The KENTISH Garland.
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GOOD People now I pray give Ear,
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and also true Attention.
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Unto these Lines which you shall hear,
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and Words which I shall mention.
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Within this Book as I shall write,
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as true it is reported,
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How a young Squire ruin'd quite
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a Damsel whom he courted.
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She was his Father's Servant-Maid,
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and Daughter to a Brazier,
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He often would her Heart invade,
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at every turn and leisure.
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With all the Arguments of Love,
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which Passion might discover,
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Protesting to the Powers above,
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how dearly he did love her.
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With modest Blushes she reply'd,
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sir, pray stop your Proceeding,
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For I am no ways qualify'd,
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neither for Birth nor Breeding.
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You can have Choise of Ladies gay,
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from noble Loins descended,
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Therefore let me alone I pray,
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your Friends will be offended.
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Well met, the Jewel of my Heart,
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fear not my Friends Displeasure,
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Let who will frown I'll take thy Part,
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I love thee out of Measure.
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No one that's born of noble Blood
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doth stand within my Favour.
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I honour thee, with what is good,
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for you I love forever.
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With modest Blushes she reply'd,
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sir, stop those fond Pretences,
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For if your Friends should it know,
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then they would be offended.
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Discourse to me of Love no more,
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but strive to please your Parents,
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I'd rather wed with one that's poor,
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then wed to live at Variance.
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Farewel the Jewel of my Heart,
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fear not my Friends Displeasure;
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Let who will frown, I'll take thy Part,
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I'll love thee out of Measure.
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Therefore cheer up, my lovely Dear,
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if Parents they should slight me,
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Till I my Breath and Life resign,
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dear Jewel I will right thee.
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Kind Sir, you promise more to me,
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than can be now expected;
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While you possess such Riches store,
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then Love may be perfected;
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Eut if your Parents should now stand
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against you with Denial,
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To disinherit you of all,
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then there will come the Trial.
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That is the worst which they can do,
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let them use their Pleasure:
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I must be loyal, just and true,
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and love thee out of Measure.
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If they would wrong their darling Son,
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for such a poor Transgression,
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Then les them go, when that is done
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I have a large Possession.
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The which was left to me of late,
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by a near Relation.
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Let Father frown, and Mother hate,
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I'm in a happy Station:
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Therefore cheer up my dearest Dear,
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if Parents should disdain us:
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I hope two thousand Pounds a Year,
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will modestly maintain us.
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These Arguments and many more
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he used to obtain her.
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She gave Consent to wed, wherefore
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there's none alive can blame her.
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For she was made his lawful Wife,
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by their protested Marriage,
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But soon she lost her precious Life,
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by his ungrateful Carriage.
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Unknown to Friends and Parents dear,
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this Couple they were wedded,
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And in the space of half a Year
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after they both were bedded.
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It seems she proved young with Child,
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her looks began to shew it,
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Until his Friends were reconcil'd,
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be would not let them know it.
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But up to famous London Town,
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immediately he brought her,
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And to behave with modesty
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and Decency he taught her.
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Much like a youthful Lady gay,
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she seem'd, all in her Beauty;
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And while he with her there did stay,
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he shew'd a Husband's Duty.
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As they were charm'd with mutual Love,
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which for a Season lasted;
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At length they heard a dismal Noise,
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which all their Pleasure blasted.
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His Parents came to understand,
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by private Information,
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That he had Lodgings in the Strand,
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and fill'd with Recreation.
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They sent a Letter full of Wrath,
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and threatn'd her with Ruin,
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Which he receiv'd, whilst she stood by,
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and at the same stood viewing.
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Tears from his Eyes did flow amain,
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she asked him the Reason:
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Said he, my Friends do me disdain.
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They both wept for a Season.
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She read these Lines as well as he,
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and found them harsh and cruel:
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Said she, my Dear be kind to me,
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be kind my dearest Jewel,
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Let me not suffer for thy sake,
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consider my Condition.
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For if you don't, my Heart will break,
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it was not my Ambition
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To be a Lady, well you know,
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long e'er I consented.
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Why do they seem to threaten so?
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I strove for to prevent it:
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But now I am your lawful Wife,
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which you was pleas'd to make me,
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Your smiles perhaps may save my Life,
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I die if you forsake me.
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He took her by the Hand, and said,
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my dear, my Joy and Sweeting,
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Within our Lodgings pray abide,
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till our next happy Meeting.
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With Kisses sweet and solemn Vows,
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they from each other parted,
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But Grief appeared on her Brows,
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for she was broken-hearted.
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He promised to take her Part,
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and certainly excuse her,
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To Father, nay, and Mother too,
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that they might not abuse her:
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To make the Matter fair and clear,
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and in all Cases clear her.
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He went, but ne'er return'd again,
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and never more came near her.
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But when she came unto the Town,
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they told her he was marry'd,
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To a young Lady of Renown,
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with Grief she then miscarried.
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But when his Parents came to find,
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that she was with their Neighbour,
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To whom she did her Conscience clear,
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within the Time of Labour.
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They threatned her with Banishment,
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for tricking of the Squire,
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But fatal Death did them prevent,
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for she did soon expire.
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But some Minutes before she died,
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in Friends and Neighbours hearing.
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She wrung her Hands, and weeping said,
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what is there no appearing?
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Will you not come near me then?
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oh! Husband most false-hearted,
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With just Revenge I'll haunt you when
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my wronged Soul's departed;
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Accordingly as she had said,
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within three Nights after,
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Came to the Room where he laid
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the wronged Brazier's Daughter.
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When in the midst of their Joy,
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to their amazing Wonder,
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The Room was fill'd with dreadful Noise
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like roaring Claps of Thunder.
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To crown the stately marriage Bed,
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they saw a Flash of Fire,
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And heard a dismal Voice that said,
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oh! most ungrateful Squire.
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The lady that lies by your Side,
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she shall not long enjoy you,
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It was I that was your lawful Bride,
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just Vengeance must destroy you:
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Within her Arms like Ice or Clay,
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the Spirit did enfold him:
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By Force she took him quite away,
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his Lady could not hold him.
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She shriek'd and cry'd, but all in vain,
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for then the Spirit gave him
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That very Night his fatal Bane,
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there's none alive could save him.
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The Lady then rose up with speed,
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at this sad Consternation,
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Where on his Breast they plain did read
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These Words of Lamentation.
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In perfect Roman Letters blue,
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This Wretch was my Undoing,
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He being false, has brought me to
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my Death and utter Ruin.
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For making me his lawful Wife,
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the Deed he then to smother:
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And for the cursed golden Prize,
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he married with another.
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His faithless Tongue seduc'd my Soul,
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and easily deceiv'd me,
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His perjur'd Words pierced my Heart,
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and of my Life bereav'd me.
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Leaving his Wife and Child to fall,
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a sacrifice together.
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He makes a third that caused ill,
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so now farewel together.
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