THE YOUNG
SHEPHERDESS
In Three PARTS.
1. How a young Merchant on a Down saw a Shepherd's Daughter, and for the sake of
her Beauty took her for his Wife, and staying with her two Nights, he then left her 30 Guineas
'till he come again. 2. How he kept a Miss and after Married forsook her, upon which, by
a false Letter this Harlot betray'd her with a Ruffian on a Down, who pretended to Murder
her, or to force her Chastity, and how she sav'd her Life and Honour thro' her Intercession
with Tears.3. The Merchant's return to his Wife, and being told of this sent the Harlot to
Bridewell, who being daily lash'd, to end her Sorrows destroy'd herself. Concluding with the
Merchant's Love to his Wife, and the Care of the Old Shepherd.
To the TUNE of, The Fisherman's Daughter.
PART I,
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YOU young men and damsels come draw near to me:
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And I will present you with a Tragedy:
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The like of which Pattern you scarce e'er did hear:
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It is of a Sheph[e]rd as will plain appear.
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This man he was poor and likewise very old:
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He had a young Daughter made of beautys mold:
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Tho' poorly descended so comely and wi[s]e:
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That few in the Country could her Parellize.
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Her Father be[i]ng old this Child took delight:
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In feedi[n]g his Flock from m[o]rning till night:
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With bottle of small Beer and Crust that was brown:
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She follow'd the Flock with content on the Down.
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Tho' daily expos'd to the Sun Wind and Rain:
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This young Damsels beauty wi[t]h her did remain
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It happen'd one day a young man riding by:
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Who on this fair beauty by chance cast an Eye.
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He was a young Merchant like one in amaze:
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U[p]on this fair Creature he stood and did gaze;
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He said comely Creature I needs must tell thee
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Thy beauty's deserving a Lady to be.
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I am a young Merchant if thou can'st me love:
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From this poor mean Station I will thee remove:
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My Father and I have five Ships on the Sea:
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And if thou can'st love me my bride thou shall be.
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Her answer was to him talk not so I pray:
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Sir leave off your Joaking and ride on your way:
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My Father's a Shepherd and Sir to be sure:
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I must be contented with one that is poor.
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This young man repli'd then where is it you dwell?
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Then she up and told him he sasd very well:
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Now unto thy Father with speed I will ride:
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In hopes my suit to him will not be deny'd.
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She said do your pleasure and he rid away:
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And soon found the shepherd who with Age was grey:
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In a l[i]ttle Cottage down under a Hill:
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Where he i[n] this manner expressed his will.
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Upon yonders Down your fair Daughter I saw:
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Whose beauty so much like a Load-stone does draw
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My affections towards her if she's not my bride:
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Of comforts forever I must be deny'd.
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My Father's a merchant a rich man is he:
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Of Children he have no one living but me,
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And if I in marriage your Daughter can have:
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We'll take care of you and keep her fine and brave.
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At this joyful tydings the old shepherd smil'd:
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And said unto me she is a hopeful Child.
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You are a rich man's son your Father besure:
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W[i]ll not yeild you shall have my Daughter that's poor.
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He said for his Anger I need not much fear:
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For I am possest of two hundred a Year:
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Of which to your Daughter a Joynter I'll make:
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And will take care of you for Charity's sake.
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Then like an old Fryer in his shepherds Cloak
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Transported with Joy the old Father then spoke:
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And said I belive fir you are but in jest:
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The merchant reply'd Its real I pro[t]est.
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Rejoyc'd with a smile the shepherd did say:
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Sir gain but her love and then take her you may:
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He said never fear but her love I will gain:
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And much like a lady I will her maintain.
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He staid with the shepherd while Evening was come:
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This young Shepherdess then returned home,
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Who thro' great perswasions for comfort of life,
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Consented to marriage and was made his Wife.
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At this solemnizing great Joy did abound:
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With triumph of honour this fair bride was crown'd:
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Two nights he staid with her and did love her then
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Leaving thirty Guineas till he came again:
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PART II.
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NOw pray mark good people and soon you shall hear:
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How soon sorrow did to this young bride appear:
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'Twas so this young merchant kept a Miss before:
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And after this marriage went to her no more.
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To be thus forsaken by one who her kept,
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This Harlot was troubled and often times wept,
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And to be revenged on this beauty bright,
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In this manner to her a Letter did write.
