Penelophon, O King!" quoth she; 70 With that she made a lowe courtsey; A trim one as I weene. Thus hand in hand along they walke Unto the kings palace: The king with courteous, comly talke 75 This beggar doth embrace. The beggar blusheth scarlet read, And straight againe as pale as lead, But not a word at all she said, She was in such amaze. 80 At last she spake with trembling voyce, And said, "O King, I do rejoyce That you will take me for your choice, And my degree so base!" And when the wedding day was come, 85 The king commanded straight The noblemen, both all and some, Upon the queene to waight. And she behavd herself that day As if she had never walkt the way; 90 She had forgot her gowne of gray, Which she did wear of late. The proverb old is come to passe, The priest, when he begins the masse, Forgets that ever clarke he was; 95 He knowth not his estate. Here you may read Cophetua, Through fancie long time fed, Compelled by the blinded boy The beggar for to wed: 100 He that did lovers lookes disdaine, To do the same was glad and fain, Or else he would himself have slaine, In stories as we read. Disdaine no whit, O lady deere, 105 But pitty now thy servant heere, Lest that it hap to thee this yeare, As to the king it did.