The Undutiful
Daughter of Devonshire:
OR,
The careful Kind indulgent Fathers Entreaties for her to forsake her
Lover a Spend-thrift, and to Embrace a Farmers hopeful Son.
The Tune is, How can I be Merry or Glad. Licensed according to Order.
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BEhold I am an Aged Man,
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who have one Youthful Daughter dear;
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And yet let me take what care I can,
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she'll not to my Counsel once give ear.
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I love her as I do my Life,
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for her I take a Constant Care;
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Therefore I'd not have her make a Wife,
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for him that should bring her to Dispair.
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Having one Daughter, and no more,
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she should a Loving Father find;
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I'll give her both Gold and Silver store,
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if she would but marry to my mind.
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But she has set her Love on one,
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who is a Man of mean degree:
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And tho I have School'd her still alone,
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she'll not in the least be rul'd by me.
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He is a Spend-thrift Gaming Blade,
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that Roams abroad both far and near;
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And therfore as I have often said,
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there's nothing but ruine does appear.
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I tell her this with melting Eyes,
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and beg of her to take good heed;
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Yet she does my Counsel still despise,
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which causes my Aged heart to bleed.
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I tell her of the Pains and Care,
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which I have took for what I have;
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And therefore I think it is not fair,
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to Spend it upon a Crafty Knave.
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In Taverns will he Rant and Roar,
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and e'ry lew'd Companion feast;
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And when he has quite Consum'd her store,
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he'll never regard her in the least.
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She knows that he delights to Game,
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and does of folly take his fill;
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Yet this will not in the least reclaim,
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her obstinate Disobdient will.
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Alas! she is my Darling dear,
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this day alive I have no more;
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Therefore I would have her flourish here,
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and live as her Mother has done before.
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She is I find so stubborn grown,
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that what I have she will not Prize;
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For I declare I will hold my own,
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she Values not that in the least she cryes.
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Nay, was he but an honest Man,
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in whom I might some hope behold;
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I'd never deny him, for I can
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give with her three Hundred Pounds in Gold
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'Tis true, three Hundred Pounds, they may
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be thought a portion mean and small
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Yet I think it too much to throw away
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on one that will Piss it against the Wall.
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Besides, when I this world shall leave,
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her Lot will then full larger be:
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The rest of my Treasure she'll then receive,
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for why I can give it to none but she.
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Again I'll to my Daughter go,
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where like a Father and a Friend,
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I'll Court her to let this Spend-thrift go,
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why should she with sorrow my heart offend?
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And if she does my Counsel take,
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I have a Farmers Son in store
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Who will a kind loving Husband make.
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and does her fair beautiful Charms adore.
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