The Unhappy couple/The Unhappy couple

THE UNHAPPY COUPLE.

YOU lovers all pray give attention,
to thoſe few lines which I am told,
It's of two lovers blaſted in their glory,
⁠all for the ſake of curſed gold.

'Twas known I was courted by many,
⁠both Lords and Knights that to me came,
But I could never fancy any
⁠ſave honeſt John, my Father's groom.

My love is both tall and handſome,
⁠he is well ſhap'd in every limb;
Could I but obtain the King's ranſom,
⁠I ne'er wou'd fancy any but him.

'Twas near the famous town of Reading,
⁠it was the place where we were join'd,
And there in private we ſtole a wedding,
⁠which prov'd to us the moſt unkind.

We had no friends for to attend us,
⁠but Nelly who was my waiting maid;
We then jointly did invite her,
⁠this artful girl our love betray'd.

Then Nelly wrote a private letter,
⁠to let my cruel Father know,
Of the place where we were joined;
⁠which prov'd our fatal overthrow.

We'd not ſpent many hours alone,
⁠before my cruel Father came;
And in a paſſion ſtraight be flew,
⁠calling my husband John by name.

O! then he caſt him into priſon;
⁠with chains and fetters bound him faſt,
And by the law be was oblig'd
⁠to ſuffer death then at the laſt.

Then it was my Father's pleaſure,
⁠to place me where my lore did die;
For to behold his execution,
⁠the more me for to terrify.

But when I ſaw my lover coming,
⁠ſurrounded to the gallows-tree,
Then my poor heart that was within me,
⁠ſeem'd to die as well as he.

But when my ſenſes I recover'd,
⁠the execution for to ſee;
This I ſaid my friends have acted,
⁠well may I ſay they've ruin'd me.

Now let this my lamentation,
⁠to old and young both far and near,
And from the higheſt reputation,
⁠in love don't croſs your children dear.

Leſt it at laſt may prove their ruin,
⁠as my dear parents they ⟨have⟩ done,
Wit and beauty is ſo engaging
⁠love is a (illegible text) ⟨no⟩ one can ſhun.

And now this Lady's gone diſtracted,
⁠and unto bedlam ſhe is thrown;
For the ſake of her deareſt Johnny,
⁠both day and night ſhe's making moan.