London Merchant.
‘Tis of a rich Merchant near London we hear,
Had a comely young daughter most beauteous and fair,
20 thousand bright guineas was her portion on gold,
Till she Fell in love with a young sailor bold.
O when that the Merchant these tidings did hear,
Upon the young sailor he vengence did swear,
He says your true love shall no more plough the sea,
For before to-morrow morning his bûcher I’ll be.
O when that she heard her own father say so,
Her mind was o’erwhelmed with sorrow and woe,
She thought to herself if I could see my dear,
I quickly would warn him of the danger that’s near.
In a suit of bold sailor’s apparel complete,
She dressed herself up from the head to the feet,
With pumps on her feet, and a cane in her hand,
She met her dear William as she walk’d thro’ the strand,
She says my dear William O instantly flee,
For my father doth swear that your butcher he’ll be,
So straight unto Dover I’d have you repair,
And in 48 hours I will meet you there.
As he kiss’s her fair cheek the tear stood in each eye
She says I will save you or else I will die,
Then straightway she gave him a handful of gold,
And she march’s up the street like a sailor so bold.
She meeting her father as she walk’d up the strand
He mistook her for William saying you are the man,
A sword from his side then he instantly drew
And her beautiful body he pierc’d quite through.
When he found what he’d done he sunk down in despair,
He wringer his hands and he tore off his hair.
Crying wretched monster Oh! what have I done,
I have killed the flower of fair London Town.
Then up from the ground he did instantly start,
And he lean’d on his sword till he pierced his heart,
Forgive me he cry’s as he drew his last breath,
Then he closed his eyes in the cold arms of death.
Now when that young William the tidings did hear,
He died broken hearted by grief and despair.
Thus father and daughter, and a young sailor bold,
Met an untimely death for the sake of gold.
BBO Roud Number: 8655
BBO Roud Number: 1989
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