The Huntington-shire PLOW-MAN:
O R,
The Plowmans Complaint
For the Loss of his Hearts Delight.
True Love alone, does cause my moan,
such Sorrows I possess,
I being left of joys bereft,
To languish in Distress.
Tune of, My Child must have a father. This may be Printed. R. P.
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YOung-Men and Maids I pray attend,
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unto a Plow-Mans Ditty;
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It is to you these Lines I send,
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in hopes that you will pitty
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My sad and woeful Destiny,
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I being now forsaken;
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I thought she lov'd no man but me,
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yet I was much mistaken.
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I counted her my Hearts Delight,
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and doated on her Beauty;
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I could have serv'd her Day and Night,
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and counted it my Duty:
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My Love to her I made appear,
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at e'ry time and season
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Yet I am slighted by my Dear,
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and know not what's the reason.
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Except the meaness of my state,
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does cause her to refuse me;
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But if the truth I may relate,
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she ought not to abuse me:
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And hold my Person thus in scorn,
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in giving the denyal;
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For tho' I am a Plowman Born,
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my Heart is true and Loyal.
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No rest or quiet could I find,
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my Love is out of measure;
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She still was running in my mind,
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I counted her my Treasure:
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But yet at me she still would scoff,
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instructed by her Mother,
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And at the length did leave me off,
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and Marry'd with another.
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I count this prov'd my Overthrow,
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by being far asunder,
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So that I daily could not go,
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therefore I now lye under
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The sence of sorrow, care and grief,
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which I am still possessing,
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And ne'r expect to have relief,
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or to enjoy the blessing.
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Tho' she by Letters knew my mind,
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which I was often sending,
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Yet now I find her most unkind,
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my Grief is without ending:
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In Chains of Love I here must lye,
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in Care and Grief surrounded;
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Alas! I freely now could dye,
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for why my Heart is wounded.
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But tho' you thus do torture me,
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as I too well do know it,
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I must and will your Captive be,
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for I cannot foregoe it:
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Therefore always, I'le write thy praise,
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in this my love-sick Story,
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For I am Will the Plowman still,
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and will set forth thy Glory.
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She had been true to Cupids Laws,
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and never coy nor cruel:
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Had not her Mother been the cause,
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I had enjoy'd my Jewel:
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On Wealth her Mothers mind was bent,
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she greeded out of measure,
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But Love will last when Money's spent,
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then who wou'd Wed for Treasure?
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Young Men that hear me now this day,
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which have a mind to Marry;
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Pray do not linger and delay,
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there's danger if you tarry:
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When e're you understand and find,
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that others are about her,
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Pray take her while she's in the mind,
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for fear you go without her.
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