"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."