THE RICHARD BARD BALLAD
(Also known as "The Woeful Ballad", or "Bard's Lament".) (*3 Vol I Pg 14)
L.N. = Loudon's Narrative
On a woeful day the heathen came, - Judge Bard Narrative & W.H.R. submission Begins
And did us captive make:
And then the miseries commenced,
Of which we did partake.
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Nineteen the number of them was,
And in the house they came:
But battle unto them we gave,
And drove them out again.
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One of the foremost that came - Bard Book Begins -Pg 301
With him a cutlass brought:
But cousin Potter took the same:
As they together fought. - B. B. Stops -Pg 301
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At one a pistol I did snap,
But off it did not go:
"A pistol! pistol!" he cries out,
And from the door they go.
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But ere they go they at us shoot,
Us thinking for to kill;
But 'mazingly God them deprived
Of their malicious will.
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O' terrifying were the screams
That we from them did hear;
As also was the sight because,
They naked did appear.
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Back of the house they soon appear,
"Surrender," they request;
And since their number was so great,
We thought the same was best.
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Then quickly came they in the house,
And made of us their prey:
They did us bind and house did rob,
And so all went away. all went=went all (W.H.R.)
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With us our child they captive take,
A child of tender age:
Five more young persons are
Exposed to cruel rage.
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And now together when we're summed,
The number is just nine:
Which these most cruel Indians
Have captured at this time.
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Not far, however, did we go - B. B. Restarts -Pg 164, 301
Ere came we to a hill, =Ere to a hill we came (J.B.N.)
Where they our cousin Potter's blood
Inhumanly did spill. - B. B. Stops -Pg 301
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Those hardened savages did act
As though they did no wrong,
And in his head a tomahawk left,
And brought his scalp along.
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Out of my arms my child they took,
As we along did go,
And to the helpless babe they did
Their cruel malice show. cruel=crued (J.B.N.)
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Both head and heart the tomahawk pierced,
In order him to slay,
And then they robbed him of his clothes,
And brought his scalp away. - B.B. Stops -pg 164
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But God the cries of innocent blood,
Undoubtedly will hear:
And he the same for to avenge
Will certainly appear.
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"If you do speak," they say to me,
"We'll surely at you fire,"
When leave to speak unto my wife
I did from them desire. =I from them did desire (W.H.R.)
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To do a favor leave was asked
By my beloved, that she
Her love might there manifest,
And it express to me.
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But they do aggravate our grief,
Throughout each doleful hour:
No privilege they would allow
To speak unto each other.
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As we were travelling, they saw
A man and at him shot.
Power and mercy here appeared,
For get him they did not.
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But forty miles now having gone, - B.B. Restarts -pg 168
This day is at an end;
They halt, and here to stay this night
Is what they do intend.
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And here, the fire and us between,
Our infant's scalp they place;
Thinking that while we viewed the same,
Our sorrows would increase. - B.B. Stops -pg 168
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And ere they do themselves compose
In order for to rest,
An unseen way they take to bind
The poor and the oppressed.
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And when the morning's light appears,
And we the road pursue,
An awful sight is on the same
Presented to our view.
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For in our sight they tomahawked
One who with us was taken: =One who with us taken (W.H.R.)
And for a bed for this poor man a bed for a bed for=a bed to (W.H.R.)
His blood by them was given.
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O, terrifying 'twas indeed
To hear his dying screams,
And from his head and heart to view
Those red and running streams.
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But at his terror they did laugh,
They mock his dying groans:
Most artfully they imitate
His last expiring moans.
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By reason of the rugged road rugged=ragged (W.H.R.) - B.B. Restarts -pg 170
Our raiment it all tore,
And down our legs the blood doth run,
Unfelt the like before.
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Whilst on the dismal road I think,
With wondering filled am I,
How it could be that my poor wife
Could cross those mountains high.
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For I myself did almost faint did almost=almost did (W.H.R.)
Under their cruel hands;
But it was God that strengthened us,
Against their hard commands. - B.B. Stops -pg 170
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O, may all those that never saw
Or felt the like of this,
Unto the Lord give praise and thanks,
And God forever bless.
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With great barbarity we're used,
As guilty of a fault,
If, we without acquainting them,
To take a drink do halt.
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But now to Allegheny Hill,
At length we come unto,
Where those inhuman savages
Expose some of us do.
