The Unnatural SON:
OR,
The Old MAN and Poor WIFE;
Who, in their Want and Misery, sought to their Children for Succour, by whom they were
disdained, and scornfully sent away Succourless: With God's just Vengeance shewed on their Chil-
dren for the same. Tune of, Pricillia, etc.
Licens'd according to Order.
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IT was an old Man and his poor Wife,
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in great Distress did fall,
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They were so feeble with Age, God wot,
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they could not work at all:
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A gallant Son they had
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which lived wealthily,
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To him they went with full intent,
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to ease their Misery:
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Alack, and alas, for Woe.
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A hundred miles when they had gone,
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with many a weary step,
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At length they saw their Son's fair house,
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which made their hearts to leap;
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They set them on the green,
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their hose and shooes to trim,
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They put their hands about their necks,
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against they should enter in:
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Alack, etc.
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Unto the door with trembling joynts,
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when these old Couple came,
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The Woman with a shaking hand,
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the old Man blind and lame;
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Full mannerly they knockt,
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fearing for to offend;
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At last their Son frowningly came
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unto them in the end;
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Alack, etc.
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Good Folks, quod he, what would you have?
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methinks you are too bold;
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Why get you not home to your own Country,
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now you are lame and old?
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With that they both reply'd,
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with sorrow, care, and grief,
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Here are we come, to thee our Son,
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for succour and relief:
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Alack, and alas, for Woe.
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This is thy Father, gentle Son,
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and I thy loving Mother,
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That brought thee up so tenderly,
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and lov'd thee above all other;
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I bore thee in my womb,
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these breasts did nourish thee,
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And as it chanc'd I often danc'd
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thee on my tender knee:
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Alack, and alas, for Woe.
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And humbly now we do intreat
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our dear and loving Son,
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That thou wilt do for us in our Age,
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as we for you have done.
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Now nay, not so, he said,
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your suit is all in vain,
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'Tis best for you, I tell you true,
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to get you home again:
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Alack, etc.
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The world's not now as when I was born,
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all things are grown more dear,
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My charge of Children likewise is great,
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as plainly doth appear;
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The best that I can do,
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will hardly them maintain;
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Therefore, I say, be packing away,
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and get you home again:
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Alack, etc.
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The old Man with his hat in his hand,
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full many a leg did make;
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The Woman wept and wrung her hands,
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and pray'd for Christ his sake,
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Not to send them back,
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distressed and undone,
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But let us lye in some barn here by,
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quoth she, my loving Son:
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Alack, and alas, etc.
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By no means he would thereto consent,
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but sent them soon away,
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Quod he, You know the peril of the Law,
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if long time here you stay,
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The stocks and whipping-post
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shall fall unto your share;
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Then take you heed, and with all speed
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to your Country repair:
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Alack, etc.
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Away then went this woful old Man,
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full sad in heart and mind,
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With weeping tears his Wife did lament,
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their Son was so unkind:
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Thou wicked Wretch, quoth they,
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for this thy cruel deed,
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The Lord send thee as little pitty,
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when thou dost stand in need:
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Alack, etc.
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His Children hearing their Father set
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his Parents thus at naught,
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In short time after to have his land,
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his death they subtilly wrought;
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What cause have we, quoth they,
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more kindness to express,
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Then he unto his Parents did,
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in their great wretchedness?
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Alack, etc.
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They murdered him in piteous sort,
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they weigh'd not his intreats;
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The more he pray'd compassionately,
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the greater were their threats:
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Speak not to us, quoth they,
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for thou the death shalt dye;
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And at that word, with a dagger and sword,
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they mangled him monstrously.
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Alack, etc.
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When they had got his silver and gold,
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according to their mind,
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They buried him in a stinking ditch
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where no Man should him find:
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But now behold and see
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God's vengeance on them all,
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To gain their gold their Cousin came,
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and slew them great and small:
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Alack, etc.
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He came among them with a great club,
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in dead time of the night,
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Yea, two of the Sons he brain'd therewith,
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and taking of his flight
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The Murderer then taken was,
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and suffered for the same,
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Deservedly for that cruelty,
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and ended his Days in Shame.
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Alack, and alas therefore.
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