The Unfortunate shepherdess/The unfortunate shepherdess
THE UNFORTUNATE SHEPHERDESS
IN the county of Exeter there lived a squire,
And he had a daughter most beautiful and fair,
And she lov'd a shepherd below her degree,
Which caused her ruin and sad misery.
When her father came to know it, his passion ⟨got⟩ hot,
And with a loaded pistol the young shepherd ⟨he shot⟩
And as he lay bleeding this young lady came ⟨by⟩
Which caused her to weep and to cry bitterly.
O cursed be the gold my true love now slain,
My joys they are transported to sorrow and ⟨pain⟩
O yes says the shepherd none can my life save,
But a wonder you'll see when I'm laid in the ⟨grave⟩
The flocks that I feed my own share is but small
They are fifteen in number, they feed on yon hill
My dear they'll attend you wherever you go,
They'll be companions thro' the hail, wind and ⟨snow⟩
She has ta'en up his crook, his cloak and his ⟨plaid⟩
Like a faithful young shepherd to the valley ⟨she⟩ stray'd,
⟨When⟩ she came to the hill all the sheep to her came,
⟨All⟩ bleating aad treating her love to obtain.
⟨The⟩ old ram she call'd Andrew and Sally his dame
⟨Both⟩ Johnny and Charlotte knew their own name
⟨When⟩ she wanted to stay upon any green plain,
⟨She⟩ says you'll stay he e till I come again.
⟨With⟩ a humble submission they always do so,
⟨And⟩ when she long tarries they all mourning do go,
⟨With⟩ a hnmble submission they bleat in her face,
⟨Sure⟩ there not such a token in the whole human race.
⟨She⟩ wander'd thro' England, to Scotland she came,
⟨You⟩ true lover's controllers you see what's their doom,
⟨The⟩ shepherd's no more and her father soon dy'd,
⟨For⟩ the loss of his daughter and the murder beside.
⟨If I⟩ would return to my father's bright hall,
⟨I might⟩ live in splendour but that I ne'er will,
⟨She⟩ says I will wander till death end the strife,
⟨Lamenting⟩ for my shepherd all the days of my life.