Old Adam the father of us all/The Cruel Parents

THE CRUEL PARENTS.

MY only love and dearest dear,
I'm very glad to meet you here;
Though I to you bad news do tell,
I to this land must bid farewel.

My father and my mother too,
Are both resolv’d that I must go,
When that they knew my love to thee,
They still contrive to ruin me.

For when I say, I thee adore,
My mother cries, you are too poor;
Therefore, forbear, my son, quoth she,
I’ll get a richer match for thee.

Your father a rich merchant is,
Therefore I think it is amiss,
That you should now so silly be,
To love so poor a maid as she.

I know a charming beauty bright,
She's daughter to a worthy knight:
Therefore, dear son, be rul'd by me,
And she shall be a wife to thee.

I told my mother very plain,
All her endeavours are in vain:
What though my Betty she is poor,
Yet none but her I must adore.

Her beauty is my whole delight,
On which I gaze both day and night;
She has wit and virtue now in store,
What can a man desire more?

My mother hearing my reply,
She told my father presently;
Who now has sworn it shall be so,
That I with speed to sea should go.

My dearest Betty do not grieve,
For I will never thee deceive;
What though my body must go to sea,
My heart shall still remain with thee.

And dearest I will send thee down,
Unto a friend at Ingerstone,
Where you shall live from envy free,
My dear, till I return to thee.

Alas! says Betty, must we part,
That very thought will break my heart,
For when that you are gone from me,
I shall find no felicity.

Let me go then with you my love,
I'll 'tend on you and faithful prove;
For very diligent I'll be,
And ev'ry day will wait on thee.

I'll tan my cheeks, I'll cut my hair,
All for your sake, my dearest dear;
And put on man's apparel too,
If you will let me go with you.

No, no, my love, that must not be,
For many dangers are on the sea,
Are far unfit for thee to bear,
Therefore, dear Betty, tarry here.

Here's gold and rings, and jewels three,
Which for a pledge I'll give to thee;
In token that my love to you,
Shall always faithful be, and true.

What signifies those things to me,
If I of you deprived be?
Therefore I beg you'll let me go,
For I'm resolv'd to follow you.

When that the merchant's son did find,
He could not change this maiden's mind,
Did then consent it should be so,
That his true love should with him go.

He did provide immediately,
All things to fit her out to sea;
In man's attire she was in truth,
A very charming pretty youth.

Then straight on board they both did hye,
And set up fail immediately,
With joy and pleasure compass'd round,
The ship was to Jamaica bound.

But now we'll leave them on the sea,
A pattern for true loyaltie,
But if the rest you fain would know,
The second part will plainly show.

ΡΑRT II.

BUT oh! cruel unhappy fate,
Their joy was turn'd to sorrow straight,
A mighty tempest did arise,
Which put them in a sad surprise.

The ship it was up and down tost,
And in great danger to be lost:
The ship was drove near unto Spain,
Where 'gainst a rock it split in twain.

All in the ship I hear were drown'd,
Not one alive was to be found,
But only this young man and maid,
Who were to several shores convey'd.

But when this young man cameto land,
As you the truth shall understand,
His heart was ready for to break,
⟨And⟩ could not tell what course to take.

Alas! quoth he, what shall I do?
My love by death has bid adieu,
She's buried in a wat'ry wave,
In the deep ocean is her grave.

The pattern of true loyaltie,
Lies in the bottom of the sea;
And I am left by cruel fate,
Thus to lament my wretched fate.

It was my parents' cruelty,
Which caus'd this fatal tragedy:
Oh! I wish my parents did but know
The sorrow which I undergo.

Since I have lost my dearest dear,
I will go wander far and near;
For I no comfort now can find,
To ease my discontented mind.

Then with a sigh, these words he said,
Oh! beauteous fair, and lovely maid,
Although she was of low degree,
I thought her rich enough for me.

He being weary fat him down,
Beneath a tree to make his moan:
My lovely charming maid, said he,
I hope e'er long to be with thee.

A voice did answer, look and see,
Behold! thy lover comes to thee:
You think I'm drowned in the sea,
No, I am come to cherish thee.

This young man he was much amaz’d,
He straight arose, and found him gaz’d,
And he espy’d immediately,
His dearest love behind a tree.

Our lover he was in surprize,
And could not well believe his eyes:
Sure 'tis impossible, said he,
That my true love alive should be.

Yes, yes, I am alive, she said,
Therefore my love be not dismay’d:
Good heaven hath been kind to me,
And fav’d me from the raging sea.

Judge you how great this pleasure was,
To see how all things came to pass:
That he did meet his love again,
Who he thought was drowned in the main.

How were you fav’d my dear, quoth he,
From the waves of the raging sea;
Said she, If you will understand
Upon a plank I swam to land.

Now farewel sorrow, grief and woe,
To England speedily we’ll go;
And hope for all our troubles past,
For to find comfort at the last.

Then home to England they did hey,
Where they were married speedily;
But now a-days there’s few that be,
So true in love as he and she.

F I N I S.