The False Lover Rewarde[d]
To the Tune of, My Love she does slight me etc.
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YOung Men and Maids I pray give Ear,
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While you this sad Relation hear;
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The like before was [ne]ver know,
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As to the World is clearly shown.
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Both rich and poor, both old and young,
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I would have you observe this Song,
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And never once prove false in Love,
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Nor at the least disloyal prove.
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In Bullenlick Town a Man doth dwell,
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Who had a Wife he loved well;
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By her he had a Daughter fair,
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Which was their Joy and only Care.
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A Farmers Son that lived by,
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On this fair Maid did cast an Eye:
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He courted her both Day and Night,
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And in her placd his whole Delight.
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And if I the the Truth must tell,
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This Maiden lovd the Farmer well,
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Her Parents likewise did agree,
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That this young Man their Son should be.
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This young Man was of honest Fame,
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And Mr Small it was his name,
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He had a very good Estate,
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But Love it was his cruel Fate.
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For it did chance upon a Day,
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This young Man to the Maid did say;
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He feard that she should change her Mind,
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And to another Man be kind.
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Which if you do, my Love, said he,
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Will break my Heart immediately,
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My Faith is firm, my Love is true,
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I wish to find the like by you.
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This Maiden fair she did reply,
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Unto her Love immediately!
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May some just Judgement fall on me,
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If ever I prove false to thee.
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And may this be my fatal Doom,
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Some hideous Monster from my Womb,
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I wish soon after I may bring forth,
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If eer I break my Faith and Troth.
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If I another Man do wed,
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Or break the Vows that I have made,
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May I a sad Example be,
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To young and old of each Degree.
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But oh! At last with Grief, I say,
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She did this constant Heart betray,
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For she did soon disloyal prove,
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And entertaind another Love.
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Before two Months were past away,
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One Thomas Goodings, as they say,
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A wealthy Man from Clapthorne came,
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Who likd and lovd this charming Dame.
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Her Parents then for worldly Gain,
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Did this new Lover entertain,
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And promised she should be his Wife,
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Which caused all this daily Strife
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This when her first true Lover did hear.
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Causd him to shed many a Tear;
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Then meeting this ungrateful Maid,
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With mournful Sighs these Words he said.
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Remember, O my Love, said he,
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What mighty things you promisd me;
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Remember all the Vows, my Dear,
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If you have any Grace or Fear.
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This Maid unto her Love did say,
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My Parents Will I must obey:
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Besides, twill better be for me,
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For Goodings hath more Wealth than thee.
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With Sobs and Tears he Home did hie,
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And took his Bed immediately,
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And there he lay in wretched Case,
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For her that had so little Grace.
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Immortal Powers I beg, said he,
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That you will be so kind to me,
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Pour down your Vengeance from above.
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And punish my ungrateful Love.
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When he in Tears these Words did speak,
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Then with a Groan his Heart did break,
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Great Pity such a Man as he,
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Should die for such a graceless Soul as she.
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Goodings enjoyd his fair young Wife,
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And likewise prizd her as his Life;
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And all his Hopes they were beguild,
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For a Twelvemonth she wasnt w Child.
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At length with Child she then did shew,
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And daily bigger she did grow;
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The other Women go but months nine,
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She went two Months beyond that Time.
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Sure such a Wonder neer was known,
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As I this Time shall treat upon;
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Yet tho its strange. its likewise true,
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As I shall here declare to you
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For when Eleven Months were past,
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She fell in Travail at the last:
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For full three Weeks, as I hear say,
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She was pained both Night and Day.
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She was di[l]ivered as they say,
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On February the seventh Day:
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It was a strange mishapen Thing,
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Which she into the World did bring.
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It was shapd and bristild like a Hog,
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Did snort and bark like any Dog;
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Its Tail down to the Ground it hung
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And prickd its Ears seven Inches long
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Like a Monkey was the Head and Face
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Which movd the People in the Place,
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To see the strange and dismal Sight,
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As neer befoee was brought to Light.
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The People wondered for to see,
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Such an amazing Tragedy,
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And all that saw it was afraid,
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The Midwife she was sore dismayd
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For it did bite her through the Hand,
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And it upon two Feet did stand
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It had four Feet and run likewise
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Which put the Neighbours in Surprize.
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It in its Mother[]s Face did fly,
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But some good People put it by
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Or it had quickly took her Life,
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Which caused all this deadly Strife
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They sent for Mr Brooks indeed.
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Preacher of Clapthorne Church with Speed,
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Doctor Watson, and Hickman too,
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They came this Monster for to view.
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These Gentlemen did glaring stand,
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And in Amaze held up their Hands,
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Asking the Mother for to tell,
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How she conceivd this Monster fell.
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Gods Judgments now are fallen on me
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Which I deservd indeed said she;
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For I have broke my Vows indeed,
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And made a tender Heart to bleed,
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I Oaths and Vows, and Wishes made,
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Till I an honest Man betrayd;
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And now indeed I am rightly servd,
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But not so well as I deservd.
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Dear Husband do not grieve for me,
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For none can lay the Blame on thee,
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No ones in Fault but only I,
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And therefore now for Mercy cry.
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Good Christian People pray for me
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And you good Ministers, said she,
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I beg you for my Soul to pray;
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For I do find my Strength decay.
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Good Lord have Mercy on my Soul,
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Pardon my Sin that are so foul;
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My Crimes are of a Scarlet Dye,
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Sure never one so bad as I,
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When she in Tears these Words had spoke,
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She yeilded to Deaths fatal Stroke:
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I hope this will a Warning be,
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To all that hear this Tragedy.
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