Page:Fortunate lover, or, The old man outwitted.pdf/8



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The NEW BANKS of CLADY.

t was on the Banks of Clady I heard a maid complain,

Setting forth her lamentation nigh to a purling ſtream

She ſays, I am confined, bound in the bands of love,

All by a briſk young Weaver who did inconſtant prove.

Then to my deep vexation he to me did expreſs,

As I was ſitting by him upon the verdant graſs,

He ſays, fair maid I'm ſorry, it's for me you do grieve,

As I'm engag'd already your ſuit I can't relieve,

Johnny my dear jewel don't treat me with diſdain,

To leave me here behind you in ſorrow to complain,

For if you do forſake me for ever I'm undone,

Quite void of ſhame and danger diſtracted I will run.

With inward grief and anguiſh languiſh and complain

Since with fond embraces my charmer I can't obtain,

He has me now forſaken, and left me to feel the ſmart,

The grief that I lie under will break my tender heart.

It was on the banks of Clady my love and I did meet,

In our private converſation our joys for to complete,

The pretty feather'd ſongſters their notes did ſweetly ſtrain,

While in my lovers arms he did me entertain.

Each night in my ſoft ſlumbers I'm grieved in my mind,

By an unconftant lover who to me has prov'd unkind,

So all ye ſlothful females obſerve this and ſhun my fate,

For ſurely ſome repentance will ’tend you when it's too late.

Ye bonny Belfaſt mountains now grant me ſome relief,

Or were it in your power to imitate my grief,

Had you a tongue to prattle you could tell ſweet tales of love,

Of the bonny boy from Clady who does unconſtant prove.

By whoſe deluding charms I was firſt led aſtray,

When I was young and tender my heart who did betray,

May cunning Cupid wound you, that you may feel the pain,

What it is to love ſincerely and not to get love again.

Adieu now to all pleaſures, ſince fortune prov'd unkind,

For my Johnny he has left me in ſorrow here behind,

Kind providence protect him while on earth he does remain,

And to his beſt beloved his loyalty maintain.