The Faithless Captain, or Betrayed Virgin

The Faithless Captain, or Betrayed Virgin.

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

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BBO Roud Number: V319

ECCO Gale Document Number: CW3309780888

ECCO Gale Document Number: CW3307139076

ECCO Gale Document Number: CW3317228247

ECCO Gale Document Number: CB3330884651

ECCO Gale Document Number: CW3314869713

ESTC Citation Number: N70815

ESTC Citation Number: T206176

ESTC Citation Number: T206173

ESTC Citation Number: T35247

ESTC Citation Number: N8280

ESTC Citation Number: N56280

ESTC Citation Number: T206175

ESTC Citation Number: T35246

ESTC Citation Number: T226142

ESTC Citation Number: N31535