Unfortunate Strephon,
OR,
The Unhappy Shepherds last LEGACY
to the WORLD.
It Being a Pleasant and Delightful New Song.
To the Tune of, Long Sporting on the Flowery Plain, Or, Young Strephon
fain the Bliss would Tast, etc. oe, Jenny Ginn.
This may be Printed, R.L.S. August the 4th. 1685.
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LOng Sporting on the flowery plain,
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whilst I obedient stood,
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Whilst I was found a Loyal Swain,
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and sought Arcadia good:
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Each Shepherd and each Shepherdess,
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my worthy deeds made known,
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But now poor Strephon now at last,
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Ambition has undone.
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Each Nymph did wish her silent charms
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[?] might so alureing prove,
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To win me to her tender arms,
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and make me yield to Love:
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Each chearful face did joy express,
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by smiles that hung thereon,
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For me poor Strephon whom alas
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Ambition has undone.
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Lov'd and admir'd long time I was,
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'till fatal to my fame,
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The feavorish breath of fond aplause,
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to my warm breast gave flame:
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'Twas future greatness was the glass,
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I fondly gaz'd upon,
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'Tul me poor Strephon whom alass
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Ambition has undone.
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What other Shepherds well cou'd please
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Shepherds of my degree.
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My labouring thoughts could nothing ease,
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nor no contentment be:
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But Courting flatry's witching face,
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which slyely drew me on,
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'Till me poor Strephon me alas
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Ambition had undone.
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Regardless of that tender care,
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which my dear safety sought,
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Safe counsel I refus'd to hear,
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such as had made me great:
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And following flying shades apace,
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shades that have lead me on,
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'Till me poor Strephon me alas
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Ambition has undone.
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My greatest foes in friendships dress,
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I rashly did believe,
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Who having brought me to distress,
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my swelling hopes deceive:
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Belief and Ruine did embrace,
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ruine my self call'd on,
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'Till me poor Strephon me alas
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Ambition hath undone:
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To urge the foreign fates I durst,
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in an unhappy time,
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And in false fortune puting trust,
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to greatness strove to climb:
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Which then I thought in prospect was
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though by delusion shown,
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'Till me poor Strephon me alas
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Ambition had o'rethrown.
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Forsaking those most happy Plains,
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where I long time had been,
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And following false and treacherous swains,
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at last they drew me in:
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To prove ungrateful to the place
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where I such fame had won,
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Till me poor Strephon, me alas!
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Ambition had undone.
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Successless in my enterpr[ise]
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unfortune and crost,
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Let others by my fall advise,
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lest they likewise are lost:
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Let Loyalty your actions Grace,
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to keep the fame yovu'e won,
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Least you should fall like him alas!
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Ambition has undone.
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