Constant swain/The maid's lamentation for a sailor

Constant swain (1799)
The Maid's Lamentation for a Sailor
3216363Constant swain — The Maid's Lamentation for a Sailor1799

The Maid's Lamentation for a Sailor.

IN the pleasant month of June,
abroad as I did stray.
There I espied a comely maid
dress'd in a rich array.

She on a bed of flowers sat,
her heart was fill'd with care,
And bitterly she did lament
for her jolly Sailor dear.

How could my parents so cruel be,
to rob me of my dear?
To send him to the raging seas,
to a place I know not where.

Thro' blust'ring winds and swelling waves,
no danger will I fear,
Till I find out the man I love:
he's my jolly Sailor dear.

How could my parents so cruel be,
to rob me of my rest?
Of all the young men in the world,
a Sailor I love best

Ye gods of love prove kind to me,
and send him safely here,
And on my snow white breast, his head
shall rest, he's my jolly Sailor dear.

How happy is the country girl,
who has the man she loves?
Contented with her homely food,
and blessing from above;

All worldly riches I despise,
no poverty I fear,
Could I enjoy the man I love,
he's my jolly Sailor dear.

I'll dress myself in man's array,
with trousers clean and white,
And to the raging seas I'll go,
to seek my heart's delight.

From ship to ship, from sea to sea,
so boldly will I steer.
Till I find out the man I love,
he's my jolly Sailor dear.

O was I worth ten thousand pounds,
and on King George's throne,
Freely would I part with it all
to the man I dearly love.

Ye gods of love prove kind to me,
from danger may I steer,
Now I will search the seas all round,
for my jolly Sailor dear.



This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.

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