Charming young Nancy/My Sailor Dear

MY SAILOR DEAR.

You maidens pretty, in town and city,
pray hear with pity my mournful strain;
A maid confounded, in sorrow drowned,
and deeply wounded with grief & pain.

All for the sake of a lovely Sailor,
I am still bewailing in melting tears:
Whilst other maidens are fondly playing,
I am grieving for my Sailor dear.

Thro’ dales and allies, thro shades and
vallies,
and all around each lovely grove,
Roll’d in sweet flowers, in shadow bowers,
we spent soft hours in mutual love.

Now he has left me, I do not blame him,
because my darling was prest away;
It was for my fortune my greedy parents
contriv'd to have him sent to sea.

Five thousand pounds left by my uncle,
besides four hundred pounds a-year,
It is for that reason they do disdain him,
as he is below them, my Sailor dear.

May every vengeance be their attendance
that caus’d my darling to cross the main;
For worldly treasure, and my displeasure,
they parted us for the sake of gain.

Could I command all the wealth in India,
and the gold and silver far and near,
I would soon resign even golden mines,
and in marriage join with my Sailor dear.

My hardened parents gave special orders,
that I should close confined be,
Within my chamber, free from all danger,
or left I should my darling fee.

Thirteen long weeks upon bread & water,
I liv’d, and had no other cheer!
Oh! cruel usage to give a daughter,
for loving of a Sailor dear.

Fortune befriend him, always attend him,
and still defend him where’er he goes;
By land and water may angels guard him,
while he’s at war with his Country’s foes.

O that I were a nimble Sailor,
no fears nor dangers would I fear,
But safely enter, and boldly venture,
to range the seas with my Sailor dear.

Since now my dear has crossed the ocean,
I grieve alone with a bleeding heart!
And fickle fortune, which is uncertain,
has caus’d my darling and me to part.

No man shall ever obtain my favour,
my heart is loyal in love sincere;
Till death destroy me, none shall enjoy me,
except my charming Sailor dear.