 | Poems on Several Occasions |  |
67
The Unfortunate Damsel's Resolution:
A SONG.
Near a beck-side, with willow fring'd,
The mournful Dolly lay;
And thus the Nymph was heard to sing,
Or rather heard to say.
The mournful Dolly lay;
And thus the Nymph was heard to sing,
Or rather heard to say.
“'Twas here, on this accursed spot,
“That Tummas of the mill,
“With speeches fine first stole my heart,
“And got his wicked will.
“That Tummas of the mill,
“With speeches fine first stole my heart,
“And got his wicked will.
“A thousand sugar'd vows he swore,
“His Dolly he wou'd wed;
“Ah, Tummas, keep those vows, or give
“Me back my maiden-head.
“His Dolly he wou'd wed;
“Ah, Tummas, keep those vows, or give
“Me back my maiden-head.
“Upon this willow will I hang,
“In pure revenge and spite;
“And if the wretch dare lie alone,
“I'll haunt him ev'ry night;
“In pure revenge and spite;
“And if the wretch dare lie alone,
“I'll haunt him ev'ry night;
“I'll shake his curtains—(but in truth
“His bed does curtains lack)
“And plague him, till the morning cock
“Obliges me to pack.
“His bed does curtains lack)
“And plague him, till the morning cock
“Obliges me to pack.
“Or thro' the church-yard shou'd he go
“By night—my ghost shall rise,
“And like a headless horse appear,
“With frightful saucer eyes:
“By night—my ghost shall rise,
“And like a headless horse appear,
“With frightful saucer eyes:
68
“No fear the perjur'd man can hire
“(Too great will be the cost)
“Our book-learn'd Priest, in the Red Sea
“To lay my troubled ghost.—
“(Too great will be the cost)
“Our book-learn'd Priest, in the Red Sea
“To lay my troubled ghost.—
“Upon this willow will I hang,
“Ev'n here beneath this tree;”
She said—and slipt her garters twain
From just above her knee.
“Ev'n here beneath this tree;”
She said—and slipt her garters twain
From just above her knee.
The fatal noose poor Doll prepares,
Her lover springs the beck;
“Ah, Tummas, art thou there,” she cries,
And hangs—upon his neck.
Her lover springs the beck;
“Ah, Tummas, art thou there,” she cries,
And hangs—upon his neck.
From this example learn, ye swains,
Nor henceforth perjur'd prove,
For girls undone, are apt, you see,
To hang themselves for love.
Nor henceforth perjur'd prove,
For girls undone, are apt, you see,
To hang themselves for love.
| Poems on Several Occasions | |