The Merchant of Bristol’s Daughter, and The Lass of the Brow of the Hill.
1791.
Merchant’s Daughter of Bristol.
You loyal lovers far and near,
A true relation you shall hear,
Of a young couple that proved to be
A pattern of great loyalty.
A merchant did in Bristol dwell,
As many people knew full well;
Who had a daughter of beauty bright,
In whom he plac’d his heart’s delight.
He had no children but only she,
Her father lov’d her tenderly;
Many to court her hither came,
Gallants of worthy birth and fame,
Yet notwithstanding of their love,
A young ship carpenter did prove
To be the master of her heart,
She often said, we’ll never part:
As long as life and breath remain,
Thy company I’ll not refrain;
No cursed gold, nor silver bright,
Shall rob me of my heart’s delight.
Now when her father came to know
His daughter lov’d the young man so,
He caus’d him to be prest to sea,
To keep him from her company.
Now when this damsel came to hear,
Without the thoughts of dread or fear,
She drest herself in seamn’s shew,
And after him she did pursue.
Unto the captain she did go,
And said, Right worthy sir, ’tis so,
You do want men, I understand;
I’m free to fight with heart and hand.
The captain straightway did reply,
Young man, you’re welcome heartily;
A guinea in her hand he gave
She passed for a seaman brave
Soon after this the ship set sail,
And with a fair and pleasant gale;
But this ship carpenter her dear,
Did little think his love so near.
She then appeared for to be
A person of no mean degree;
With pretty fingers, long and straight,
She soon became the surgeon’s mate.
PART II
It happened so that this same ship,
At storming of the town of Diep,
They lay at anchor something nigh,
Where cannon bullets they did fly.
The first man that was wounded there,
Was this young bold ship-carpenter.
When drums did beat and trumpets sounds,
He on the breast recevid a wound.
Then to the surgion’s care was he
Brought down with speed immediately:
Where was the pretty surgeon’s mate,
Did carefully upon him wait.
Altho’ the sight did pierce her heart,
She did not let him know her smart;
Then she did use her utmost skill,
The cure him with a great good will.
She cur’d him in a little space;
He often gaz’d upon her face;
Surgeon, he said, such eyes as thine,
Did formerly my heart confine.
If e’er I live to go a-shore,
And she be dead whom I adore;
I will your true companion be,
And ne’er forsake your company.
If she be dead, this will I do,
To female sex I’ll bid adieu;
And ne’er will marry for her sake,
But to the seas myself betake.
PART III
The Bristol merchant’s daughter now,
Had to her love prov’d just and true;
When many storms was over blown,
She to her love herself made known.
The season of the year being past,
The ship was homeward bound at last;
When to the harbour they did get,
The seamen all on shore was set.
But yet of all the whole ship’s crew,
There was not one among them knew,
That they a woman had so near,
Until she told it to her dear.
To whom she did these words unfold,
Not long ago, said she, ye told
Me plainly, that such eyes as mine
Did formerly thy heart confine.
Then without any more ado,
Into his arms straightway she flew;
And said My love, I am thy own,
This have I done for thee alone.
His heart possest with joy likewise,
When as the tears stood in his eyes;
He said, thou’st shew’d a valiant heart,
And likewise play’d a lover’s part.
And then without the least delay,
He deck’d her like a lady gay:
And so they married were with speed,
As formerly they had agreed.
PART IV
Then to her father’s house he went,
And found him in much discontent,
He ask’d him for his daughter dear,
Which pierc’d her father’s heart to hear.
He with a mournful sigh replied,
Wish she had in her cradle died;
Then might I seen my daughter’s death.
When she had yielded up her breath.
But now I shall ne’er see her more,
My jewel whom I did adore;
O most unhappy man was I,
To part her from your company.
The young man hearing what he said,
Reply’d, your daughter is not dead;
For you within a few hours space,
Shall truly see your daughter’s face.
He rode as fast as he could fly,
And brought her home immediately,
And set her in her father’s hall,
And on his knees he straight did fall.
Her father was with joy possest,
His daughter then he kist and blest.
Thrice welcome home thou are said he,
Once more my jewel unto me.
To him the truth he did relate,
And how she was the surgeon’s mate;
He then did smile and was right glad,
So that he gave them all he had.
She was a seaman and surgeon’s mate,
Preserved by the hand of fate;
She is now made a lawful wife,
And liveth free from care and strife.
Young lovers all a pattern take,
When you a solemn contract make,
Stand to the same what’er betide,
As did this faithful loving bride.
BBO Roud Number: V29410
EBBA ID Number: 33930
EBBA ID Number: 31374
ECCO Gale Document Number: CW3313318867
EEBO Proquest ID Number: 2240927264
ESTC Citation Number: T29669