THE
FAITHLESS CAPTAIN;
OR,
BETRAYED VIRGIN.
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ALL ye maidens fair I pray awhile draw near,
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I a tragical story have to tell;
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It will make your heart bleed, when further I proceed
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As for the truth it has befel,
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In London city liv'd a maiden there,
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Blest with a store of wit and beauty bright,
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Unto a lady fair she a servant were,
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And the lady in her took delight.
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She had a son we hear, who a captain were,
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A ship the Burford called, he did command,
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And as it was found was to India bound,
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And he must forsake the English land.
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His mother's waiting maid had his heart betray'd,
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He great kindness unto her did bear,
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Though she was poor, yet he did her adore,
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But at length he did her heart ensnare.
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Rich gold and silver bright, on his heart's delight,
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With some rich things he did bestow,
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Cloth'd her in array like a lady gay,
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But at last it prov'd her overthrow.
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The joyful day, we hear appointed were,
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For the marriage as you shall find,
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Men lay many a snare for the maidens fair,
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Hard it is for maids to trust mankind.
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The night before they married were to be,
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He unto the maiden fair did come,
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Saying, my heart's delight, go with me to night,
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About some business that I must have done.
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Unto a tavern he took the maid straightway,
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She poor innocent maid did think no ill,
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With wine as we hear, her senses did ensnare,
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Thus the traitor had his lusted will.
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But when the morning fair it did appear,
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And sleep her gentle senses did restore.
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Finding thus her charms infolded in his arms,
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Down her cheeks the chrystal streams did pour.
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My heart's oppress'd with grief finding no relief,
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Since a victim to your lust I'm fell;
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Now my virgin bloom you've cropt too soon,
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All joys and pleasures now I bid farewell,
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Wilt thou wed me, sir, as you did say,
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This day you know the knot was to be tied,
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For ever undone my honour is gone,
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I am afraid I shall not be your bride.
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Though your charming person I've enjoy'd,
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If I forsake my dear, heaven be severe,
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May all the substance I have, be destroyed.
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The ship that I command when I leave the land,
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May it never more return again;
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And then my tomb all in this youthful bloom,
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Be in the deep and raging main.
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But first I'll go to sea, e're I'll married be,
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To look after honour and renown.
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A dream she said she had, they never should be wed
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With many vows and oaths he from her rose,
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And on board the ship he soon did steer,
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The beauteous damsel bright went that same night,
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And bought some cloathing then to wear.
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Her lovely locks of hair, as bright as silver were,
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She cut off that none might her know,
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Cloth'd like a sailor bright, she went that night,
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To enter at the rendezvous did go.
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Being tall and slim, and straight in every limb,
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Both dress and shape together did agree,
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The crew at her did gaze, the lieutenant says,
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Young man have you ever been at sea.
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No, she replied, but if you'll enter me,
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I soon shall become a sailor bold.
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For I have a mind to go, where the storms do blow,
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And to seek for honour and upright gold.
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She was entertained straight, to be a second mate,
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And on board in a little time did go,
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For the Indies soon did sail away,
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The Captain his true love did not know.
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Once upon a day he to her did say,
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Mate, thy person doth much so appear,
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Just like a love of mine I think many a time,
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When I look on you, I look on my dear.
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She was my mother's maid, I her heart betrayed,
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Now I have left her thus to gvieve alone,
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I wish that soon she may married be,
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To some other man 'ere my return.
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This was a piercing dart to her tender heart,
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With a deep sigh she from him turn'd away,
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Revenge ye gods! she said, on his perjured head,
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Who cruelly my honour did betray.
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Now comes the tragical part, enough to pierce a heart,
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Quick she found herself with child to be,
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This cut her heart almost in twain;
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The ship's crew we hear did love her dear.
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Soon the lovely charming second mate,
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Begun to look quite thick about the waist,
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Forth from her eyes came many a briny tear.
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The Captain soon did take notice of the mate,
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One day as she in the cabin were,
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The Captain by her breast so fair,
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Thought indeed she might a woman be.
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The more he on her gaz'd, the more he was amaz'd,
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Perfectly he thought her face he knew,
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He said reveng'd I'll be, if it should be she;
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Then out of the cabin straight he flew,
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And bid the surgeon go and call the mate,
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She trembling to the Captain did come,
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He said, I plainly see Madam, who you be,
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I shall be revenged for what you have done.
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At his feet then she fell immediately,
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And said do not be to me severe;
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It is for the love of thee I've cross'd the sea,
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Pity my distress my dearest dear,
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You've been you know my sad overthrow,
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Little did I think I with child were,
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But since it is so, some pity to me shew,
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Favour a poor distrest creature here.
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Arise and go from me, he unto her did say,
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See none of this matter you let be known.
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Soon as we can get sight of land,
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I am resolv'd you on shore shall go.
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She said, dearest dear, be not too severe,
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Call to mind the oaths that you made to me,
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And how you did betray my virginity,
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The night before we married were to be;
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Do not from me part in this wild desart,
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Drown me in the watery main,
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Freely I'd comply this moment for to die,
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So let me now love by you be slain.
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As thus she spoke, tears bedew'd her cheek,
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Earnestly upon her he did gaze,
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He unto her did cry, and made this reply,
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In these arms sweet Molly make your grave,
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I cannot cruel be to such constancy,
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But as to your distress, heaven knows best,
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My dearest, what will become of you,
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We are far from shore the billows roar,
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The doctor he must thy comfort be.
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The minister I'll tell what has befel,
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And we'll married be upon the sea.
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The men were confused who heard the news,
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And mov'd in pity to the charming fair,
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But as we hear they married were,
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morning light did appear.
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Yet fortune, as we find, to them proves unkind,
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Those unhappy lovers to divide,
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As he sleeping were by his lovely fair,
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The winds blew high and dreadful storms arose.
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All hands aloft they run all dangers for to shun,
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While the swelling bosom of the sea,
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Toss'd them mountains high, they for help did cry,
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To the Lord in their extremity.
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At last upon a rock they receiv'd a shock,
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Expecting every moment for to die,
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The men employed thus to save their lives,
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As on a rock the gallant ship did lie,
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The woman, on the deck, she came among the rest,
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In the hurry overboard she fell,
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No one could her save, the sea was her grave,
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A tragical story to her love to tell.
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The powers did decree she saved should not be,
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With waves they from the rocks were driven,
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The storm abated were to their joy,
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For this happiness they thanked kind heaven,
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The Captain he cry'd, where is my lovely bride,
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Having searched no one could her see,
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For oh! unlucky day, she was cast away,
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At that he wrung his hands most bitterly.
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No rest could he take but sat on the beach,
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Earnestly of heaven he did implore,
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That her corpse he might see floating on the sea,
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To gaze his last upon her he did adore.
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When two days were past he spy'd at last,
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Her body floating on the main,
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Oh! Neptune kind, said he, thus to favour me,
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With the sight of my love again.
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Now like Leander here, I'll go to my dear,
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Evermore within her arms to sleep,
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It was for the love of me she cross'd the sea,
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And made her tomb in the silent deep,
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Her love to retaliate I will share the same fate.
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The Gods unto our vows will all witness be,
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My promsse I'll perform this unhappy morn,
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So instantly he leap'd into the sea.
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Many of them strove to save him then,
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When too true it was the fatal hour,
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For the swelling wave did become his grave,
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They were never after seen more.
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Young men a warning take how your oaths you break
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Of young virgins do not make game,
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Keep your vows and oaths as you propose,
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Then happy blessings will attend the same.
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