Injured fair (1)/The injured fair

THE INJURED FAIR.

COME lasses listen unto me,
in country, town, and city,
let my downfal a caution be,
to blooming maids so pretty.
I am a poor unhappy girl,
upon the town applying,
Because I did believe false man,
full of deceit and lying.

CHORUS.

So pray remember pretty maids,
how often ye are warned.
For when men once get their ends,
by them you will be scorned.

Such flatteries to me he us'd,
and presents I had many,
Although I'd twenty for to chuse,
I lov'd him best of any.
Blythe as thc lark I was till he,
of every joy bereft me,
But when he had his will of me,
he went away and left me.So pray, &c.

With arm around me on his knee,
like Judas he would kiss me,
And wish'd the happy day to see,
in marriage for to bless me:
But, O alas! The treach'rous youth,
soft treach'rous did seduce me,
And when I ask'd him for to wed,
he like a rogue refus'd me,
So pray remember pretty maids, &c.

Then of his conquest he did boast,
in man you know 'tis common,
And brag'd to his companions all,
how he betray'd a woman:
Howe'er he has my ruin been,
and I'm undone for ever;
So now can man ever expect,
of woman any favour.So pray, &c.

But yet I will not curse the youth,
but this I wish in brief, Sir,
That he may wed a drunken wife,
then he’ll have whore and thief, Sir;
Sufficient punishment I vow,
for any man alive, Sir;
For he that's ty'd to such a Jilt,
I'm sure can never thrive. Sir. Pray, &c,

Now this is all the harm I wish,
what think ye of my prayer?
A drunken wife to be the lot,
of ev'ry maid's betrayer.
A good wife is an ornament,
and makes a husband prized,
But he may get a drunken Jilt,
and see himself despised.
So pray remember pretty maids, &c.