The lamentation of a bad Market,
OR,
The Drownding of three Children on the Thames.
With this fantastick Tragy Comedy,
Tis like that one or other pleas'd will be;
Because the Method carries Mirth there[i]n,
Or else the Subject were not worth a pin:
Howe're you'l say it is no laughing matter,
To see poor Children Drowned in the Water.
Tune of, The Ladies Fall.
With Allowance.
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SOme Christian people all give ear,
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unto the grief of us,
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Caus'd by the death of three children dear,
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the which it happned thus.
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And eke there befell an accident,
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by fault of a Carpenters Son,
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Who to saw chips, his sharp Axe lent,
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woe worth the time may Lon.
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May London say woe worth the Carpenter,
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and all such Block-head fools,
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Would he were hang'd like Serpent here,
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for jesting with edg'd Tools.
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For into the chips there fell a Spark,
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which put out in such flames,
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That it was known into Southwark,
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which lies beyond the Thames.
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For loe the Bridge was wondrous high,
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with water underneath;
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O're which as many Fishes flye,
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as Birds therein do breath.
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And yet the fire consum'd the bridge,
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not far from place of landing,
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And though the building was full big,
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it fell down not with standing.
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And eke into the water fell,
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so many Pewter Dishes,
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That a man might take up very well,
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both boil'd and roasted Fishes.
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And thus the Bridge of London Town,
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for building that was sumptuous,
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Was all by fire half burnt down,
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for being too contumptious.
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Thus you have all, but half my Song,
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pray list to what comes after,
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For now I have cool'd you with the fire,
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i'le warm you with the water.
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Ile tell you what the Rivers name is,
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where these children did slide-a:
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It was fair Londons silver Thames,
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that keeps both time and Tide-a.
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All on the tenth of January,
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to the wonder of much people,
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Twas frozen o're, that well 'twould bear,
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almost a Country Steeple.
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Three children sliding thereabouts,
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upon a place too thin,
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That so at last it did fall out,
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that they did all fall in.
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A gallant that was standing near,
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a willing wager makes,
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But when he saw it would not bear,
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he would have drawn his stakes.
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He said 'twould bear a man to slide,
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and laid a hundred pound:
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The other said 'twould break, so it did,
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for three children there were drown'd.
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Of which ones head was from his Should-
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ers stricken, whose name was John,
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Who then cry'd out as loud as he could,
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O Lon, O Lon, a London.
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Oh, Tut, Tut, Turn from thy sinful race,
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thus did his speech decay,
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I wonder that in such a case,
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he had no more to say.
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And thus being drown'd, alack, alack,
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the water run down their throats,
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And stopt their breaths 3 hours by the clock,
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before they could get any Boats.
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Ye Parents all that children have,
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and ye that have none yet,
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Preserve your children from the grave,
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and teach them at home to sit.
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For had these at a Sermon been,
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or else upon dry ground,
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Why then I would have never been seen,
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if that they had been drown'd.
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Even as a Huntsman tyes his dogs,
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for fear they should go fro him,
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So tye your children with strict clogs,
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unty um and you'l undo um.
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Let Maids and Nurses lye in wait,
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and watch them to a tittle,
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Because your grief will be full great,
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to have them dye so little.
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A Story you have heard is call'd,
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The Children in the Wood.
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Although the Subjects both are bad,
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yet this may be as good.
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And now for to conclude at last,
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I with all others may,
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Be careful of their children dear,
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for fear they go astray.
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