The Constant Lovers

The Sailor’s Happy Marriage.

There was an old merchant of honor and fame,
He lived in London, I knew not his name,
He had a young daughter, whose beauty was clear,
And persons of honour did court her we hear.

Yet nevertheless she refused them all,
And lov’d a young sailor that was proper and tall,
She sent him a letter, her mind to reveal,
That she was not able her love to conceal.

He received the letter with great joy and mirth,
And unto her father he presently went:
There unto each other revealed their minds,
With many sweet kisses and compliments fine.

At last her old father got word by the bye,
That on the young sailor she had cast an eye;
Ne’er mind, said her father, I will them soon part.
I’ll seem to prove kind, tho’ ’tis not in my heart.

Next morning as soon as the stairs he came down,
He call’d on his daughter, they say with a frown;
Saying beautiful daughter will you speak and embrace,
And marry a sailor, your friends to disgrace.

Dear honored father, your pardon I crave,
There is none in the world but the sailor I’ll have;
For he is my dear, and my only joy,
And if I don’t have him, myself I’ll destroy.

Well beautiful daughter, if it is your lot,
To marry a sailor I’ll hinder you not;
But pray do it in private, talk nothing of me,
And when it is over we’ll bravely agree.

But when they were going in at the church door,
A press-gang did meet them, ’twas near to a score;
Instead of being married, he was pressed away,
So nothing was there but a sorrowful day.

This fair maid she dressed herself up in mens clothes.
And unto the very same captain she goes;
She entered herself, and it fell to her lot,
To lay in her love’s arms, tho’ he knew not.

When many a night with each other they had laid
And many a night with each other had sail’d;
O! once I’d a true love, the sailor did say,
But her cruel parents they press’d me away.

‘Tis very well known I was brought up to my pen,
Some knowledge and ‘strolage, I act now and then,
Come tell me your age, and I’ll throw up your lot,
And tell whether you’ll ever have her or not.

Then straight in her arms like lightening he flew
Saying, many a hazard I’ve ventured for you;
You might see how the sailor enjoy’d his sweetheart,
No doubt but the sailor could act his own part.

Now when the couple return’d to this land,
Her father was dead as we understand;
And she was heiress of her father’s estate,
And he was the Lord of riches most great.

Now this couple was married, as plainly appears,
Enjoying one another without dread or fears;
With love out of measure, unto their content,
And spendeth their lives in sweet innocence.

*Transcriber’s note: Dugaw’s catalogue contains multiple variants of this ballad; this is the first of the variants listed. To review other variants of this ballad, please consult the Dugaw catalogue.