Henry and Servilla

DESCRIPTION: Broadside. Henry and Servilla are in love, but her mind changes; "perhaps it was a better match Within the mother's eye." Henry is bidden not to return. Henry intercepts her on her way to school, and shoots her then himself
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1958 (Burt-AmericanMurderBallads)
KEYWORDS: love courting betrayal homicide suicide
HISTORICAL REFERENCES:
January 13, 1854 - Murder/suicide of Servilla (Jones?) and Henry
FOUND IN: US
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Burt-AmericanMurderBallads, pp. 45-47, "Henry and Servilla, or the Death Bridal -- being a graphic account of the New Boston Tragedy" (1 text, slightly shortened)
NOTES [95 words]: What I want to know is, why didn't someone shoot the mother who named her daughter "Servilla"?
This is as bad as it sounds, being littered, e.g. with small caps:
One had a DAUGHTER, just sixteen....
He loved SERVILLA long and well,
(Surely it was not strange,)
And happy was he in her love,
But ah! THERE CAME A CHANGE!
He took the maiden by the hand,
"YOU SHALL BE MINE," he said;
Then drew a pistol from his breast
AND SHOT HER THROUGH THE HEAD.
On second thought, I want to know why Henry didn't shoot the so-called "poet" who would inflict *that* on the world. - RBW
File: Burt045

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