[THE NORTHERN LORD AND CRUEL JEW.]
Appendix to p. [46].
This ballad, which has some features of resemblance to Cymbeline, as well as to the Merchant of Venice, is taken from Buchan's Gleanings of Scotch, English, and Irish scarce old Ballads, p. 105. Another copy is in Mr. Halliwell's New Boke about Shakspeare, p. 19.
A noble lord of high renown,
Two daughters had, the eldest brown,
The youngest beautiful and fair:
By chance a noble knight came there.
Her father said, "Kind sir, I have 5
Two daughters: which do you crave?"
"One that is beautiful," he cried;
The noble knight he then replied:
"She's young, she's beautiful and gay,
And is not to be given away, 10
But as jewels are bought and sold;
She shall bring me her weight in gold.
"The price I think ye need not grudge,
Since I will freely give as much
With her one sister, if I can 15
Find out some other nobleman."
With that bespoke the noble knight,
"I'd sooner have the beauty bright,
At that vast rate, renownèd lord,
Than the other with a vast reward." 20
So then the bargain it was made;
But ere the money could be paid,
He had it of a wealthy Jew;
The sum so large, the writings drew
That if he failed, or miss'd the day, 25
So many ounces he should pay
Of his own flesh, instead of gold;
All was agreed, the sum was told.