A New Ballad; declaring the Excellent Parable of the Prodigal Child.
To the Tune of, The wanton Wife.
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THere was a grave man, both wealthy and wise
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Two Sons had both proper and tall.
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The elder was very proper and very precise,
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The other to wildness did wholly incline,
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his Parents therefore,
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was grieved full sore,
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And mighty displeasure against him they bore,
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young men remember delights are but vain,
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and after sweet pleasure comes sorrow & pain.
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This lusty brave youngster that lived at ease,
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And never had tasted the temper of care,
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Quoth he, if my doings your mind do displease,
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Then give me my portion that falls to my share,
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then ye shall not be,
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long troubled with me,
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Yet will I live gallant and pleasant, quoth he,
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young men, etc.
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Oh, quoth his Parents, you wicked lewd Lad,
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What will become of thee where thou shalt go;
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Seeing thy government it is so bad,
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But misery and beggery upon thee shall grow,
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quoth he if I knew,
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that this would be true,
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Be sure I would never make moan unto you,
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young men, etc.
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His Parents that saw him put him to flight,
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Paid him his portion without all delay:
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Saying, good Sir, I pray take your flight,
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I mean not quoth he, in your presence to stay,
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but now I will see
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each forraign Countrey,
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And view the world what fashions there be,
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young men, etc.
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Thus in his jollity he rides along,
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And in his apparel most sumptuous and brave,
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To view this brave gallant much people did throng,
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Where he like a Prince himself did behave,
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yea honoured was he,
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with cap and with knee,
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And at his command the proudest now be,
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young men, etc.
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With musick each morning his ears they had fed,
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Of gold and silver he maketh no spare,
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With flattering speeches away he was led,
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His body is fed with delicate fare:
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what he doth require,
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he hath at his desire,
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But such as want money may lye in the mire,
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young men, etc.
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Proper fine women of beauty most bright,
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Do strive for his favour and friendship each day,
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They call him their honey, their joy and delight,
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They kiss him, they cull him and wantonly play,
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they swear till they dye,
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though falsly they lye,
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He shall be their sweet-heart and pritty pigs-nye,
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young men, etc.
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Some gave him handkerchiefs, some gave him rings
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Some strewd his windows with flowers so sweet,
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Some to delight him both dances and sings,
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Some with Rose-water doth wash his feet,
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and what shall I say,
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they took him away,
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They woo him & do him what kindness they may,
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young men, etc.
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Thus with their allurements, their winks, and their wiles
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They used to bewitch this prodigal boy:
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He buys with gold angels their kisses and smiles,
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And stores them with every new fangle and toy,
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he buys them new Gowns,
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and many fair pounds,
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In white-wine & sugar amongst them he drowns,
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young men, etc.
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When he had upon them thus wasted his wealth,
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Consumed his substance, his treasure and store,
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Yea, crackt all his credit with hazard of health,
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That he could banquet these Minions no more,
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with words of dispight,
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they fly from his sight,
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They call him base Rascal, forsaking him quite,
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young men remember delights are but vain,
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and after sweet pleasure comes sorrow & pain.
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The second Part, shewing the great misery he endured, being constrained through hunger, to
eat with the Hogs, and how his merciful Father received him again.
To the same Tune.
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THen was he brought to misery great,
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His garments all ragged and torn you might see
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His body neer starved for want of good meat
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His cloaths out at elbows, his hose broke at knee:
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and in his distress,
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he knew no redress,
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His harlots spit at him in his heaviness,
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Young men remember delights are but vain,
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And after sweet pleasure comes sorrow and pain.
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Then bitterly mourning he went up and down,
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To get him a Master that he might dine:
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At length a rich Citizen dwelling in town,
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Sends him to the Country to keep all his swine,
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whose hunger was great,
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for want of good meat,
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He sat him down by the Hogs, husks for to eat:
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Young-men, etc.
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And as by the Hogs he was feeding a pace,
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With many a sigh and sob he did say,
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Now I am brought to a pittiful case.
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Alack that my Parents I did disobey,
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their servants at home,
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the very worst Groom,
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Have meat and drink plenty and here I have none,
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Young men, etc.
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Wherefore to my father again I will go,
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Asking him forgiveness for my lewd life,
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Shewing to him my grief and my woe.
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Reputing my folly that it set at strife:
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then straight the same day,
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he taketh his way,
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And came to his fathers in raged array,
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Young men, etc.
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With bitter mourning he falls on his knee,
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Saying, dear father forgive what is done,
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For I have offended Christ Jesus and thee,
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Unworthy I am to be called thy son:
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yet do not disdain,
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to take me again,
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As one of thy servants to take any pain;
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Young men, etc.
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With that the tears fell from his fathers eyes,
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With joy and gladness they flew full fast,
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He kissed his son, and bid him arise,
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Saying I have found my child that was lost,
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with garments full gay,
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he did him array,
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And killed a fat calf to honour that day,
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young men, etc.
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And gently led him by the hand,
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Great joy and melody there was made;
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But when his eldest brother did understand
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The truth of every thing that hath been said,
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full angry was he,
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when this he did see,
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His prodigal brother thus honoured would be,
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young men, etc.
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And to his father thus he did speak,
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Long have I served thee and many a day,
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And thy commandements never did break,
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But all my Life long I did thee obey;
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yet never found I,
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such great courtesie
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As this wretched unthrift that let his wealth flye,
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young men, etc.
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O, quoth his Father, consider my Son,
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All that I have one day shall be thine,
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Then do not grudge at what I have done,
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Nor at thy poor brother do thou repine;
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for he was lost plain,
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but is found again,
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He was dead, but now is risen again,
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young men, etc.
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This worthy Parable Christ he did tell,
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Unto the comforters of Christians each one,
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Although by our wickedness we do rebel,
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Yet by true repentance our Father of Heaven
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doth pitty our case
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receiving us to grace,
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In joys everlasting with him to take pain,
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young men remember delights are but vain,
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and after sweet pleasures come sorrow & pain.
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