The Poor Folks Complaint:
OR,
A Hint of the Hard Times
[S]etting forth the Miserable and distressed Condition of many Hundreds of the Poorer sort of
People who are almost ready to starve in these Hard Times, when Fireing, and all sorts of
Provisions are so dear, etc.
Awake all you that hoard up Wealth in store,
And hear the piteous Clamours of the Poor:
Regard their Cryes, and yield them some Relief,
And God will be your Recompence in Chief.
To the Tune of, Hold Buckle and Thong together: Or, All things be dear but poor Mens labour.
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YOu Rich Men that do live at ease,
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and Misers that do hoard up Treasure,
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Who without pitty grind and squease
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poor helpless Creatures at your pleasure:
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Mark well this Subject now in hand,
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and then you may have cause to wonder,
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When once you come to understand
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the burden that the poor groans under.
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Whilst you do surfeit with Excess,
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and with great plenty are rewarded.
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The Poor do languish in distress,
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and still their Cryes are not regarded:
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To help them you are not inclin'd,
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at their Complaints you make a wonder;
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But let it settle in your mind.
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the burden that poor Men lies under,
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Though you have much, you would have more
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and so the Poor they are neglect[e]d:
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The Lord would sure increase your store,
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if that they were the more respected:
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But through the hardness of your hearts,
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they are in want, which is no wonder:
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Tis too well known throughout all parts,
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the burden that the poor lyes under.
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About your doors poor Creatures flock,
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in hopes that they shall be relieved;
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Where they perhaps receive a Mock,
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at which their hearts are sorely grieved:
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Which will in Judgment rise at last,
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when Heaven & Earth shall pass asunder;
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You'l then repent of what is past;
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the burden that the poor lyes under.
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'TIs known Provisions are so dear
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in every Place, I need not name 'em,
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That he that hath a Wife and Charge,
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works day and night for to maintain 'em,
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Yet will his Labour not suffice,
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his wages are so small and slender;
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So that you scarcely can devise
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the burden that poor men lives under.
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When Children they do cry for Bread,
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and Parents have it not to give them,
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It makes their very hearts to bleed,
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because they can no wayes relieve them:
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To see their tender Infants lye,
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just ready for to dye for Hunger,
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It is enough to testifie
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the burden that poor men lives under.
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I speak of such poor honest ones
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as will take pains in Town or City,
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For those that live like lazy Drones,
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I think that they deserve no pitty:
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The Sloathful he shall come to want,
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the Proverb saith, and 'tis no wonder:
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But that is not what here is meant,
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the burden that poor men lyes under.
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The sad Complaints that's dayly made,
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amongst poor Tradsmen in the Citty,
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How they repine for want of Trade,
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and suffer much, the mores the pitty.
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Good Fires they for Children want,
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and Food for to suffice their Hunger:
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Then judge, if money is so scant,
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the sorrows that poor men lyes under.
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Likewise, poor people all about
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the Country, are much discontented:
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The Times are hard with them no doubt,
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and yet it cannot be prevented:
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Curmudgeons will not sell their Corn,
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though poor Mens cryes about em thunder,
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To serve themseves, they do but scorn
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the burden that poor men lies under.
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It is a thousand pities that
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such things are suffered in this Nation,
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That Farmers to enrich themselves
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should starve the Poor in such a fashion.
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If Corn were sold at easie Rate,
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now there is plenty in each Chamber.
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Then it would very much abate
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the sorrows that the poor lyes under.
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Then let each one that loves the Poor,
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think on the charitable Farmer,
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How that the Lord encreas'd his store,
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for keeping of their Bowels warmer:
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With plenty he rewarded was
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of which he feared no mans Plunder,
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Because in pitty he did ease
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the burden that the poor laid under.
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Therefore let all good Men that hear
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this sad Complaint and mournful Ditty:
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Still strive to serve the Lord with fear,
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and to the Poor afford some pitty:
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For our good God will recompence
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your Charity to all Mens wonder,
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If that you study to redress
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the burden that the poor lyes under.
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