The TURKEY FACTOR
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BEHOLD heres a ditty, 'tis true and no jest,
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Concerning a young gentleman in the East,
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Who by his much gaming came to poverty,
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And afterwards went many a voyage to sea.
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Being well educated, and one of much wit,
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Three merchants of London did think fit
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To make him their captain and factor also,
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And he on a voyage to Turkey did go.
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And walking along the streets he found
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A mans carcass lying upon the ground.
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He askd the reason why there did he lie
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Then one of the natives made him this reply.
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This man was a Christian, sir, when he drew breath;
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His duties not paid, he lies above earth.
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Then what are the duties, the factor cryd,
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Just fifty pounds, sir, the Turk replyd.
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That is a large sum, said the factor indeed,
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But to see him thus lie makes my heart to bleed;
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So then by the factor this money was paid.
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And then under the earth his carcass was laid.
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When having gone farther, he chanced to spy,
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A beautiful creature just going to die;
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A young waiting lady that strangled must be,
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For nothing but striking a Turkish lady.
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To think of her dying with dread she was filld,
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And rivers of tears like waters distill'd.
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Like a stream or fountain they did flow down
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Her rosy cheeks, and thence to the ground.
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Hearing the crime, he to end the strife,
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Said, What must I give to save her life?
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The answer was five hundred pounds;
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Which for her pardon he fairly put down.
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He said, Fair creature, from weeping refain,
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And be of comfort; thou shalt not be slain.
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Behold I have purchas[']d thy pardon, wilt thee
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Consent to go to England with me?
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She said, sir, you have freed me from death,
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I am bound to love you while I have breath.
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And if you request it, to England Ill go,
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And my respects to you ever will shew.
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HE brought her to London, and as 'tis said,
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He set up house-keeping, and she was his maid,
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There to wait on him and finding her just
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With the keys of his riches did her intrust.
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At length this brave factor was hired once more,
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To cross the seas where the billows do roar,
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When into the country he was to steer,
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Which by her father was governd we hear:
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Being a hot country, this maid did repair
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To get fine robes for the country wear.
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He bought a silk waistcoat, which I am told
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His button holes flowerd with silver and gold,
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She said to him, Master, I do understand
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You are going factor unto such a land.
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And if that princes court you do enter in,
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Be sure this flowerd garment be seen.
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He said, to that princes court I must go.
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The meaning of thy words I long for to know.
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Sir, there art some reasons which you will find.
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With that he said, I will fulfill thy mind.
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Then away he sail'd, and arrived at the port.
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The factor came to the emperors court.
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It was the usual cust[o]m of the place,
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To present some noble gift unto his grace.
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His gift was accepted, and as they stood nigh,
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On his flowerd garment the prince cast an eye,
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Which made him colour, and thus he did say,
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Who flowerd that garment tell me, I pray?
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[P]lease your grace, my last voyage was to Turkey,
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Where I saw a damsel so strangled must be,
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And to save her life I gave five hundred pounds,
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And took her with me to fair London-town.
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[She] is my house-keeper while Im in this land,
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And [w]hen of my coming she did understand,
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[?]d this robe, giving charge to me,
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[That it] might be seen by your majesty.
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The prince said, Behold the robe I wear,
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Tis of the same colour and sport I declare
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The maid who workt both is my daughter dear,
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I have not heard of her these two years.
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For loss of my child whom I thought dead.
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A well full of tears in my court as been shed.
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My p[rincess] her mother and me cannot rest,
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Her loss brought a million of sighs from her breast.
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Thy ship shall be richly laden with speed,
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And Ill [?]d a ship for thy convey indeed;
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Because th[ou] didst save my daughters life.
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If thou bring her home she shall be thy wife.
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And if thou dost not live to bring her to me,
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The man who brings her shall her bridegroom be.
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And ten thousand pounds a year he shall have,
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Therefore be careful her life to save.
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The ship was laden, and the anchor weigd,
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When he and his convoy came over the main.
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To fair London-city, and home he did go,
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And gave the princess those tidings to know.
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H[e] said, noble lady, I have good news to tell,
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The prince your father, and mother are well
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And your noble parents this thing have design'd,
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In the band of wedlock we both must be joind.
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Perhaps, dear princess, you will not agree,
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To wed with a poor man, especially me,
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Sir, were you but a beggar I will be your wife.
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Because: When just dying you saved my life.
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I neer shall forget the true token of love;
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[?]to him, Master, I do understand,
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And [?]e 'tis to orderd Im pleased, I vow,
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And Im glad my father this thing doth allow;
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Sell of all the goods you have in store,
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And give all the money you have to the poor.
