Subject: Lyr Add: THE RUINED LOVERS
From:
Bruce O.
Date: 23 Feb 98 - 05:57 PM
[Indent even numbered lines in verses]
THE RUINED LOVERS.
Being a rare Narrative of a young Man that dyed for his cruel Mistress, in June last, who not long after his own death, upon a consideration of his intire Affection, and her own coyness, could not be comforted, but lingered out her dayes in Melancholy, fell desperate sick, and so dyed.
Tune of, Mock-beggers Hall Stand Empty.
[For tune see Simpson's BBBM, p. 155 and p. 517.]
Mars shall to Cupid now submit,
for he that gain'd the glory;
You that in Love were never yet,
attend unto my story,
For it is new, 'tis strange and true
as ever age afforded;
A tale more sad, you never had
in any Books recorded.
A Young-man lately lov'd a Maid
more than his life or fortune,
And in her ears the same convey'd,
for thus he did importune:
Dear, pity me, the Lover cry'd,
Sweet let thy heart come to me;
And often said unto the Maid,
Love me, or you'l undo me.
I never was ingag'd before,
I must and will be true t'ye,
Love never made me cry and roar,
untill I saw thy beauty.
No creature cou'd of flesh and bloud,
bring more delight unto me:
Which makes me cry perpetually,
Love me, or you'l undo me.
He made Adresses to the Maid,
and profered to advance her:
I cannot love thee, then she said,
pray take it for an answer:
In many wayes, he sung her praise,
Love shot his Arrow thorow me,
Why did not he, do so to thee,
Love me, &c.
She made him such a straight reply,
he durst no more come near her:
Quoth he I will go home and dye,
since there is nothing dearer.
The joyes of all the Christian World,
(said he) are nothing to me;
'Tis Death only, can set me free:
Love me, &c.
He took his Bed, he rag'd and burn'd,
(sure this must greatly grieve him.
His schorchin love was wuickly turn'd
into a burning Feaver:
And then he dy'd, but first he cry'd,
O! will she not come to me:
Then sheds a tear; his last words were,
Love me, or you'l undo me.
The second part, Containing the misery, sorrow, and death of the Maid. To the same tune.
The Virgin when she heard news
was very greatly troubled;
And when ye coffin'd Corps she views,
her woes were all redoubled;
And hast thou dy'd for me she cry'd,
thou hast in love out-run me,
Too late I may, thus sadly say,
Thy death hath quite undone me.
Had I a thousand worlds, I would
give them all to restore thee,
For I am guilty of thy bloud,
how dare I satand before thee;
I am a Murdress, woe is me,
Let all true Lovers shun me;
And I must cry untill I dye,
Thy death hath, &c.
It is in vain for me to live,
thy memory will haunt me,
I only have short Reprieve,
thy sorrows daily daunt me;
Where ever thy, dead Corps do lye,
(since thou in death hast won me)
I will be laid, a wofull Maid,
Thy death hath quite undone me.
With that the tears fell from her eyes
she could no longer bear it,
For Love and Death did tyrannize,
she could no longer bear it.
Pray have me home to bed she cry'd,
my sorrows over-run me
I am rewarded for my pride;
Thy death hath quite undone me.
She took her bed and in her head,
a thousand frantick dreans are,
Sadly she lyes, and in her eyes
a hundred flowing streams are;
What wretched fool am I? cry'd she,
O whether am I going? [whither
Poor soul (she cry'd) and so she dy'd:
Thy death hath, &c. Let all fair Maids that are in love,
by this poor Soul take warning,
Lest that like her, you sadly prove
the purchase of her scorning:
Let all by this, mend what's a miss,
before grief over run-[ye];
Lest you be forc'd to die, and cry,
Thy death hath quite undone me.
FINIS London, Printed for F. Coles, T. Vere, and J. Wright. [1663- 74]
This issue of this song seems to be the earliest extant, and may or may not antedate the mention of "Barbara Allen" in Pepys diary on Jan. 2, 1666. The ballad from which the tune is derived cannot be dated precisely. Ebsworth in 'Roxburghe Ballads' VII, p. 763 puts it at 1636-42, but Harper printed ballads in 1643, and even issued a chapbook in 1660. I think from this tune citation (c 1640-50?, and not used on any other known broadside ballad) that the ballad above is probably a reissue of one of the late 1640's or 50's. The repeat in the 3rd from last verse is the type of error one finds in reprints, where the typesetter's eyes strayed from the correct line on his text source. [Ballads were mostly reprinted from a copy of the most recent previous issue, so errors accumulated. This give rise to some reprinted ballads with strange titles when the old copy had the top torn off, and some strange tune directions, too, ones that won't fit the ballad.]
I strongly suspect, but can't definitely prove, that "Barbara Allen" was based on the above song.
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