The Pensive Maid:
OR,
The Virgins Lamentation for the loss of her Lover.
For seven years space she patiently did bear,
The absence of her Love, as you shall hear,
At length sad tydings came that he was slain,
And that they never more should meet again.
Tune of, Through the cool shady Woods. Or, Deep in Love, etc.
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When Soll will cast no light
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all darkned over,
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And dolesome time of night
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the Skies did cover:
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Down by a Rivers side
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where Ships are sailing,
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There a fair Maid I spied,
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weeping and wailing.
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I stept unto her straight,
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dearest what grieves thee?
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She answered me and said,
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none can relieve me:
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'Tis seven long years and more
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since my Love parted,
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And left me on this shore,
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quite broken hearted.
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He promised to return
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if life was lent him,
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Which makes me sigh & mourn,
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death doth prevent him:
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O that I could but hear
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some tidings from him,
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How it my heart would cheer,
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for all my longing.
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A youngman straight she spied,
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like one amazed,
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Which did a token bring
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whereon she gazed,
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Where is my Love? quoth she,
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that comes not near me,
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The Youngman he reply'd,
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please for to hear me
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YOur Love and I did fight
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under one Banner,
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Maintaining Englands right,
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purchasing Honour:
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He was a Seaman bold,
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of courage valiant,
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Scorning to be controul'd,
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by e're a Gallant.
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But in a dreadful fight
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where Guns did rattle,
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And many a Gallant Wight,
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fell in the Battle:
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His fatal destiny
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near was approaching,
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And summon'd him away,
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by Deaths Incroaching.
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When he his deaths wound had
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and brains were broken,
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To me these words he said,
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deliver this token,
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To her that hath my heart,
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and is more dearer,
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Wishing her for my sake
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to love the Bearer.
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And having spoke these words,
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he then declined
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And in a stream of blood
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his life resigned,
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Leaving me full of care,
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sad news tobear it,
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His death for to declare
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as you now hear it.
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When she the tiding heard,
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with this sad potion,
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She like a stock appear'd
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without all motion,
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At length her spirits came
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by grief inflamed.
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And then with floods of tears
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thus she exclaimed.
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O ye great Powers above,
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which life doth lend us
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And thou the God of Love
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that did befriend us,
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Why have ye snatcht away
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my dearest sweeting,
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And by your cruelty
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spoiled our meeting?
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Since that my Love is dead,
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whom I did tender
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No comfort I will take
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but life surrender:
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In some unwonted paths,
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there will I wander
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And prove more constant
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then ere was Leander.
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And so vain world farewel
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and all thy pleasure,
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Since he is gone that was
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my chiefest Treasure,
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In the Elizium shades
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there will I hide me
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Until I find my Love
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what e're betide me.
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