The Mariners Misfortune, OR, The Unfortunate Voyage of two Constant Lovers. Being an Account of a faithful Seaman, who going to take his Farwel of his Sweetheart, she re- solved come Life, or come Death, to Sail with him; and putting herself into Mans Appar- rel, went the Voyage with him, but by distress of weather, coming home were cast away, the constant Seaman having no other help, betook himself to swimming, and having got his Sweetheart upon his back, swam till he was almost tyred, but was at last taken up by an Algerine, who carryed them to Algiers, where being brought before the Governour, she confessed herself to be a Female, which so astonished the Governour, that he in requital of her constancy, set them both free, who are happily Arrived in England again. Tune of, Souldiers Departure.
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A Seaman lov'd a Maiden pretty
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and esteem'd her as his life,
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She was beauteous fair and witty
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whom he vow'd should be his wife:
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He was minded, and designed
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for to leave the brittish shore
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And sail again unto the Main
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as he had often done before.
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So he kindly came unto her
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and his mind did thus express,
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Dearest of my love be sure
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in thee is all my happiness.
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And yet must I immediately
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be forc'd to leave thee on the shore,
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When I again, come from the Main
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I swear i'le never leave thee more.
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These his words her mind did trouble
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and did pierce her tender heart,
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Then her sorrows they grew double
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and increas'd her deadly smart:
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She replyed, if she dyed
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to the Main with him she'd go
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Quoth he my Dear, I greatly fear
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hardship thou canst not undergo.
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I am loath for to forsake thee
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yet I constant will remain,
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And my faithful wife will make thee
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when I home return again:
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He did protest, he did not jest
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but yet she constantly did cry
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I do not fear, my only Dear
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for with thee I will live and dye.
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I'm resolv'd in spight of danger
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that I will thy Mesmate be
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Through the world i'le be a ranger
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for my Loves dear company:
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By joynt consent, to Sea they went
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to satisfy her hearts desire;
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This was not known to anyone
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for she was drest in man's attire.
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To the Ocean then they Sailed
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little did the Captain know,
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That a Female with him sailed
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and sometimes in the long-boat Row.
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She did behave herself so brave
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that none could this her trick discern
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Industriously this damsel she
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did Navigation strive to learn.
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Do but mark how fickle Fortune
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did their comforts all destroy
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She doth often prove uncertain
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and eclipse true lovers joy:
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For blustring wind, too oft we find
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do work poor Seamens overthrow
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And so were they all cast away
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great pitty 'twas it should be so.
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In this distress these faithful lovers
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both were like for to be lost
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Surgins Seas did wash them over
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they on mighty Waves were tost:
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In this distress, most pittiless
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care for his love he did not lack
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With weary limbs long time he swims
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while his true love was on his back.
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But he at last was almost tyred,
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past hopes of finding some relief
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Tho fortune smiles they oft desired
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for to ease them of their grief:
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An Algerine, at that same time
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did happen to come sayling by
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So straitway he, most earnestly
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aloud to them for help did cry.
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They took them up into their ship
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that they were Turks they quickly found,
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At first their hearts for joy did leap
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at last they were with sorrow drown'd:
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For Algier then, they sailed agen
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not knowing who they had for prize
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For none bewray'd, it was a Maid
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whose Echo's then did pierce the Skies.
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Before the Governour they came
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and then the truth she did reveal
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She freely did confess the same
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which long before she did conceal
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So presently, her constancy
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most mightily he did commend
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And back again, he o're the Main
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did both these faithful lovers send.
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