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As we ascend this lofty hill, - B.B.Restarts -pg 171
No wonder we're amazed
To hear the awful sound that's made
When war-halloos were raised. were=are (J.B.N.) & (W.H.R.)
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For every scalp and pris'ner gained,
A loud halloo they make:
As if it were their great delight
A human life to take. - B.B. Stops -pg 171
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The night that we lay on the hill,
A snow on us did fall:
This was a night of sore distress
Unto each of us all.
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For we could not come near the fire,
Through all that night:
O had not God sustained us
We sure had died outright.
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When in the morning we arise, - B.B. Restarts -pg 172
"March on" by them we're told;
But this to us is misery great,
Our feet being sore and cold.
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At Laurel Hill we found a creek
Both high and swift the stream, high=nigh (W.H.R.)
So by the hand I took my wife,
To help her o'er the same.
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But for this love I showed to her
At me they're in a rage,
And nothing else but me to beat.
Their anger to assuage. to=can (J.B.N.) & (W.H.R.)
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So great the strokes the cruel foes the=our (W.H.R.)
Have given to me here,
That for ten days the bruises do
Exceeding plain appear.
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The load to carry which they here
Did give to me this day,
I an account will minute down.
From truth I will not stray.
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Two bear skins, very large indeed,
And one bed quilt also,
Two blankets and six pounds of meat,
All on my back must go. - B.B. Stops -pg 173
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Bare six score miles now we have mark'd,
- Loudon Narrative
Begins -pg
53
='Bove six score miles we now have marched
(J.B.N.)
='Bove six score miles we now have marced
(W.H.R.)
But fifty doth remain,
But=Yet (W.H.R.)
Between us and the bloody place.
Where standeth fort Duquane. fort Duquane=Fort Duquesne (J.B.N.) & (W.H.R.)
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At three rods distance from a run,
Encamp'd this night are we, Encamp'd=Encamped (J.B.N.) & (W.H.R.)
But when for drink they do me send
No more they do me see. =No more they see of me (J.B.N.) & (W.H.R.)
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Alas! for me to go 'tis hard
Whilst with them is my wife, Whilst=Since (J.B.N.) & (W.H.R.)
Yet 'tis the way that God ordained
For me to save my life.
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But after me they quickly run
Not doubting of their prize; Not=Nor (J.B.N.)
But God turns into foolishness
The wisdom of the wise.
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O cruel man! In vain you strive
In vain you follow me,
For since the Lord gainsaith I can
No longer captive be. =No more your captive be (J.B.N.) & (W.H.R.)
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God the device can disappoint
Of wicked men and wise, =Of crafty folk and wise (J.B.N.) & (W.H.R.)
So to perform they can't always to=that (J.B.N.) & (W.H.R.)
Their cruel enterprise.
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But now although at liberty
Through mercy I am set,
Yet miserable is my life
For want of food to eat.
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O dreadful sore my sufferings were sufferings=feelings (J.B.N.) & (W.H.R.)
Which force me to depart force=forced (W.H.R.)
Whilst no provisions I had got
My life for to support.
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O'er hills that's high and swamps that's deep, hills=hill (J.B.N.) & (W.H.R.)
I now alone must go,
Travelling on I suffer much on=oh (J.B.N.) & (W.H.R.), Travelling=Traveling (W.H.R.)
From briers poison do. =For bruise my feet I do (J.B.N.) & (W.H.R.)
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Unto a hill, I now arrive,
About four miles it's broad, it's='tis (J.B.N.) & (W.H.R.)
And o'er this hill the snow doth lye =All over this the snow doth lie (J.B.N.) & (W.H.R.)
Though elsewhere it is thaw'd. thaw'd=thawed (J.B.N.) & (W.H.R.)
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Much laurel is upon this hill
Its leaves are fill'd with snow, fill'd=filled (J.B.N.) & (W.H.R.)
So I upon my hands and knees
Under the same must go.
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My hands thro' this excessive cold thro'=Through (J.B.N.) & (W.H.R.)
Extremely swelled are
Of sufferings I in this place sufferings=miseries (J.B.N.) & (W.H.R.)
Abundantly do share.
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But 'tis not only in the day
That hardships do abound,
For in the night they also do
Encompass me around.
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In hollow logs or 'mongst the leaves or 'mongst=amongst (J.B.N.) & (W.H.R.)
At night is mine abode;
No better lodgings wet or dry
Throughout this lonely road.
