The Auld Goodman, or, The Goodwife Victorious/The Valiant Soldier

THE VALIANT SOLDIER.

COME all you lovers far and near,
⁠within bold Britain's dourie,
Attentive be, and liſten to me,
⁠while I relate my ſtory:
There's ſome calls me a quiet young lad,
⁠and others a wild rover,
But I tell you I'm neither of the two,
⁠for I'm a jolly ſoldier.

I chearfully left my pipe and pot,
⁠to go where drums were beating,
That muſic's ſweeter far to hear,
⁠than a lover's tales intreating:
For woman's cries I do deſpiſe;
⁠I love my foes to conquer,
And follow the drums where cannons roar,
⁠juſt like a valiant ſoldier.

A ſoldier lives the happieſt life
⁠almoſt can be enjoyed,
Each day to ſpend his frugal pay,
⁠his time is moſt employed;
So this each day we paſs away,
⁠each day and night all over,
And so where I will, I go by the name
⁠of a loyal hearted ſoldier.

So full of glee, my landlady,
⁠will all her joys diſcover,
And when my landlord he comes home,
⁠I'll play the wanton lover:
So this each day I'll paſs away,
⁠each day and night all over;
Contented and free in unity,
⁠bleſt be each jovial ſoldier.

When Britain again has peace proclaim'd,
⁠then home I'll be returning,
Then every ſoul out over his bowl,
⁠ſhall drink his former mourning;
Let each take his glaſs and then his laſs,
⁠and drink to each true lover;
Bad luck unto he that would not drink free
⁠to every loyal ſoldier.