The Unjust Uncle:
OR,
The Perjur'd Maid of Essex's Unfortunate Destiny:
Who having made a solemn Contract with a young Man of that same County, was per-
swaded by her Uncle to forsake him and marry another: For which, as a just Exam-
ple of her Inconstancy, she dy'd in their Presence so soon as she broke her Vows.
To the Tune of The Languishing Swain.
Licensed according to Order.
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I.
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YOu youthful Damsels far and near
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Who shall this mournful Ditty hear,
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Take care how you prove false in Love,
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For there's a Righteous God above,
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II.
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Who knows the secret Vows you make;
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Or when you do such Contract break,
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Strange Judgments follows out of Hand,
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As by these Lines you'll understand.
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III.
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In Essex liv'd a Beauty bright,
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Her Parents joy and Hearts delight,
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Who oftentimes had courted been;
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For many came her Love to win.
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IV.
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Amongst the many Suitors came
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A Youth of worthy Birth and Fame:
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Fair charming Saint, he often cry'd,
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I love none in the World beside.
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V.
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The youthful Damsel did reply,
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There's those that has more Wealth than I,
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Which you may have full well I know;
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And therefore to some other go.
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VI.
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Said he, My dear, I do declare
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Might I enjoy a Lady fair
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Of many Thousand Pounds a Year,
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I'd slight it all for thee, my Dear,
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VII.
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Whose pleasant Charms I do adore;
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Grant me thy Love, I ask no more,
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For that is better worth than Gold:
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Let me one pleasant Smile behold.
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VIII.
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At length the Damsel did comply
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Unto the Bonds of Loyalty;
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And many Vows betwixt them past,
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To love so long as Life should last.
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IX.
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A piece of Gold he likewise broke:
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Which done, these very Words he spoke,
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I'll love thee to my Dying-Day;
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Then dearest be not drawn away.
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X.
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If I do break my Vows, said she,
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Let me a sad Example be;
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And not the least of Mercy find,
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If ever once I change my Mind.
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XI.
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This Promise made, was soon forgot,
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Her wealthy Uncle he would not
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Yield she should wed her loyal Love;
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But break her Vows, and Perjur'd prove.
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XII.
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Said he, I have a Match in store,
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Worth Forty Pounds a Year, and more;
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And you alone must be his Bride:
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I dare not break my Vows, she cry'd.
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XIII.
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At length he took her to a Fair,
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Likewise her new-found Lover, where
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They did on sumptuous Dainties feast;
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Then then her Sorrows soon encreas'd.
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XIV.
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He would not let her be at rest,
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But did most solemnly protest,
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That if she did not change her Mind,
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She should of him no Uncle find.
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XV.
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Poor Heart! through Fear she gave consent
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To be his Bride: This done, she went
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Unto the Window of the Room,
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Where they beheld her dismal Doom.
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XVI.
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For looking forth into the Fair,
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She saw her former Lover there;
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Which made her Eyes like Fountains run:
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She sighing said, What have I done!
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XVII.
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She cry'd, as she her sighs did fetch,
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I am a false forsworn Wretch;
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Nothing but sad Despair I see:
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Oh Uncle, you have ruin'd me!
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XVIII.
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And as she made this sad Complaint,
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Her Spirits then began to faint:
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Then falling dead upon the Floor,
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She never stir'd nor moved more.
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XIX.
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When she her Promise made at first,
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She wish'd, if e'er she prov'd unjust,
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That God would some Example show
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On her, for falsly doing so.
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XX.
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According to her Wish she found,
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As falling dead streight to the Ground.
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Lovers by her fair Warning take,
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And don't your Vows and Contracts break.
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