The Faithful Marriner:
OR,
A Copy of VERSES
Writ by a Seaman on Board the Britania in the Streights,
and directed to fair Isabel, his loyal Love, in the City of London.
Tune of, The False-hearted Young Man: or, The Languishing Swain.
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FAir Isabel of beauty bright,
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To thee in love these lines I write,
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Hoping thou art alive and well,
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As I am now, as I am now,
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Fair Isabel.
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On board the brave Britannia bold,
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I have the fortune to behold,
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The sweet delightful banks of Spain,
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While in the Streights, while in the Streights
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We do remain.
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The Spanish lords of high renown,
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And gentery come swarming down,
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To see the British royal Fleet;
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With swelling sails, with swelling sails,
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And streamers sweet.
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While we appear'd in all our pride,
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The seas was ne'er so beautifi'd,
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With able men of war before,
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Along the streights, along the streights
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And Spanish-shore.
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We have no storms nor weather foul,
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To make the roaring billows roul,
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But pleasant breathing gentle gales,
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Enough to fill, enough to fill
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Our swelling sails.
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Along the coast of Barbary,
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The Algerines they flock'd to see
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Our warlike Fleet of royal fame,
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And stood amaz'd, and stood amaz'd
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To see the same.
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The longer they the Fleet beheld,
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The more they were with wonder fill'd;
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As knowing we were Britains bold,
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And that the French, and that the French
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False tales had told.
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For Turvil made the Turk believe,
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That he no damage could receive;
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For of a truth he did declare,
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That masters of, that masters of
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The seas they were.
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This will for truth no longer go,
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For Turvil fears great Russel so,
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That for Thoulon he stear'd away;
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He han't forgot, he han't forgot
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The month of May.
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With Russel he is loath to deal,
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For fear a second warlike peal
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Should shake their whole foundation so,
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That it might prove, that it might prove
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Their overthrow.
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Once more my dear and tender dove,
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Fair Isabel, my loyal love,
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Except of these few lines I send,
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Who will remain, who will remain
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Your faithful friend.
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Tho we are separated now,
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I'll not forget that solemn vow,
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Made when I left my native land,
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To go on board, to go on board
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Under command.
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Then dearest do not grieve nor mourn,
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With patience wait my safe return;
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And then we'll both united be,
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In lasting bonds, in lasting bonds,
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Of loyalty.
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The figure of a heart I send,
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And round the same these lines are penn'd:
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The chain of love has link'd it fast,
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So long as life, so long as life
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And breath shall last.
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