EBBA 33835
National Library of Scotland - Crawford
Ballad XSLT Template
THE REDEEMED CAPTIVE.
The Free Unchaind Lover boasts
That he is now at Large.
That other men should keep so too
He gives this friendly charge.
Tune, When Aurelia first was
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SUrely now Im out of danger
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Il defie blind Cupids Dart
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Love to me is grown a stranger
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Therefore ile not break my heart.
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Yet all the graces of their faces
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They may keep, since I am free
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Some are witty, some are pretty
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For Il keep my Liberty.
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Once I lovd my Mistriss dearly
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Counting her my chiefest friend
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Then I waited late and early
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My true Love to recommend.
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I quencht the fire of desire
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That did burn so cruelly
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Then farwel Beauty, tis my duty
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For to prize my Liberty.
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Once to me she was so cruel
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She laught to see me swim in blood
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And when I burnd I burn[]d like fuel
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Grief came on me like a flood,
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Sighs & groanings, sobs & mournings
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Were my chief companions still
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When I lay panting, for love wanting
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Then she had me at her will
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The grief and sorrow I went thorow
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Made my life a burthen seem
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I thought twas time, while in my prime
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My Liberty for to redeem.
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Im now compliance, with defiance
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And scorn a captive still to be
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No charming eyes shall me surprize
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Since I have gaind my Liberty.
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I pitty Lovers who discovers
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To their Idols all their pain
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Who soon can cure, what they endure
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And yet they stubborn will remain.
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Count it not duty, when a beauty
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You do see, it to adore
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If once they find it, do but mind it
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Your enslavd for evermore.
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Do but mind me, & youl find me
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For to be your chiefest friend
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When yor taken, and forsaken
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Griefs and sorrows will attend.
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Oft their smilings prove beguilings
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And poor men are strangely caught
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They prove like Treason to your reason
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And lay Embargoes on each thought.
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Never heed em, for your freedome
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Is of greater value, then
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Why should women, captive freemen
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Or make slaves of loving men.
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Dote no more then, nor adore them
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Whose great beautis make them proud
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Do but fly them, or defie them
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Favours on you they will croud.
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