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Three days I've traveled since escape. I've traveled since=have passed since my (J.B.N.)&(W.H.R.)
But there is three days more But there is=And now for (J.B.N.) & (W.H.R.)
In which I have for to lay by I must lie by and quiet be (J.B.N.) & (W.H.R.)
My foot's so very sore.
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Amazingly my foot is swell'd swell'd=swelled (J.B.N.) & (W.H.R.)
With heat is in a flame, is='tis (J.B.N.) & (W.H.R.)
And though I'm in this desart land this desart=the desert (J.B.N.) & (W.H.R.)
Can't walk I am so lame. so lame=so very lame (J.B.N.) & (W.H.R.)
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Not wholly from my pained foot =But it is not my foot alone (J.B.N.) & (W.H.R.)
That causes pain to me, =That misery is to me (J.B.N.) & (W.H.R.)
For by not having food to eat
My woes encreased be.
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Almost five days I now have been
Without the least supply, supply=supplies (J.B.N.) & (W.H.R.)
Except bark buds, which I did pull buds=bud (J.B.N.) & (W.H.R.)
As I did pass them by.
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Though I'm not able now to walk, - B.B. Restarts -pg 177
I creep upon my knees:
To gather herbs that I may eat,
My stomach to appease. - B.B. Stops -pg 177
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But whilst I'm roving thus about,
A rattle snake at speed,
I view a running unto me,
This mercy is indeed.
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For by this snake I'm supplied I'm=I am (J.B.N.) & (W.H.R.)
When kill the same I do,
How timeously this mercy came =reasonable this mercy is (J.B.N.) & (W.H.R.)
None but myself can know.
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A rattlesnake, both flesh and bone, A=This (L.N.)=The (J.B.N.)&(W.H.R.) - B.B. Restarts -pg177
All but the head I eat;
And though 'twas raw, it seemed to me 'twas raw, it seemed='tis now, it seem'd (L.N.)
Exceeding pleasant meat. - B.B. Ends -Pg 177
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Full souls do loathe the honey comb - Not in (L.N.)
When they've enough to eat: - Not in (L.N.)
But unto him that hungry is, - Not in (L.N.)
Each bitter thing is sweet. - Not in (L.N.)
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When ripen'd is my beeling foot, ripened, healing (J.B.N.), ripened, bealing (W.H.R.)
Which mightily did ake, ake=ache (J.B.N.) & (W.H.R.)
I with a thorne did pierce the same, thorne=thorn (J.B.N.) & (W.H.R.), pierce=pearce (W.H.R.)
And thereby ease partake. thereby=so of (J.B.N.) & (W.H.R.)
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But least my foot I further hurt least=lest (J.B.N.) & (W.H.R.)
My breeches tear I do,
And round my feet I do them tye, feet=foot, tye=tie (J.B.N.) & (W.H.R.)
That I along might go. might=may (J.B.N.) & (W.H.R.)
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But when to walk I do attempt
Gives me excessive pain,
Yet I must travel with sore foot
Or die and here remain.
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So when a few miles I did go,
Unto a hill I come
Whilst on the lofty top thereof
I thought I heard a drum;
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And judging people near to be near to be=to be near (J.B.N.) & (W.H.R.)
On them I gave a call,
But sure there was not one to hear not=no (J.B.N.)
Being weak, conceit was all.
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But by these calls for help I gave, - Not in (L.N.)
I evidently see, - Not in (L.N.)
That I'm more spent than what I thought, - Not in (L.N.)
Or judged myself to be. - Not in (L.N.)
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For though I'd raise my voice as high, - Not in (L.N.)
As I had power to do, - Not in (L.N.)
'Bove fifty rods it can't be heard, - Not in (L.N.)
'Tis so exceeding low. - Not in (L.N.)
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Being now eight days since I escap'd escap'd=escaped (J.B.N.) & (W.H.R.)
Unto a river came, Unto=I (J.B.N.) & (W.H.R.)
Whilst wading it I suffered much
Being so very lame.
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But having Juniatta cross'd Juniatta=Juniata (J.B.N.) & (W.H.R.)
I to a mountain came,
With cold I ne'er was so distress'd distress'd=distressed (J.B.N.) & (W.H.R.)
As I was on the same.
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For in a night that's very cold
I there my lodging take, there my lodging=here my lodgings (J.B.N.) & (W.H.R.)
