ROBERT and RICHARD OR, THE GHOST of poor MOLLY, who was drowned in RICHARD'S MILL POND.
[]To the Tune of Co [...]'s Mul [...]erry Tree
QUOTH Richard to Bob, "let things go as they will,
"Of pleaſure and fun I will ſtill have my fill;
"In a little gay Joy I ſee nothing amiſs,
"And tho' now and then tipſy, what harm is in this?
"For e'en Solomon ſays, and I vow he ſays truth,
"'Rejoice, O young man, in the days of thy youth'—
"I am glad" (anſwer'd Bob) "you're of Solomon's creed,
"But I beg if you quote him you'll pleaſe to proceed;
"For God" (as the wiſe man continues to ſing)
"Thy ſoul into Judgment for all this will bring.
"Thus a man may get plung'd in a woeful abyſs,
"By chuſing to ſay, Pray what harm is in this?
"Come, Come" (ſays gay Richard) "don't grudge me a "Cup;
I'm reſolv'd, while I'm able, I'll ſtill keep it up;
"Let old Greybeards deny that in frolic's there's bliſs;
"I'll game, love, and drink—and what harm is in this?
Says Robert, "I grant if you live for to-day,
"You may game, love, and drink, and may frolic away;
"But then, my dear Dick, I again muſt contend,
"That the wiſe man has bid us remember the end."
Says Richard, "when ſickneſs or peeviſh old age,
"Shall advance to diſmiſs me from life's merry ſtage;
"Repentance juſt then, Boy, may not be amiſs,
"But while young I'll be jolly—what harm is in this?"
They parted—and Richard his paſtimes begun,
'Twas Richard the Jovial, the ſoul of all fun;
Each dancing bout, drinking bout, Dick would attend,
And he ſung and he ſwore—nor once thought of the End.
Young Molly he courted, the pride of the plain,
He promis'd her marriage, but promis'd in vain;
She truſted his vows, but ſhe ſoon was undone,
And when ſhe fell weeping he thought it good fun.
Thus ſcorn'd by her Richard ſad Molly run wild,
And roam'd thro' the woods with her deſtitute child;
'Till poor Molly and Molly's poor Baby were found
One evening in Richard's own mill pond both drown'd.
Then his conſcience grew troubl'd by night and by day,
But it's clamour he drown'd in more drink and more play;
Still Robert exhorted, and like a true friend,
He warn'd him he pray'd him—to think on the End.
Now diſturb'd in his dreams poor Molly each night
With her babe ſtood before him; how ſad was the ſight!
O how ghaſtly ſhe look'd as ſhe bade him attend,
And ſo awfully told him—"Remember the End."
She talk'd of the woes and unquenchable fire
Which await the gay Sinner, the Drunkard, and Liar;
How he ruin'd more maidens ſhe bade him beware,
Then ſhe wept, and ſhe groan'd, and ſhe vaniſh'd in air.
Now beggar'd by Gaming, diſtemper'd by Drink,
Death ſtar'd in his face, yet he dar'd not to think;
Deſpairing of mercy, deſpiſing all truth,
He dy'd of old age in the prime of his youth.
On his Tombſtone good Robert theſe Verſes engraved,
Which he hop'd ſome gay fellow might read and be ſav'd.
[figure]
The EPITAPH.
HERE lies a poor Youth who call'd ſinning his bliſs,
And was ruin'd by ſaying what harm is in this?
Let each Paſſer-by to his error attend,
And learn of poor Dick to remember the End.
Appendix A
Entered at Stationers Hall.
Sold by J. MARSHALL, (PRINTER to the CHEAP REPOSITORY for Moral and Religious Tracts) No. 17, Queen-Street, Cheapſide, and No. 4, Aldermary Church-Yard, and R. WHITE, Piccadilly, LONDON.
By S. HAZARD, (PRINTER to the CHEAP REPOSITORY) at BATH; and by all Bookſellers, Newſmen, and Hawkers, in Town and Country.—Great Allowance will be made to Shopkeepers and Hawkers.
Price an Halfpenny, or 2s 3d. per 100, 1s. 3d. for 50, 9d. for 25.