CONSTANCE and ANTHONY:
OR,
An Admirable Northern STORY.
Of two constant Lovers, as I understand,
Were born near Appleby in Westmoreland;
The Lads Name Anthony, Constance the Lass,
To Sea they went both, and great Dangers did pass:
How they sufferd Shipwreck on the Coast of Spain,
For two Years divided, and then met again,
By wonderful Fortune, and Care accident,
And now both live at Home with Joy and Content.
The Tune, I would thou wert in Shrewsbury.
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TWO Lovers in the North,
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Constance and Anthony,
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Of them I will set forth
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A gallant History;
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They lovd exceeding well,
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As plainly doth appear,
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But that which I shall tell,
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The like you neer did hear.
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Still she cries Anthony,
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My bonny Anthony,
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Gang thou by Land or Sea,
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Ill wind along with thee.
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Anthony must to Sea,
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His Calling doth him bind,
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My Constance dear, quoth he,
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I must leave thee behind;
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I prithee do not grieve,
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Thy Tears will not prevail,
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Ill think on thee my Sweet,
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When the Ships under Sail.
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But still, etc.
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How may that be, said he,
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Consider well the Case:
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Quoth she, sweet Anthony,
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Ill not bide in this Place;
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If thou gang, so will I,
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Of the Means do not doubt,
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A Womans Policy
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Great Matters may find out.
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My bonny Anthony, etc.
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Gang thou by Land or Sea,
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Ill wind along with thee.
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I would be very glad,
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But prithee tell me how:
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Ill dress me like a Lad,
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What sayst thou to me now?
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The Sea thou canst not brook:
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Yes, very well, quoth she,
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Ill be Scullion to the Cook,
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For thy sweet Company.
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My bonny, etc.
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Anthonys leave she had,
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And drest in Mans Array,
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She seemd the blithest Lad,
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Seen on a Summers Day:
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Oh! see what Love can do,
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At Home she would not bide,
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With her true Love shell go,
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Let Weil or Woe betide.
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My dearest Anthony, etc.
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In the Ship it was her Lot
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To be the Under-Cook,
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And at the Fire hot,
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Wonderful Pains she took;
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She served every one,
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Fitting to their Degree,
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And now and then alone
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She kissed Anthony.
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My bonny, etc.
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A-lack and well-a-day,
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By Tempest on the Main,
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Their Ship was cast away,
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Upon the Coast of Spain,
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To the Mercy of the Waves,
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They all committed were,
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Constance her own self saves,
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Then she cries for her Dear.
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My bonny, etc.
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Swimming upon a Plank,
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At Bilboa got ashore,
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First she did Heaven thank,
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Then she lamented sore;
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Oh! woes me, said she,
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The sadest Loss alive,
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My dearest Anthony
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Now on the Sea doth drive.
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My bonny, etc.
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What will become of me?
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Why did I strive for Shore?
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Since my sweet Anthony
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I never shall see more.
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Fair Constance do not grieve,
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The same good Providence,
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Hath savd thy Lover sweet,
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But he is far from hence.
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Still, etc.
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A Spanish Merchant rich,
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Saw this fair seeming Lad,
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That did lament so much,
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And was so grievous sad;
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He had in England been,
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And English understood,
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He having heard and seen,
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He in Amazement stood.
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Still, etc.
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The Merchant asked her,
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What was this Anthony?
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Quoth she, my Brother, Sir,
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Who came thence with me.
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He did her entertain,
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Thinking she was a Boy,
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Two Years she did remain,
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Before she met her Joy.
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Still, etc.
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Anthony up was taen
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By an English Runagade,
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With whom he did remain
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At the Sea roving Trade;
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In the Nature of a Slave,
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He did in the Galley row,
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Thus he his Life did save,
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But Constance did not know,
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Still, etc.
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Now mark what came to pass,
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See how the Fates did work,
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A Ship that her Masters was,
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Surprizd this English Turk,
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And into Bilboa brought,
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All that aboard her were;
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Constance full little thought
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Anthony was so near.
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Still, etc.
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When they were come ashore,
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Anthony and the Rest,
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She who was sad before,
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Was now with Joy possessd,
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The Merchant much did muse,
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At this so sudden Change,
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He did demand the News.
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Which unto him was strange.
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Still, etc.
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Upon her Knee she fell,
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Unto her Master kind,
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All the Truth she did tell,
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Nothing she kept behind;
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At which he did admire,
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And in a Ship of Spain,
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He paying for the Hire,
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Sent them straight home again,
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Now she etc.
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The Spanish Merchant rich,
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Did of his Bounty give,
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A Sum of Gold, on which
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They did most bravely live;
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And now in Westmoreland,
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They were joind Hand in Hand,
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Constance and Anthony,
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They live in Mirth and Glee,
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Still she cries Anthony,
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My bonny Anthony,
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Gang thou by Land or Sea,
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Ill wind along with thee.
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