Chapter 7

When under the window with an aching heart, He told his fair Ruth he so soon must depart, Her parents they heard, and well pleasèd they were, But Ruth was afflicted with sorrow and care.

Now, after her lover had quitted the shore, They kept her confined a fall twelvemonth or more, And then they were pleasèd to set her at large, With laying upon her a wonderful charge:

To fly from a seaman as she would from death; She promised she would, with a faltering breath; Yet, nevertheless, the truth you shall hear, She found out a way for to follow her dear.

Then, taking her gold and her silver alsò, In seaman’s apparel away she did go, And found out a master, with whom she agreed, To carry her over the ocean with speed.

Now, when she arrived at the kingdom of Spain, From city to city she travelled amain, Enquiring about everywhere for her love, Who now had been gone seven years and above.

In Cadiz, as she walked along in the street, Her love and his lady she happened to meet, But in such a garb as she never had seen,— She looked like an angel, or beautiful queen.

With sorrowful tears she turned her aside: ‘My jewel is gone, I shall ne’er be his bride; But, nevertheless, though my hopes are in vain, I’ll never return to old England again.

‘But here, in this place, I will now be confined; It will be a comfort and joy to my mind, To see him sometimes, though he thinks not of me, Since he has a lady of noble degree.’

Now, while in the city fair Ruth did reside, Of a sudden this beautiful lady she died, And, though he was in the possession of all, Yet tears from his eyes in abundance did fall.

As he was expressing his piteous moan, Fair Ruth came unto him, and made herself known; He started to see her, but seemèd not coy, Said he, ‘Now my sorrows are mingled with joy!’

The time of the mourning he kept it in Spain, And then he came back to old England again, With thousands, and thousands, which he did possess; Then glorious and gay was sweet Ruth in her dress.