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Come let us be jogging with speed over the main,
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For I long to see my dear parents again.
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The thing was done, and they saild away,
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In the ship her father sent for a convoy.
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But hark what happend on the ocean wide,
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Forto rob the factor of his sweet bride.
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The captain who carryd them over the deep.
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One night as the factor did lie asleep,
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Being under sail, overboard did him throw,
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And said, I shall have the princess I know.
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There happend to be a small island at hand.
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To which he did swim, as we understand;
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Where we will leave him awhile for to mourn,
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And unto the ship again well return.
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Next morning as soon as day light did peep
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He awaked the princess out of her sleep.
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And said, Noble princess, the factor's not here,
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Hes fallen over board and drowned I fear.
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Being arrivd at the desird port,
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The princess went weeping to her fathers court.
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When both received her with joy and mirth,
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Saying, Wheres the man that freed you from death?
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The captain said, As he was asleep,
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He fell overboard, and was lost in the deep.
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You said, the man who her home did bring,
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Should have her, I hope youll perform the thing.
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Yes, that was the promise, the father replyd;
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What sayest thou, wil thou be his his bride?
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She cryed, yes, father, but first, if you please,
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For him who savd me Ill mourn forty days.
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Then into close mourning this princess she went
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The loss of her friend with tears did lament;
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Where we will leave her to mourn awhile,
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And turn to the factor, who was on the isle.
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IN the desart island the factor lay,
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In floods of tears weeping night and day
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At length there appeared in his view,
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A little old man padding in a canoe.
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The factor called, which made him stay,
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And drawing near to him, the old man did say,
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How camst thou here I then his eyes did flow,
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The cause of my sorrw you soon shall know.
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If thou wilt promise, and be true to me,
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For to give the first born unto me,
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When three months old, to the court I'll thee bring,
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And will not release thee without this thing.
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The factor considerd, that would cause grief;
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And without it, for him there was no relief,
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He said. Life is sweet, and my life to save,
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Bring me to court, thy request thou shalt have.
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Then he was brought to the palace, and when
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He came under the gate, he saw the princess there,
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Peeping out of a window she saw him there,
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Of all [?] thing [?]
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Her sorrowing to joy transported were.
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He unto the court with joy was received,
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His princess met him, Who for him grievd,
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And said, Dear jewel, the joy of my heart,
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Where hast thou been; why didst thou depart.
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Where he had been he soon did relate,
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And how he came to her fathers gate.
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He said, I was cast overboard in my sleep;
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I fancy the captain threw me in the deep.
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With that the captain was sent for with speed
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But hearing the factor was come indeed,
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To shew himself guilty, like a cruel knave,
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He jumpd into the sea, which provd his grave.
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Next day in great joy and [triumph], we find
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The factor and princess in marriage were joind
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And within the compass of two long year
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They had a son and daughter we hear.
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The first-born a son, a perfect beauty,
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Who was beloved by the whole family
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When three months old came the man for the child
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Who released the factor from the desert isle.
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When the father saw him the tears did flow,
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Then he gave his father and mother to know,
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He was forced to make that promise, or to die
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With hungar, as he in the desart did lie,
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With a grim look this old man appears,
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Which made him trmble with great fears,
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Crying, what shall we do; this is the man,
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He will have our darling do all that we can.
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He said, This is your promise, Ill have my boy,
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Theres one babe for me, and another for you;
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Ill have the first-born, come give it to me.
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With that the whole family, wept bitterly:
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The mother said, I am grievd to the heart,
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To think we so soon from our darlings must part.
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To one who may take it the lord knows where,
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And perhaps our darling in pieces will tear.
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Then she embracd it, and the tears fell,
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And having kissd it, bid it farewell.
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Saying, For the sake of my husband and I
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We part with our first-born, tho for it we die.
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Then the grim ghost to her husband did say,
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Sir don't you remember in Turkey one day
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You saw a dead body lying on the ground,
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And to have it buryd you gave fifty pound.
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Sir, I am the spirit of that dead body;
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I saved your life for the love shown to me.
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He said, Keep the child, and the Lord bless you.
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Then away he vanished out of the hall.
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So then the kind prince and princess likewise,
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And the babes parents, with tears in their eyes
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With joy embraced their darling son,
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Crying, Had you left us we had been undone.
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Now well leave the courting and join,
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To love each other while God gives them breath,
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And now by the factor we may see indeed,
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No man can prevent what the fates have agreed.
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