Belfast shoemaker, or, Bold Irvine and Jane Wilson/The constant lady

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THE CONSTANT LADY.

YE muses assist me, I'd have you draw near,
and guide both my hand and my pen,
These lines for to write, and I'll make it appear,
⁠how maids are deceiv'd by young men,
Young men, how maids are deceiv'd by young men.

For once I'd a true love but now I have none,
⁠for a true love I cannot say,
For he is deceitful, and from me is flown,
⁠I lament for him both night and day
Night & day, I lament for him both night and day.

The thoughts of blind fortune I highly disdain,
⁠so will I whilst I have breath,
But constant to him I still will remain,
⁠whilst I have a being on earth,
On earth, whilst I have a being on earth.

Some women will change, and shift like the wind,
⁠or the swallow that swiftly do fly,
But I am resolv'd ne'er to alter my mind,
⁠but constant remain till I die.
Till I die, but constant remain till I die.

The frowns of blind fortune I never will fear,
⁠altho' it oft will be constant to him,
I still will be true to the man who's my dear,
⁠I'll remain so till my last minute is run,
Is run, I'll remain so till my last minute is run.

Alexander did prove more constant in love,
⁠had he been as constant to me,
As ever young Fressey was unto his dear,
⁠when Cupid did set on her knee,
Her knee, when Cupid did set on her knee.

I'll silently mourn for the loss of my love,
⁠As the turtle that mourns for his mate,
Altho' at present he is sharp and severe,
⁠he'll repent when it will be too late,
Too late, he'll repent when it will be too late.

Altho' I do love him, he never shall know,
⁠that e'er he disturbed my heart,
But after my burial, the paper will shew,
⁠how Cupid has acted his part,
His part, how Cupid has acted his part.

Farewel my false love I no longer can write,
⁠no longer can I hold my pen,
My senses are gone and I cannot indite,
⁠so adieu to the falsest of men, of mon, so, etc.