The Covetous Mother,
Or, The terrible Overthrow of
Two Loyal Lovers.
You that these woful tydings hear,
surely your hearts may bleed;
Who can forbear to shed a tear,
when they these lines shall read?
Tune of, O so ungrateful a creature.
This may be printed, R.P.
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THere was a wealthy young Squire,
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whom a fair Damosel did love;
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Nay, and it was so intire,
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nothing his fancy could move:
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She born of ordinary Parents.
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which when his Friends this did know,
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They strove to set them at variance,
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proving their sad overthrow.
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Son, said his indulgent Mother,
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may you now listen to me;
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I have consider'd another
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suitable to your degree;
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That you may rise to promotion,
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she is both virtuous and fair,
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Two thousand pound to her Portion;
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therefore your folly forbear.
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Mother, those Charms does inflame me
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which in my Dear I behold;
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Therefore I pray do not blame me,
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True Love is better than Gold.
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Might I have Wealth out of measure,
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nothing my mind can remove;
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I'le never marry for Treasure,
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give me the Creature I love.
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I can maintain like a Lady
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she whom I much do adore;
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Have I not Riches already?
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what need I covet for more?
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If you give me not one penny,
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I have a Hundred a Year:
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Now if I marry with any,
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it shall be Nancy my Dear.
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Son, if your Love be so rooted
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that from her you cannot part,
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By me it shan't be disputed,
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take her then with all my heart.
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But she in this was deceitful,
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as by this Ditty you'l find,
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Never was action more hateful,
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Malice remain'd in her mind.
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Straight she repair'd to this Creature,
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vowing to send her away;
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Yet with a smile she did meet her,
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saying, dear Daughter this day
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We will go buy your Attire,
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everything i'le provide;
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'Tis my unfeigned desire,
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that you shall be my Sons Bride.
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Thus was the matter contrived,
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just as his Mother would have;
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Then to a Captain in private
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she sold her to be a Slave:
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She from Old England did send her,
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fill'd with much sorrow and woe;
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There was no Soul to defend her,
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but was compelled to go.
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When her invention was over,
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then she return'd to her Son,
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Freely to him to discover,
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presently what she had done:
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When he heard what she had acted,
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his Rapier straight he pull'd forth.
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Ravlike one quite distracted,
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crying, you've ruin'd us both.
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Then on the point of his Rapier
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he did immediately fall;
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His Life did go out like a Taper,
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this was the ruine of all.
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His Mother more than uncivil,
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was of a covetous mind:
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Money the Root of all evil
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caus'd this confusion we find.
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Now does his Mother with weeping
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weary out many a day;
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While her dear Son he lies sleeping
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low in a cold Bed of Clay.
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This is a sad Desolation,
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she whom he much did adore,
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Now is sent far from the Nation,
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where she will ne'r see him more.
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