WILLIAM and SUSAN.
Tune of Black-eyed Susan.
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ALL in the Downs the fleet was moord,
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The streamers waving in the wind,
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When black-eyd Susan came on board:
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Oh! where shall I my true love find?
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Tell me, ye jovial sailors, tell me true,
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If my sweet William sails among your crew.
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William, who high upon the yard,
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Rockd with the billows to and fro,
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Soon as her well-known voice he heard
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He sighd, and cast his eyes below.
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The cords slide swiftly thro his glowing hands,
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And quick as lightning on the deck he stands.
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So the sweet lark, high poisd in air,
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Shuts close his pinions to his breast,
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If chance his mates shrill call he hears,
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And drops at once into her nest.
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The noblest captain in the British fleet
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Might envy Williams lips those kisses sweet.
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O Susan, Susan, lovely dear,
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My vows shall ever true remain.
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Let me kiss off that falling tear,
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We only part to meet again:
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Change as ye list, ye winds, my mind shall be
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The faithful compass that still points to thee.
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Believe not what the landmen say,
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Wholl tempt with doubts thy constant mind,
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Theyll tell thee, Sailors when away,
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In every port a mistress find.
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Yes, yes, believe them when they tell thee so,
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For thou art present wheresoer I go.
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If to fair Indias coast we sail,
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Thy eyes are seen in diamonds bright;
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Thy breath in Africks spicy gale;
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Thy skin is ivory so white.
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Thus every beauteous object that I view,
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Wakes in my soul some charm of lovely Sue.
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The battle calls me from thy arms,
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Let not my pretty Susan mourn,
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The cannons roar, yet free from harms
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William shall to his dear return.
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Love turns aside the balls that round me fly,
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Lest precious tears should drop from Susans eye.
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The boatswain gave the dreadful word,
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The sails their swelling bosom spread.
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No longer must she stay on board.
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They kissd, she sighd, he hung his head.
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Her lingring boat unwilling rows to land,
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Adieu! she cries, and waves her lilly-hand.
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Sweet Williams happy Return to his dear
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Susan.
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AS thro a grove I took my way,
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Sweet recreation for to take,
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A charming maiden fair and gay,
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For her true love sad moan did make.
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In a sweet bower, near a pleasant green,
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Dressd like a goddess, or some beauteous queen.
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Unto this maid with sorrow filld,
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I went to ease her of her smart.
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But when my person she beheld,
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She said, Kind sir, I pray depart.
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What business have you here to trouble me,
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Or to be scoffing at my misery?
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Sweet lovely mistress of the grove,
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Why should I make a scoff of thee?
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I do perceive you are in love,
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And I could wish it was with me.
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Sweet charming creature, show to me thy name,
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For thy bright charms my senses do enflame.
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Susan, it is my name, said she,
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Who am opprest with grief and woe;
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My dearest love is gone to sea,
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But where he is I do not know.
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My jewels absence fills my eyes with tears.
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I have not seen him for these many years.
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Kind Mrs. Susan, I protest
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I think I knew that same young man:
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He has a mole on his right breast,
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Likewise his name is William Lamb,
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And if he be the same, I tell you plain,
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That all your tears for him are spent in vain.
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He is the man that is my dear,
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Pretty sweet Susan did make reply,
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You make me tremble for to hear
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Of my true loves inconstancy.
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But surely such a thing can never be,
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For he admires none alive but me.
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Thats your mistake, sweet charming fair,
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Since I will let you understand,
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William is marryd, I declare,
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Unto a maid in New-England.
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And he is raise to a high degree.
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Forget him, for he has been false to thee.
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If this be true that you have said
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Then all my joys are laid aside.
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I am a poor distressed maid,
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No other shall make me a bride,
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Tho he is false a maid Ill live and die,
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But yet my heart does in his bosom lie.
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All happiness attend my dear,
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Whereer he goes, by land or sea,
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My love to him is still sincere,
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Altho he has provd false to me.
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Yet let Sweet William use me as he will,
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I cannot help but love Sweet William still.
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I could be glad with all my heart,
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To see Sweet William once again,
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Then I my mind would soon impart
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To him who breaks my heart in twain.
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And she that is his bride I love her too,
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Tho he be false, my love to him is true.
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SEEING his Susans loyalty,
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Tears down his cheeks did drop amain.
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Into her arms he strait did fly,
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Saying, Why does my love complain?
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I am thy William, joind to thee by oath.
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Nothing but death can ever part us both.
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My dear, behold on my right breast,
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You know there is a certain mole.
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Let not thy heart be sore opprest,
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Here is the broken piece of gold
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Which we did break upon a certain day
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When you departed, and I went away.
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Sorrow and hardship I went thro
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When I was on the raging main,
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Now to my dear beloved Sue
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I am returned safe again.
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No more Ill cross the raging ocean wide,
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But live in pleasure with my loving bride.
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Susan in a swoon did faint
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At Williams feet, I do declare.
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He caught her up into his arms,
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Soon he revivd the charming fair.
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William and Susan sweetly passd along
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To Plymouth-church, where multitudes throng.
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Twenty stout sailors, brave and bold,
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And twenty maids in rich attire.
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A glorious sight for to behold.
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Music playd at their desire.
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To accomodate the bride and bridegroom there.
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Now they are joind a sweet and happy pair.
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