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EBBA 37422

British Library - Bagford
Ballad XSLT Template
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.

A Seaman lov'd a Maiden pretty
and esteem'd her as his life,
She was beauteous fair and witty
whom he vow'd should be his wife:
He was minded, and designed
for to leave the brittish shore
And sail again unto the Main
as he had often done before.

So he kindly came unto her
and his mind did thus express,
Dearest of my love be sure
in thee is all my happiness.
And yet must I immediately
be forc'd to leave thee on the shore,
When I again, come from the Main
I swear i'le never leave thee more.

These his words her mind did trouble
and did pierce her tender heart,
Then her sorrows they grew double
and increas'd her deadly smart:
She replyed, if she dyed
to the Main with him she'd go
Quoth he my Dear, I greatly fear
hardship thou canst not undergo.

I am loath for to forsake thee
yet I constant will remain,
And my faithful wife will make thee
when I home return again:
He did protest, he did not jest
but yet she constantly did cry
I do not fear, my only Dear
for with thee I will live and dye.

I'm resolv'd in spight of danger
that I will thy Mesmate be
Through the world i'le be a ranger
for my Loves dear company:
By joynt consent, to Sea they went
to satisfy her hearts desire;
This was not known to anyone
for she was drest in man's attire.

To the Ocean then they Sailed
little did the Captain know,
That a Female with him sailed
and sometimes in the long-boat Row.
She did behave herself so brave
that none could this her trick discern
Industriously this damsel she
did Navigation strive to learn.

Do but mark how fickle Fortune
did their comforts all destroy
She doth often prove uncertain
and eclipse true lovers joy:

For blustring wind, too oft we find
do work poor Seamens overthrow
And so were they all cast away
great pitty 'twas it should be so.

In this distress these faithful lovers
both were like for to be lost
Surgins Seas did wash them over
they on mighty Waves were tost:
In this distress, most pittiless
care for his love he did not lack
With weary limbs long time he swims
while his true love was on his back.

But he at last was almost tyred,
past hopes of finding some relief
Tho fortune smiles they oft desired
for to ease them of their grief:
An Algerine, at that same time
did happen to come sayling by
So straitway he, most earnestly
aloud to them for help did cry.

They took them up into their ship
that they were Turks they quickly found,
At first their hearts for joy did leap
at last they were with sorrow drown'd:
For Algier then, they sailed agen
not knowing who they had for prize
For none bewray'd, it was a Maid
whose Echo's then did pierce the Skies.

Before the Governour they came
and then the truth she did reveal
She freely did confess the same
which long before she did conceal
So presently, her constancy
most mightily he did commend
And back again, he o're the Main
did both these faithful lovers send.


Printed for J. Blare at the Looking-Glass on London-Bridge.

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