The Forlorn LOVER
DECLARING HOW
A LASS gave her LOVER three Slips for a Tester,
And Married another a Week before EASTER;
To a pleasant New Tune.
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A Week before Easter,
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the Days long and clear,
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So bright is the Sun,
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and so cool is the air.
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I went into the Forrest,
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some flowers to find there,
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And the forrest would yield me no posies
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The wheat and the rye,
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that groweth so green,
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The hedges and trees,
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in their several coats,
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Small birds do sing,
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in their changeable notes,
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But here groweth no straw-berries or rosies
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I went into a Meadow,
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some time for to spend:
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And to come back again
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did fully intend;
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But as i came back?
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I met with a Friend,
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and 'twas love was the cause of my mourn-ing
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I lov'd a fair Lady,
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this many a Day:
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And now to requite me;
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she's Marry'd away:
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Here she hath left me
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in sorrow to stay,
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But now I begin to consider.
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I loved her dear.
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and i loved her well?
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I hated those People,
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that spoke of her ill,
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Many one told me:
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what she did say
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Yet I would hardly believe 'em
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But when I did hear:
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my love was in the Church,
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I went out of my seat,
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and sat in the Porch,
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I found i should falsly
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be left in the lurch,
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and thou't that my heart would have broken
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But when I did see,
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my love to the Church go?
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With all her Bride-Maidens,
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they made such a show,
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I laught in conceit,
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but my heart was full low
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to see how highly she was regarded
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But when I saw my Love,
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in the Church stand,
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Gold Ring on her finger,
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well seal'd with a hand,
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He had so endu'd her
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with house and with Land,
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that nothing but Death can them sever
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But when the Bride-maidens,
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were having her to bed,
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I stept in amongst them,
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and kissed the Bride,
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And wished to have been,
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laid by her side:
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and by that means I got me a favour
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When she was laid in bed,
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[drest up in white,]
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My eyes gusht with water,
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that drowned my sight:
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I put of my hat,
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and bid all goodnight,
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and adieu my fair sweeting forever
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Oh! dig me a Grave:
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that is wide large and deep,
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With a Root at my head,
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and another at my feet,
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There i will lye,
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and take a long sleep
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And so bid her farewell forever,
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She plithted her faith,
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to be my fair Bride,
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And now at last hath:
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me falsly depriv'd,
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I'll leave off my wrath
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and Wish God be my Guide,
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To save me from such another.
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I pity her case,
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much more than my own,
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That she would embrace,
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and Joyn hands in one;
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Whilst I am her true Love,
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and daily do groan,
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My sorrows i cannot smother,
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Tho' marriage hath bound her,
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she is much to blame,
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and tho' he hath found her,
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her Husband I am,
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Hereafter 'twill wound her
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that she put me to shame,
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When conscience shall be her accuser
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Two husband's she hath
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by this wild miscarriage:
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The one by a Contract
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the other by Marriage,
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She doth her whole Family,
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grosly disparage,
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but yet i'll not plot to misuse her
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Beware all you young men,
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of Arts or of Trades,
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Chuse warily when:
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you meet with such Maids,
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You'd better live single,
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alone in the shades,
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Then to love such an abuser.
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