A new Ballad; Declaring the Excellent Parable of the Prodigal Child.
To the Tune of, The Wanton Wife.
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THere was a grave man, both wealthy & wise,
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Two Sons had both proper and tall,
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The elder was very proper and very precise,
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The other to wildnesse did whole incline,
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his Parents therefore
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was grieved full sore,
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And mighty displeasure against him they bore,
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Young-men remember delights are but vain,
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And after sweet pleasure comes sorrow and pain.
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This lusty brave youngster that lived at ease,
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And never had tasted the temper of care,
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Quoth he, if my doings your mind do displease,
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Then give me my portion that falls to my share,
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then ye shall not be
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long troubled with me,
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Yet will I live gallant and pleasant quoth he,
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Young men, etc.
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Oh, quoth his Parents, you wicked lewd Lad,
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What will become of thee where thou shalt go?
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Seeing thy government it is so bad,
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But misery and beggery upon thee shall grow;
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quoth he if I knew
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that this would be true,
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Be sure I would never make moan unto you,
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Young men, etc.
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His Parents that saw him put him to flight,
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Paid him his Portion without all delay:
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Saying, good Sire, I pray take your flight,
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I mean not (quoth he) in your presence to stay,
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but now I will see,
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each forraign Countrey,
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And view the world what fashions there be,
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Young men, etc.
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Thus in his Jollity he rides along,
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And in his apparel most sumptuous and brave,
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To view this brave gallant much people did throng
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Where he like to a Prince himself did behave,
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yea honoured was he,
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with cap and with knee,
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And at his command the proudest now be,
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Young men, etc.
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With musick each morning his ears they had fed,
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Of gold and silver he maketh no spare,
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With flattering speeches away he was led,
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His body is fed with delicate fare:
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what he doth require
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he hath at his desire,
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But such as want money may lie in the mire,
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Young men, etc.
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Proper fine women of beauty most bright,
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Do strive for his favour and friendship each day,
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They call him their honey, their joy and delight
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They kisse him, they cull him, and wantonly play
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they swear till they die
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though falsly they lye,
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He shall be their sweet-heart and prety pigs-nye,
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Young men, etc.
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some gave him handkerchiefs, some gave him rings
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Some strewed his windows with flowers most sweet
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Some to delight him both dances and sings
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Some with Rose-water doth wash his feet,
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and what shall I say
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they took him away,
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They woo him & do him what kindnesse they may
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Young men, etc.
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Thus with their allurements, their winks, & their wiles
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They used to bewitch this prodigal boy:
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He buys with gold angels their kisses and smiles
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And stores them with every new fangle and toy
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he buyes them new gowns
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and many fair pounds,
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In white-wine & sugar amongst them he drowns
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Young men, etc.
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When he had upon them thus wasted his wealth
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Consumed his substance his treasure and store
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Yea, crackt all his credit with hazard of health,
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That he could banquet these Minions no more:
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with works of dispight
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they fly from his fight,
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They call him base Rascal, forsaking him quite:
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Young men remember delights are but vain,
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And after sweet pleasure comes sorrows & pain.
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The Second Part, shewing the great Misery he endured, being constrained through Hunger to eat with
the Hogs, and how his Merciful Father received him again. To the same Tune.
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Then was he brought to misery great,
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His garments all ragged & torn you might see
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His body neer starved for want of good meat,
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His arms out at elbows, his hose broak at knee,
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and is his distresse
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he knew no redresse,
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His Harlots spit at him in his heavinesse,
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Young men remember delights are but vain,
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And after sweet pleasures comes sorrow and pain.
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Then bitterly mourning he went up and down
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To get him a Master that he might dine:
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At length a rich Citizen dwelling in town,
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Sends him to the Countrey to keep all his Swine,
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whose hunger was great,
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for want of good meat,
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He sat him down by the Hogs husks for to eat,
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Young men, etc.
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And as by the Hogs he was feeding a pace
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With many a sigh and sob he did say,
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Now I am brought to a pitiful case,
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Alack that my Parents I did disobey:
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their servants at home,
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the very worst groom,
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Have meat and drink plenty and hear I have none
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Young men, etc.
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Wherefore to my Father again I will go,
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Asking him forgivenesse for my lewd life,
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Shewing to him my grief and my woe,
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Reputing my folly that it set at strife
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then striaght the same day
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he taketh his way,
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And came to his fathers in ragged array,
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Young men, etc.
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With bitter mourning he falls on his knee
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Saying dear father forgive what is done;
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For I have offended Christ Jesus and thee,
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Unworthy I am to be called thy son?
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yet do not disdain
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to take me again,
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As one of thy servants to take any pain;
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Young men, etc.
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With that the tears fell from his fathers eyes.
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With joy and gladnesse they flew full fast,
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He kissed his son, and bid him arise,
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Saying I have found my child that was lost
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with garments full gay,
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he did him array,
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And killed a fat calf to honour that day,
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Young men, etc.
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And gently led him by the hand,
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Great joy and melody there was made:
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But when his eldest brother did understand
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The truth of every thing that hath been said,
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full angry was he
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when this he did see,
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His prodigal brother thus honoured would be,
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Young men, etc.
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And to his father thus he did speak,
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Long have I served thee and many a day,
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And thy commandements never did break,
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But all my life long I did thee obey:
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yet never found I
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such great courtesie
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As this wretched unthrift, that let his wealth flye
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Young men, etc.
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O (quoth his Father) consider my Son,
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All that I have one day shall be thine,
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Then do not grudge at what I have done,
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Nor at thy poor brother do thou repine:
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for he was lost plain,
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but is found again,
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He was dead, but now is risen again.
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Young men, etc.
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This worthy Parable Christ he did tell,
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Unto the comforters of Christians each one,
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Although by our wickednesse we do rebel,
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Yet by true repentance our Father of Heaven,
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do pity our case,
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receiving us to grace,
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In joys everlasting with him to take pain,
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Young men remember delights are but vain,
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And after sweet pleasures comes sorrow and pain.
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