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Dear Wife at my Father's very sick I be,
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And my Aged Father he wants you to see,
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Let nothing Intice you at home for to stay,
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I have sent a man for you with him come away.
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She said honoured Father you hear it is so,
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That unto my Husband with speed I must go,
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He has sent a man for me away I must hye,
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Here is ten Guineas for you, your wants to supply.
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Like one Innocent this young beautiful bride,
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With he that came for her away she did ride,
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And when on a down wh[e]re some bushes grew there,
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Amongst them he said to this female fair.
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Prepare now to Die; for in this place indeed,
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Now to be plain with thee, here thou art to bleed;
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I am one that's a Ruffin, sent thou for to kill,
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I am hired to do it, and slay thee I will:
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To hear those expressions with tears in her eyes,
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Like one that was startled aloud then she cries,
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Ah! Treachrous Husband is this Love my Dear,
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Because of my mean Bi[r]th for to be slain here.
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The Ruffin said to her blame not thy Husband,
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He knows nothing of it for tell thee I can,
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He has forsook a Miss who he maintaind brave,
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'Twas she hired me and thy Life I must have.
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She ery'd Man consider, there's a Lord on high,
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Who tho' in a Desart on us hath an Eye,
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And if thou shouldst kill me this thing he will know,
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And for that Lord's sake me some Mercy now show.
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If thou leaves me bleeding stone Dead on the Ground,
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By some means or other the truth will be found,
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And thou wilt be hang'd for thy Pains to be sure,
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Besides the great torment thy Soul must endure.
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Tell me not of torment he said I am one,
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Who through two such hazards already have run,
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I am one that has never been false to my trust,
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I am hired to kill you and do it I must.
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This Female to hear such expressions as these,
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She fetcht a deep sigh and fell down on her knees,
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Crying my dear Saviour have mercy or I,
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Thro' a Whores temptations untimely must Dye.
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To hear those expressions his heart did relent,
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And said Comely Creature forbear to lament,
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I will spare thy Life and the Case it is so,
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I will know thy Body and then let thee go.
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It tha[t]'s all the Mercy thou hast she reply'd,
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Thy Suit in this matter it shall be deny'd,
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Before I will Yeild to stain my Chastity,
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With thou I will struggle tho murder'd I be.
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Though poorly descended for Honour I'll stand,
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To hear this the Ruffin took her by the Hand,
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And said I Commend thee thou Vertious young Wife,
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I'll not stain thy Honour nor touch thy dear Life.
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She cry'd for this Mercy which thou showest me,
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Behold there's two Guineas I'll give unto thee,
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And as for the futu[r]e be sure to refrain,
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in innocent blood thy vile hands for to strain.
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With smiles then he left her and home she retired,
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At whose quick return the old shepherd admir'd,
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And hearing the cause of her sudden return;
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The old Father sigh'd and with tears then did mourn,
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So now I will have her at home to remain,
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Expecting to see the young Merchant again,
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Unto the Third Part now with speed turn away:
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To hear what this Man to the Harlot did say.
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PART III.
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HE said on a Down I have kiz'd such a one:
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Her Answer was if so I am pleas'd it is done:
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A poor shepherds Brat I am glad she is gone:
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Now I hope my Gallant again will come on:
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By this we may hear what strumpets would do:
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Through such Cattle many a Family rue:
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So now I will leave her who have done amiss:
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And hear what the Merchant will say unto this.
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According to promise not knowing the same,
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To see his fair Wife the young Merchant he came,
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And being inform'd of what had been done
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He then did embrace her while tears they did run.
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He cry'd wicked Harlot to act such a thing:
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With shame to a Bridewell this slut I will bring:
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There to be confin'd for a 12 month and a Day:
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For this Barbarous Action severely to pay.
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soon after this Creature to Bridewell was sent,
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And being lash'd daily she sore did lament,
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To finish her sorrows being void of grace,
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she stabbed her self and soon dy'd in the place,
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This was the sad end of a Harlot in Grain;
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Who sought oth[e]rs ruin but all was in vain,
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she's dead and the other whose dear Life she sought,
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through Mercy is living and to comfort brought,
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Though a shepherds Daughter of mean Birth and Poor
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shes blest with a station where Wealth is in store,
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Likewise the old shepherd for his Daughte[r]s sake,
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the young Merchant of him great care now doth take.
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