Damsels Complaint
FOR THE
Loss of her Maidenhead:
With Allowance.
Tune of Liggan Water .
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OH cruel and unhappy Fate,
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How fair a Maid was I of late,
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But loosing of my Maiden-head,
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My true Love he is from me fled.
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I fear my Fortune now is [sp]oild,
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Since that I am half gon with Child,
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It fills my heart with grief and woe,
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Because I don't the father know.
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How many Sweethearts Courted me
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And always loving, kind and free,
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They gave me Cakes and Kisses to,
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And often did Loves game renew.
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Kind William set me on his knee,
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Who did so kiss and smuggle me,
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That soon he did my heart betray,
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A [ass] no one could say him nay;
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Then after him n[ye] forty mo[r]e,
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Told me that they did [me] adore
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My pretty b[l]ack and charming eyes
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Untill they had obtein'd the Prize,
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But since I do begin to swell,
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In troth they bi'd me all farewell,
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There is not one the Child will own
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And I am left to [sigh] alone
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Their ttrades [&] callings [I] will name
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The [first] a Black smith in [?]
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He brought his hammer in his hand,
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I fell for want of strength to stand.
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When I was down he thump'd me
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Then [?] up [I scarce] could go.
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All this I took and never Cry'd
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Yet still the pain lies in my side
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A Jolly Joyner six foot high,
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He was the next that did come by,
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His tools he brought, one, two & three,
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And all to do a job for me.
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Then smerking Dick the bakers man
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He promis'd me gloves, muff and fan
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If that I would but once prove kind
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[Then] straight he got me in the mind
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Am nimble Taylor brisk and brave
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Was full of [ringies] and did crav[e]
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One loving [kind] and tender kiss,
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What I gave more you all may guess
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Then he took measure with his yar[d]
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For Gown and mantua, but I fear'[d]
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He would mistake and vex me for
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In making them two short before.
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Then straight there was a bricklaye[r] came
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But I have quite forgot his Name
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I lik'd not very well his tricks,
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He laid me stones instead of Bricks
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To tell you all have wronged me,
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Too tedious to relate would bee,
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But since its gon and past who ca[n]
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[Undo] what here was done by man
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Then to the smith I went my way
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And unto him with Tears did say
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Alas the Child I have is thine,
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But still he was not of my mind.
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His Answer was to me again,
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Why should you thus disputing stand
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I'le own the Child for to be mine;
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If born with hammer in his hand.
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Thus all the rest [?] me so
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And who to [fix] on I don't know
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Its a hard [fate] now I'm defil'd
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No Dad I can get for my Child
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Now Virgins all before you part
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with [this] [same] Jewel next your heart
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Before you know your Lovers well,
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Or Fathers you will want like Nell .
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