And lead a sad disgraceful wicked life;
Allur'd by art she'll bring you to distress,
And like a Millwood to you falsely press:
Then be the first your actions to betray,
A fiend like such, caus'd me to go astray
From them I love, from those my heart hold dear,
And shall till death their memories revere;
When I am clos'd in transport on the sea,
Doubtless my love you'll sometimes sigh for me.
Bring up my little ones in such a way,
As they will holy keep the sabbath-day;
Early in life do in their minds reveal,
The dreadful crimes to swear, to lie, or steal.
Hannah my eldest daughter, place her where,
She's constant under virtue's eye and care,
Let her not learn the weaving trade, you'll find,
That such a course may injure much her mind;
Females are ready to acquire that art,
Soon as they wish fair virtue to depart;
Unwilling oft in service for to be.
Where they can't dress and have their liberty;
But if with parents they can work at home,
Nightly they hope with idle folks to roam:
At my late sentence I can not complain,
Altho' the law my body do detain;
Justice tho' slow has overtaken me,
Abroad for life, I shall he kept from thee;
On a just God for ever I will trust,
I know his will is always right and just.
Tis now too late again to speak to you,
Which is the cause of writing this adieu.
No partner now to sooth my aching heart,
Reflection galls me, at myself I start,
With aching heart and in my lonely cell,
I bid my babes and you,--a long farewell.
Methink I see the transport full in view,
And I with horror meet the harden'd crew;
Full well I know I ne'er shall see you more,
Nor plant a footstep on my native shore;
On foreign land I'm doom'd my days to toil,
And with vile wretches cultivate the soil.
Stripes I must bare perhaps when quite unwell,
And hear the convicts' melancholy yell;
A pang I fell when e'er I close the night,
And wish a virtuous wife was in my sight:
England adieu! may you in trade increase,
And free from inward tumults rest in peace.
Our Chaplain well I know, will soon impart,
His friendly aid to cheer the drooping heart;
I hope my children he will learn to read,
And teach them early to peruse the creed:
The bell is rung, the waggon is in view,
Wife and dear children now, adieu! adieu!
At thoughts of leaving this my native sho