For she is come of hye linèage, And was of a ladye born, And ill it beseems thee-a false churls sonne To carry her hence to scorne.' 'Nowe loud thou lyest, Sir John the knighte, Nowe thou doest lye of mee; A knighte me bred, and a ladye me bore, Soe never did none by thee. But light nowe downe, my ladye faire, Light downe, and hold my steed; While I and this discourteous knighte Doe try this arduous deede. But light nowe downe, my deare ladyè, Light downe, and hold my horse; While I and this discourteous knighte Doe trye our valours force.' Fair Emmeline sighed, fair Emmeline wept, And aye her heart was woe, 'Oft have you called your Emmeline Your darling and your joye; While twixt her love and the carlish knighte O! let not then your harsh resolves Past many a baneful blowe. Your Emmeline destroye.' THE TWA BROTHERS. THIS touching ballad is copied from "Motherwell's Minstrelsy, Ancient and Modern." Its origin is there traced to an unhappy accident, that occurred in the family of the Somervilles, of which we quote the account recorded:-" This year 1589, in the moneth of July, ther falls out a sad accident, as a further warning that God was displeased with the familie. The servant, with his two sones, William, Master of Somervil, and John, his brother, went with the horses to ane shott of land, called the prety shott, directly opposite the front of the house, where there was some meadow ground for grassing the horses, and willowes to shaddow themselves from the heat. They had not long continued in this place, when the Master of Somervil, after some litle rest, awakeing from his sleep, and finding his pistolles, that lay hard by him, wett with the dew, he began to rub and dry them, when, unhappily, one of them went off the ratch, being lying upon his knee, and the muzel turned side-ways, the ball strocke his brother John directly in the head and killed him outright, soe that his sorrowful brother never had one word from him, albeit he begged it with many teares." This, or some such melancholy incident, undoubtedly gave rise to the ballad. In some versions, one brother is purposely slain by the other; but in all, the noble and forgiving spirit of the victim, and the horror and remorse of the survivor make the strong points. THE BEGGAR'S DAUGHTER OF BEDNALL GREEN. MR. HALL has arranged this beautiful and interesting ballad, partly from the copy published by Dr. Percy in his "Reliques of Ancient English Poetry," and partly from a black letter copy preserved in the folio collection at the British Museum. The latter bears this title "The Rarest Ballad that ever was seen of the Blind Beggar's daughter of Bednall Green. Printed by and for W. Onley; and are to be sold by C. Bates at the sign of the sun and bible in Pye corner." Dr. Percy gives the reign of Queen Elizabeth as the date of its composition; but how far the story is founded on fact is matter of uncertainty. We know from history that Simon de Montfort, the Earl of Leicester, and his eldest son Henry, were both killed at the battle of Evesham, fought August 4, 1265, whilst heading the barons, and that the family became extinct. Probably some such event, as that described, did actually occur during the civil wars, and the author has only used the poet's license in attributing it to well-known personages. This ballad derives additional interest from having furnished Sheridan Knowles with a subject for a drama. 'Nay then,' quoth the merchant, 'thou art not for mee: Nor,' quoth the innholder, my wiffe shalt not bee:' 'Ilothe,' said the gentle, 'a beggars degree, And therefore, adewe, my pretty Bessee!' 'Ile make thee a lady with joy and delight; or worse, I waighe not true love by the waight of the pursse, And bewtye is bewtye in every degree; Then welcome to me, my pretty Bessee. With thee to thy father forthwith will I goe.' 'Nay soft,' quoth his kinsmen, it must not be soe; A poor beggars daughter noe ladye shall bee, Then take thy adewe of pretty Bessee.' |