This comedy is based upon the following ballad from the London periodical, "The Gentlewoman" which tells the story in full. Come all who love a lover true, and listen to my lay, 'tis of a pair who in despair left home and ran away. But ere they'd gone a many miles misfortune did betide. The horse went lame, so down they came for they no more could ride. Now as they waited at an inn another horse to find, the father proud with curses loud came posting hard behind. He tore her from her lover's arms in spite of sobs and tears and cast him forth with many an oath unfit for tender ears. But the youth he had a ready wit so he did not despair. He promised gold to the post-boy bold and whispered low in his ear. Then he put on the post-boy's breeks and eke his boots likewise, and his hat and coat wrapped his throat and did himself disguise. Full soon a river crossed the road and the ford was deep and wide, and here at last the chaise stuck fast ere it reached the other side. The lady first with the aid of the horse did reach the river's brim, and there in the wet did the father sit but they never came back for him.