And as my clothes were wholly wet wholly=lately (J.B.N.) & (W.H.R.)
I tremble did and shake.
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My hand by this excessive cold hand=hands (J.B.N.) & (W.H.R.)
Is so benum'd that I Is=Are, benum'd=benumbed (J.B.N.) & (W.H.R.)
Can't move, no, not a single joint,
Were it a world to buy.
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Then I although the night was dark although=though (J.B.N.) , thought (W.H.R.)
Did homewards march away,
Least I should perish with the cold Least=Lest (J.B.N.) & (W.H.R.)
Should I for day light stay.
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But on my journey in this night
With joy a fire I see,
This was the strangest providence
That ever happened me.
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For when I by the same had staid had staid=did stay (J.B.N.) =do stay (W.H.R.)
Until the light appear
I see a road just at my hand
Which doth my spirits cheer. spirits=spirit (W.H.R.)
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If I had not beheld this fire
This Indian path I'd cross'd cross'd=crossed (J.B.N.) & (W.H.R.)
And then from all appearance I from=to (J.B.N.) & (W.H.R.)
Forever had been lost. Forever had=Must surely have (J.B.N.) =Most surely have(W.H.R.)
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Along this path I went with haste with=in (J.B.N.)
As much as I could make, much=far (J.B.N.)
But 'twas not fast that I could go
I was so very weak.
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Now having been nine days and nights Now having=For I (J.B.N.) & (W.H.R.)
In a most starving state
Not having food of any kind food of any kind=any means of strength (J.B.N.) & (W.H.R.)
Except four snakes to eat. four snakes to=the snake I ate (J.B.N.) & (W.H.R.)
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But on the evening of this day
I met with Indians three
Surprised I was and really thought
Them enemies to be;
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But they proved kind and brought me to
A place where English dwell,
Fort Littleton, the place by me
Was known exceeding well.
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The time since first I captive was first I=I first (J.B.N.) & (W.H.R.)
This is the fourteenth day,
Five with the Indians and nine since
From them I ran away.
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Thanks to the Lord, because he did, - Only in W.H.R. submission
Incline the enemies heart, - Only in W.H.R. submission
To give an opportunity - Only in W.H.R. submission
To me from them to depart. - Only in W.H.R. submission
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Thanks to the Lord who did provide
Food in the wilderness
For me, as much as did preserve =For me, as did preserve (J.B.N.) & (W.H.R.)
My life whilst in distress.
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Thanks to the Lord because that he
In desarts, pathless way, desarts=deserts (J.B.N.) & (W.H.R.)
Directed me so that I did
At no time go astray.
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And now from bondage though I'm freed,
Yet she that's my belov'd, belov'd=beloved (J.B.N.) & (W.H.R.)
Is to a land that's far remote,
By Indians remov'd. remov'd=removed (J.B.N.) & (W.H.R.)
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Alas! alas! for my poor wife poor=dear (W.H.R.)
That's gone to heathen lands,
There to obey their very hard
And their unjust commands.
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By thinking on your misery
Increased is my wo; wo=woe (W.H.R.)
Yea pained is my aking heart aking=aching (W.H.R.)
For what you undergo.
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Were all things of this spacious globe
Offered to ease my mind,
Alas! all would abortive prove
Whilst Ketty is confined. Ketty=Kitty (W.H.R.)
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The thoughts of you my loving wife
Embitters unto me,
The sweetest comforts that can by
A world produced be. world produced=word pronounced (W.H.R.)
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Oh now I may like to a dove
In her bewildered state, bewildered=bewoldering (W.H.R.)
Bemoan the loss of my dear wife,
My true and loving mate. - Loudon Narrative Ends -pg 60
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But though we in this life ne're more - Only in W.H.R. submission
Partake of other love, - Only in W.H.R. submission
God grant that we one day may meet - Only in W.H.R. submission
In joy and peace above. - Only in W.H.R. submission
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O Kitty dear where'er you be, - Only in W.H.R. submission
God will you keep, I know: - Only in W.H.R. submission
And in and through his blessed Son, - Only in W.H.R. submission
Unto you mercy show. - Only in W.H.R. submission
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And may he by this sore distress, - Only in W.H.R. submission
Prepare you for a fight - Only in W.H.R. submission
Unto the great inheritance - Only in W.H.R. submission
Of blessed saints in light.
100th.
Verse - Only in W.H.R.
submission
- W.H.R. submission Ends.
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