EBBA 30410
British Library - Roxburghe
Ballad XSLT Template
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Poor Robins Dream commonly calld Poor Charity;
I know no reason but this harmless Riddle
May as well be Printed as sung to a Fiddle.
To a compleat Tune well known by Musitians and many others, or game at Cards.
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HOw now good fellow what all amort?
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I pray thee tell me what is the news:
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Trading is dead and I am sorry fort
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which makes me look worse then I use.
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If a man hath no employment whereby to get penny
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He hath no enjoyment if that he wanteth mone
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And Charity is not used by many.
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I have nothing to spend nor ive nothing to lend
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ive nothing to do I tarry at home,
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Sitting in my chair drawing near to the fire
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I fall into a sleep like an id[l]e drone,
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And as I slept I fell into a dream
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I see a play acted without ere a theam,
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But I could not tell what the play did mean.
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But afterwards I did perceive
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and something more I did understand,
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The Stage was the World wherein we live
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the Actors they were all mankind,
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And when the play is ended the Stage down they fling
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Then there will [b]e no difference in this thing
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Between a Beggar and a King.
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The first that acted I protest
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was time with a Glass and a Sithe in his hand,
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With the Glove of the World upon his breast
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to shew that he could the same command:
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Theirs a time for to Work, & a time for to play
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A time for to borrow, and a time for to pay
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And a time that doth call us all away.
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COnscience in order takes his place
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and very gallantly plays his part,
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He fears not [t]o fly in a Rulers face
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although it cuts him to the heart:
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He tells them all this is the latter Age
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Which put the Actors into such a Rage,
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That they kickt poor Conscience off the Stage.
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Plain-dealing presently appears
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in habit like a simple Man,
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The Actors at him mocks and jears
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pointing their fingers as they ran:
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How came this fellow into our Company
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Away with him many a Gallant did cry
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For Plain-Dealing will a Beggar dye.
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Dissimulation mounted the Stage
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but he was cloathed in gallant attire,
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He was acquainted with Youth and Age
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many his company did desire:
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They entertaind him in their very breast
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There he could have harbor and quietly rest
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For Dissemblers and Turn-coats fares the best.
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Then cometh in poor Charity
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methinks she looked wondrous old,
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She quiverd and she quakt most piteously
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it grievd me to think she was grown so cold,
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She had been ith City, and in the Country
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Amongst the Lawyers and Nobility
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But there was no Room for poor Charity.
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Then comes in Truth not cloathed in Wool
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but like unto youth in his white lawn sleeves,
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And says the Land it is full, full, full,
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too full of Rebels worse then Theeves:
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The Citys full of poverty, the French are full of pride
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Fanaticks full of envy which order cant abide
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And the Userers bags are full beside.
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Hark how Bellonas Drums they do beat
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methinks it goes ratling through the Town,
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Hark how they thunder through the street
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as tho they would shake the Chimbneys down,
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Then comes in Mars the great God of War
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And bids us face about and be as we were
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But when I awakt I sate in my Chair.
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Finis
Printed by J. Lock for J. Clark at the Harp and Bible in West -Smith-field. With Allowance
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