%ISOlat1; %ISOlat2; %ISOnum; %ISOpub; ]> THE / Kentish Tragedy; / OR, / EDWARD AND HANNAH. / AN AFFECTING TALE. University of California - Santa Barbara The Early Modern Center English Broadside Ballad Archive (EBBA) Director Patricia Fumerton Associate Director Carl G Stahmer ?-? Early Modern Center, University of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA 06/18/2014 33104

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Patricia Fumerton Early Modern Center - English Department University of California Santa Barbara, CA 93105 United States of America EMail: pfumer@english.ucsb.edu

BESIDE a pleasnt hill in Kent, / Hard by a purling stream, Information in this section of the Source Description refers to the original ballad manuscript. 1: 180 THE / Kentish Tragedy; / OR, / EDWARD AND HANNAH. / AN AFFECTING TALE. THE Kentish Tragedy; OR, EDWARD AND HANNAH. AN AFFECTING TALE. THE Kentish Tragedy OR, EDWARD AND HANNAH. AN AFFECTING TALE. ?-? J. and C. Evans

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 Early Modern Center Ballad Project Keyword Taxonomy advice affliction/ health alcohol Americas animals/ nature Bible/ biblical figures buildings/ architecture catastrophe children class clothing/ appearance country/ nation crime death economics/ commerce entertainments family Featured folklore gender holidays/ seasons infidelity labor/ craft law London love maritime marriage military/ war monstrosity mythology/ Classical news nobility/ court politics/ government procreation punishment race/ ethnicity religious concepts religious figures religious groups royalty rural life servitude sex/ sexuality supernatural/ magic travel trickery/ deceit urban life vice violence virtue vulgar humor youth/ age Library of Congress Subject Heading Taxonomy 6/18/2014 Santa Barbara, California, United States of America affliction/ health crime death love marriage rural life Ballads, English 17th century Broadsides, England 17th century 6/18/2014 12:59:47 PM XBallad Chow, Jeremy Created XML Version of Ballad 6/18/2014 12:59:47 PM Transcription Supervisor Meyer, Shannon Transcription of ballad manuscript 6/18/2014 12:59:47 PM Double-Key Comparison and Merging Meyer, Shannon Transcription of ballad manuscript 6/18/2014 12:59:47 PM Transcriptionist Two Way-Henthorne, Zane Transcription of ballad manuscript 6/18/2014 12:59:47 PM Transcriptionist One Rendt, Ariel Transcription of ballad manuscript 5/7/2013 Checker Shannon Meyer Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 4/22/2013 Checker Shannon Meyer Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 10/23/2012 Bibliographer William Hildalgo Initial Ballad Catalogue Record Created
<seg n="1" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">THE</hi></seg> <seg n="2" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">Kentish Tragedy;</hi></seg> <seg n="3" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">OR,</hi></seg> <seg n="4" rend="left"><hi rend="italic"><hi rend="bold">EDWARD AND HANNAH.</hi></hi></seg> <seg n="5" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">AN AFFECTING TALE.</hi></seg> <lb/> <seg n="6" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">London: Printed and sold by J. and C. EVANS, Long-lane.</hi></seg>
BESIDE a pleasant hill in Kent, Hard by a purling stream, The sweet and peaceful cottage stood Of lovely Hannah Dean. A charming prospect open'd here, No building inerfer'd, Save where the ancient village Church With lofty spire appear'd. Around the cot on ev'ry side, The lowing herd were seen--- Where oft the little lambs would play, That graz'd upon the green. On such a residence as this, The proud might envious look! There Hannah's days pass'd quiet by--- So glides the gentle brook. Unto this Cottage of Content, ('Twas known as such by name) Young Edward Lawson of the vale, To visit often came. And Hannah, who had found in him A friend both kind and true, A friend that always stood by her, Whatever might ensue---
With pleasure heard his tale of love, Tho' in an artless strain, Without mistrust, for she perceiv'd His actions spoke the same; Her parents' too their sanction gave To Edward's visits here; And these good people welcom'd him Whene'er he did appear. When thus some years had roll'd away, And prov'd their love sincere, Edward obtain'd his friends consent, To wed with Hannah dear. The day arriv'd --- the knot was ty'd --- All things were manag'd well; And ev'ry one who near 'em liv'd, Their praises oft would tell. It was an union rare indeed, Such as are seldom found; And long they prov'd domestic love Was not an empty sound! Yet tho' thus early they were blest, And had a friend in need, They thought upon the source from whence Those blessings did proceed.
Their grateful praises, morn and eve T'ward heaven did ascend, To that good Being, who requires We should in homage bend. Thus Edward and his Hannah liv'd, As married people ought; And thus they saw, the choice they made Had not been dearly bought. One ev'ning, as the bell toll'd nine, (The village noise had ceas'd) Hannah, still finding Edward stay'd, Her fears were much increas'd; For now the hour had long gone by When she expected him; And while she mus'd upon the same, Her eyes with tears did swim. It was November's dreary month, And cold and dark the night; The rain incessantly did fall, Which much did her affright. Bleak blew the howling tempest too, The wind did loudly roar, And sleet and snow together mix'd, Beat hard against the door. Poor Hannah's fears, amidst the storm, Alternate then arose; And almost frantic with despair, To seek her husband goes! All things around her gloomy were When she unlatch'd the door, And now the dreadful hurricane Blew louder than before. Just as she clos'd the cottage-gate, The village clock struck twelve --- It broke so sudden on her ears, That down with fear she fell. When she recover'd from the fright, The wind had spent its force; Anon she passed thro' the vale, And onward bent her course. Regardless what might next ensue, She too her purpose stood; And in the way she took, must pass Close by a lonesome wood! Her courage then had almost gone, For as she pass'd alone, A human voice she plainly heard Send forth a dismal groan! She paus'd, to listen whence it came, Convinc'd her cause was good: And now, with trembling steps advanc'd Much nearer to the wood.
Ah! hapless woman, soon she finds Edward's self that sigh'd; She knew his voice ---'twas no mistake --- And loud for help he cry'd! In this perplexing state of things, And fearful of his doom, She hasten'd to the dismal spot, Thro' the deep midnight gloom! She found him in a dreadful state, On the damp earth he lay; His body cover'd o'er with wounds, The cause of his delay. Two villains, who had robb'd him there On his returning home, Had try'd to take away his life, Thinking 'twould not be known; But he resisted manfully, And made the robbers fly, Tho' they had wounded him so much, He thought he soon should die. Poor Hannah's heart was nearly broke To hear her Edward moan; And now the reason plain appear'd That kept him from his home. A surgeon quickly she procur'd, Fearing the consequence; Assistance also was obtain'd, And straight they bore him hence. Fair Hannah watch'd his dying couch With unremitting care, And by th' attention which she paid, Shew'd an example rare. But tho' the greatest pains were took His senses to restore, Yet shortly after he expir'd, Which grieved Hannah sore. Her sorrow now no tongue can tell, To find the hopes were fled That she indulg'd, until her spouse Was number'd with the dead. She never rais'd her head again After her husband's death, But pin'd in secret two long years And then resign'd her breath! --- The moral which this tale supplies, May be compris'd in this --- Ever to be prepar'd for death, And look for greater bliss, Than what this changing world affords, Where pleasure's mix'd with pain --- Where "ev'ry beating pulse we tell, Warns us to heed the same.