The Distressed Damsels:
OR,
A dolefully Ditty of a sorrowfull Assembly of young Maidens that were met together
near Thames-street, to bewail the Loss of their Loves which were lately press'd away to Sea.
To the Tune of an Orange. Licensed according to Order.
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MY sweet Sister Sue, ah! what shall I do?
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I fain wou'd be married but know not to who;
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For why, I protest, the young Men are Prest,
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And my sweetheart Robin is gone with the rest
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For a Seaman.
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Then Susan reply'd there's many beside,
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That Fortune this Summer will surely divide;
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Each sudden surprize will cause Lasses cries,
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While Tears they do trickle like Rain from the Skies,
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For our Sweethearts.
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There's Bess at the Bell you know her full well,
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A sorrowful story to me she did tell,
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That Thomas, her Dear, was Prest she did hear,
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And then the poor Creature did tremble for fear
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He should leave her.
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In Thames-street of late, young pretty-fac'd Kate
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Had lost her dear Sweeting, the Bricklayer her Mate;
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He was Prest away, but yet the next day
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They freed him, then Kate she did lovingly say.
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My sweet Johnny.
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In the open Street her John she did meet,
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And gave him a thousand soft Kisses so sweet,
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With stroking his Chin, she welcom'd him in,
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For Joy she was fit to leap out of her Skin,
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For her Johnny.
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There's Doll at the Swan, her true love is gone,
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Poor Heart she with sorrow doth sigh and take on;
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Yet all is in vain, he is gone to the Main,
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She fears that he ne'er will return home again,
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To embrace her.
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There's Bridget & Joan 'tis very well known,
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Of Fourteen young Sweethearts they have not left one
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But all Prest on Board for to stand by the Sword,
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And this do's much Sorrow and Trouble afford,
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At the Parting.
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If Pressing goes on, there wont be a Man
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To please a young Lass, let her do what she can,
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For they will be scarce here in a short space,
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Then we shall be all in a sorrowful case,
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To be Married.
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Two Twelvemonths ago, sweet Sister you know
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The Batchelors then we could bring to our Bow;
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Nay, at our Command, they stood Cap in Hand,
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But now they grow scarcy all over the Land,
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We must prize them.
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Young Nancy and Ned last week they were Wed,
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And within an Hour of going to Bed,
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Just in all their Pride he was Prest from her side,
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Before he had dallied one Night with his Bride.
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Want it Pity?
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To leave his delight, and Beauty so bright,
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Before he had ever enjoy'd her one Night;
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But what shall we say? he was [pre]st away,
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Now you that have Husbands [valu]e them, I pray,
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They are Jewels.
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Last year I declare, young Maids was choice War[e]
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But now they grow wonderful plenty I sware,
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All over the Town they walk up and down,
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I reckon you may have a Score for a Crown,
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By Midsummer.
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