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Ring Superstitions: Appendix

His wife was pleased the child to see, And said, 'My dearest husband, be ruled by me, Since we have no children, if you'll let me alone, We will keep this and call it our own.' The good man consented, as we have been told, And spared for neither silver nor gold, APPENDIX.

Until she was over eleven full year, And then her beauty began to appear.

The fisherman was one day at an inn, And several gentlemen drinking with him:

His wife sent this girl to call her husband home, But when she did into the drinking room come, The gentlemen they were amazed to see The fisherman's daughter so full of beauty.

They ask'd him if she was his own, And he told them the story before he went home: 'As I was fishing within my bound, One Monday morning this sweet babe I found; Or else she had lain within a watery grave;' And this was the same which now he gave.

The cruel Knight was in the company, And hearing the fisherman tell his story, He was vexed at the heart to see her alive, And how to destroy her again did contrive, Then spake the Knight, and unto him said, 'If you will but part with this sweet maid I'll give you whatever your heart can devise, For she in time to great riches may rise.' The fisherman answered, with a modest grace, 'I cannot unless my dear wife were in the place, Get first her consent, you shall have mine of me, And then to go with you, sir, she is free.' The wife she did also as freely consent, But little they thought of his cruel intent; He kept her a month very bravely they say, And then he contrived to send them away.

He had a great brother in fair Lancashire, A noble rich man worth ten thousand a year, And he sent this girl unto him with speed In hopes he would act a most desperate deed.

He sent a man with her likewise they say, And as they did lodge at an inn on the way, A thief in the house with an evil intent For to rob the portmanteau immediately went, But the thief was amazed, when he could not find Either silver or gold, or aught to his mind, But only a letter the which he did read And soon put an end to this tragical deed :

The Knight had wrote to his brother that day, To take this poor innocent damsel away, APPENDIX.

With sword or with poison that very same night, And not let her live till morning light.

The thief read the letter, and had so much grace To tear it, and write in the same place, 'Dear brother, receive this maiden from me, And bring her up well as a maiden should be; Let her be esteem'd, dear brother, I pray, Let servants attend her by night and by day.

For she is a lady of noble worth, A nobler lady ne'er lived in the north; Let her have good learning, dear brother, I pray, And for the same I will sufficiently pay; And so, loving brother, this letter I send, Subscribing myself your dear brother and friend.' The servant and maid were still innocent, And onward their journey next day they went.

Before sunset to the Knight's house they came Where the servant left her, and came home again.

The girl was attended most nobly indeed, With the servants to attend to her with speed; Where she did continue a twelvemonth's space, Till this cruel Knight came to this place, As he and his brother together did talk, He spy'd the young maiden in the garden to walk.

She look'd most beautiful, pleasant, and gay, Like to sweet Aurora, or the goddess of May.

He was in a passion when he did her spy, And instantly unto his brother did cry, 'Why did you not do as in the letter I writ ?' His brother replied, 'It is done every bit.' 'No, no,' said the Knight, 'it is not so I see, Therefore she shall back again go with me;' But his brother showed him the letter that day, Then he was amazed, but nothing did say.

Soon after the Knight took this maiden away, And with her did ride till he came to the sea, Then looking upon her with anger and spite, He spoke to the maiden and bade her alight.

The maid from the horse immediately went And trembled to think what was his intent. 'Ne'er tremble,' said he, 'for this hour's your last; So pull off your clothes, I command you, in haste.' This virgin, with tears, on her knees did reply, 'Oh! what have I done, sir, that now I must die?

Oh! let me but know how I offend I'll study each hour my life to amend, APPENDIX.

Oh! spare my life and I'll wander till death, And never come near you while I have breath.' He hearing the pitiful moan she did make Straight from his finger a ring did take, He then to the maiden these words did say, 'This ring in the water I'll now throw away; Pray look on it well, for the posy is plain, That you when you see it may know it again.

I charge you for life never come in my sight, For if you do I shall owe you a spite, Unless you do bring the same unto me: ' With that he let the ring drop in the sea, Which when he had done away he did go, And left her to wander in sorrow and woe.

She rambled all night, and at length did espy A homely poor cottage, and to it did hie, Being hungry with cold, and a heart full of grief, She went to this cottage to seek for relief; The people reliev'd her, and the next day They got her to service, as I did hear say, At a nobleman's house, not far from this place Where she did behave with a modest grace.

She was a cookmaid and forgot the time past, But observe the wonder that comes at last.

As she for dinner was dressing one day, And opened the head of a cod, they say, She found such a ring, and was in amaze And she, in great wonder, upon it did gaze And viewing it well she found it to be The very same the Knight dropped in the sea, She smil'd when she saw it, and bless'd her kind fate, But did to no creature the secret relate.

This maid, in her place, did all maidens excel, That the lady took notice, and lik'd her well; Saying, she was born of some noble degree, And took her as a companion to be.

The Knight when he came to the house did behold This beautiful lady with trappings of gold, When he ask'd the lady to grant him a boon, And said it was to walk with that virgin alone.

The lady consented, telling the young maid By him she need not fear to be betrayed.

When he first met her, 'Thou strumpet,' said he, 'Did I not charge thee never more to see me?

APPENDIX.