THE OLD WORLD
OR
It is far from the World that I have seen.
To be Sung to its own Proper new Tune.
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WHen Vesperus with Visage gray,
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Had darkned all our Hemispher,
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And Phoebus fled out of the way,
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Absenting all his beams so clear,
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I heard a Man of Seventie Year,
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With Sobs sore sighing from the splene,
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Saying as [?]fter you shall hear,
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Wheoe is the world that I have seen.
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The World of Lawtie, Love and Truth,
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Of Manhood, Might and Nobleness,
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The World of Pittie and of Rueth.
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The World of Perfect stedfastness?
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All were enclin'd to Soothfastness,
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For then Deceit could no Man mean,
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There was good Chear and Merriness,
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Into the World that I have seen.
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Then Dearth durst no ways show his Face,
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John Commonwealth was well maintain'd
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And Hospitalls in everie place,
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For sillie ones were then ordain'd,
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All Deadlie feeds were well preveen'd,
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By prudent Men which went between,
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Then were but few for Gold that groan'd
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Into the World that I have seen.
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The Golden world that might be call'd
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When wealth and welfare led the Dance;
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Then Marriage was not Bought nor Sold,
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Great Usurers made none alliance,
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If she was of Good Governance,
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For Gold they carried not a Prine.
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Now Money makes Good Ordinance,
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For by the World that I have seen.
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Now Malice, Murther, Dearth & cumber
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Overspreads our Country East and West,
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Guiltless Slaughter out of number,
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Judgement and Justice are supprest:
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The poor man daylie is opprest.
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And sport and play is counted Keen,
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A true man wors not where to rest,
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Alace the World that I have seen.
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Then Manhood went by Force and Might
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Who reaved was revng'd no wrong;
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None sought by Treason nor by Slight,
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To lye in wait his Foe to fang,
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Their Shearing Swords were not so long,
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And yet their Courage was Right keen,
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Their hardie Hearts were Stout & strong
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Into the World that I have seen.
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The ground was fertile with great encrase
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And Cattel kindlie brought forth Store;
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Now wealth forsooth doth fast Decrease,
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Pride, Povety, and Foul vain Glorie:
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And Riches lurk in Hole and Bore,
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Seditions daylie growing green,
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Assaults the Realm ay more and more,
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Far by tho World that I have seen.
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The Men had whole Preheminence,
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And Women were Obedient,
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The Commons knew no indigence,
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Nobles then Raised not their Rent,
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The Ground was Rich, the Heir content
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Great Hoords of Mony then have been,
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Now all that wealth away is went,
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And wheres the World that I have seen?
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The Temporal State stood well content,
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None longed for an Abacie.
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None sought to reave the Kirk her Rent
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That was Christs Garment thought to be
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The Judge left partialitie,
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And Lawyers sought no wrongous gain,
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The Session Banisht Briberie,
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Into the World that I have seen.
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Then Credit craved no Hand Writ,
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For height held out thro' he should pine,
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Promise sough not for to be free,
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And Honour would no wnyes decline:
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Faith and Friendship kept them full fine,
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And Honestie held Conscience clean,
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Kins-man strove not for Mine and thine,
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Oh where's the world that I have seen.
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Now worse & worse the world grows ay,
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No Betterment appears to be,
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The nearer hand the Latter day,
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The more mischief doth multiplie;
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O thou that reign'st in Persons Three,
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Whose Power doth all things contain,
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Grant us to rest in Peace with THEE
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From this worst world that e're was seen.
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