Old Ballads Part 5

Now dashed upon the billow, Our op'ning timbers creak; Each fears a wat'ry pillow, None stop the dreadful leak!

To cling to slipp'ry shrouds, Each breathless seaman crowds, As she lay, till the day, In the Bay of Biscay O!

At length the wished-for morrow Broke through the hazy sky; Absorbed in silent sorrow, Each heaved the bitter sigh; The dismal wreck to view, Struck horror to the crew, As she lay, on that day, In the Bay of Biscay O!

Her yielding timbers sever, Her pitchy seams are rent; When Heaven, all-bounteous ever, Its boundless mercy sent!

A sail in sight appears, We hail her with three cheers!

Now we sail, with the gale, From the Bay of Biscay O!

_Andrew Cherry._

BLACK-EYED SUSAN.

All in the Downs the fleet was moored, The streamers waving in the wind, When black-eyed Susan came on board: "Oh! where shall I my true love find?

Tell me, ye jovial sailors, tell me true, If my sweet William sails among your crew?"

William, who high upon the yard, Rocked by the billows to and fro, Soon as her well-known voice he heard, He sighed, and cast his eyes below: The cord glides swiftly through his glowing hands, And, quick as lightning, on the deck he stands.

So the sweet lark, high poised in air, Shuts close his pinions to his breast (If, chance, his mate's shrill call he hear), And drops at once into her nest: The n.o.blest captain in the British fleet Might envy William's lips those kisses sweet.

Oh, Susan! Susan! lovely dear!

My vows shall ever true remain; Let me kiss off that falling tear, We only part to meet again: Change as ye list, ye winds! my heart shall be The faithful compa.s.s that still points to thee.

Believe not what the landsmen say, Who tempt with doubts thy constant mind; They tell thee--sailors when away In every port a mistress find!

Yes, yes, believe them when they tell thee so, For thou art present wheresoe'er I go.

If to fair India's coast we sail, Thine eyes are seen in diamonds bright; Thy breath in Afric's spicy gale, Thy skin in ivory so white: Thus every beauteous object that I view Wakes in my soul some charm of lovely Sue.

Though battle call me from thy arms, Let not my pretty Susan mourn; Though cannons roar, yet free from harms, William shall to his dear return: Love turns aside the b.a.l.l.s that round me fly, Lest precious tears should drop from Susan's eye.

The boatswain gave the dreadful word, The sails their swelling bosoms spread; No longer must she stay on board: They kissed, she sighed, he hung his head.

Her lessening boat, unwilling, rows to land; "Adieu!" she cried, and waved her lily hand.

_J. Gay._

DUNCAN GRAY.

Duncan Grey came here to woo, Ha, ha, the wooing o't, On blythe yule night when we were fou, Ha, ha, the wooing o't.

Maggie coost' her head fu' high, Look'd asklent and unco skeigh, Gart poor Duncan stand abeigh; Ha, ha, the wooing o't.

Duncan fleech'd, and Duncan pray'd; Ha, ha, the wooing o't, Meg was deaf' as Ailsa Craig, Ha, ha, the wooing o't.

Duncan sigh'd baith out and in, Grat his een baith bleer't and blin', Spak o' lowpin o'er a linn; Ha, ha, the wooing o't.

Time and chance are but a tide, Ha, ha, the wooing o't, Slighted love is sair to bide, Ha, ha, the wooing o't.

Shall I, like a fool, quoth he, For a haughty hizzie dee?

She may gae to--France for me, Ha, ha, the wooing o't.

How it comes let doctors tell.

Ha, ha, the wooing o't, Meg grew sick--as he grew well, Ha, ha, the wooing o't.

Something in her bosom wrings, For relief a sigh she brings; And O, her een, they spak sic things!

Ha, ha, the wooing o't.

Duncan was a lad o' grace, Ha, ha, the wooing o't, Maggie's was a piteous case, Ha, ha, the wooing o't.

Duncan couldna be her death, Swelling pity smoor'd his wrath; Now they're crouse and cantie baith, Ha, ha, the wooing o't.

_Burns_.

THE BAILIFF'S DAUGHTER OF ISLINGTON.

There was a youth, and a well-beloved youth, And he was a squire's son; He loved the bailiff's daughter dear That lived in Islington.

Yet she was coy, and would not believe That he did love her so.

No; nor at any time would she Any countenance to him show.

But when his friends did understand His fond and foolish mind, They sent him up to fair London An apprentice for to bind.

And when he had been seven long years, And never his love could see: "Many a tear have I shed for her sake, When she little thought of me."

Then all the maids of Islington Went forth to sport and play, All but the bailiff's daughter dear-- She secretly stole away.

She pulled off her gown of green, And put on ragged attire, And to fair London she would go, Her true love to inquire.

And as she went along the high road, The weather being hot and dry, She sat her down upon a green bank, And her true love came riding by.

She started up, with a colour so red, Catching hold of his bridle-rein; "One penny, one penny, kind sir," she said, "Will ease me of much pain."

"Before I give you one penny, sweetheart, Pray tell me where you were born?"

"At Islington, kind sir," said she, "Where I have had many a scorn."

"I pr'ythee, sweetheart, then tell to me, O tell me, whether you know The bailiff's daughter of Islington?"

"She is dead, sir, long ago."

"If she be dead, then take my horse, My saddle and bridle also; For I will into some far countrie, Where no man shall me know."

O stay, O stay, thou goodly youth, She standeth by thy side: She is here alive, she is not dead-- And ready to be thy bride.

O farewell grief, and welcome joy, Ten thousand times therefore!