The Souldiers Farewel To His Love
The Souldiers Farewel to his Love.
Being a Dialogue betwixt Thomas and Margaret.
To a pleasant new Tune.
Thomas. Margaret my sweetest, Margaret I must go,
Margaret. Most dear to me, that never may be so:
T. Ah, Fortune wills it, I cannot it deny,
M. then know my love your Margaret must dye.
T. Not for the gold my Love that Croesus had,
Would I once see thy sweetest looks so sad,
M. Nor for all that the which my eye did see,
Would I depart my sweetest Love from thee.
T. The King commands, & I must to the wars
M. Ther’s others more enough may end the jars
T. But I for one commanded am to go,
And for my life I dare not once say no.
M. Ah marry me, and you shall stay at home,
Full thirty weeks you know that I have gone,
T. There’s time enough another for to take
He’l love thee well, and not thy child forsake.
M. And have I doted on thy sweetest face?
and dost infringe that which thou suedst in chase
Thy faith I mean but I will wend with thee,
T. It is too far for Peg to go with me.
M. I’le go with thee my Love both night and day
I’le bear thy sword, i’le run and lead the way.
T. But we must ride, how will you follow then,
Amongst a Troop of us thats Armed men?
M. Ile bear the Lance, ile guide thy stirrop too,
Ile rub the horse, and more then that ile do,
T. But Margarets fingers they are all too fine,
To wait on me when she doth see me dine.
M. Ile see you dine, ile wait still at your back,
Ile give you wine, or any thing you lack.
T. But youl repine when you shall see me have
A dainty wench that is both fine and brave.
M. Ile love your wench, my sweetest, I do vow,
I’le watch time when she may pleasure you.
T. But you will grieve to see me sleep in bed,
And you msut wait still in anothers stead.
M. I’le watch my love to see you sleep in rest,
And when you sleep then I shall think me blest.
T. The time will come you must delivered be,
If in the Camp it will discredit me.
M. Ile go from you before the time shall be,
When all is well my love againe ile see.
T. All will not serve for Margaret must not go.
Then do resolve my Love, what else to do.
M. If nought wil serve why then sweet love adieu
I needs must die, and yet in dying true.
T. Nay stay my love, for I love Margaret well,
And here I vow with Margaret to dwell.
M. Give me your hand, your Margaret livs again.
T. Here is my hand, ile never breed thy pain.
M. I’le kiss my Love in token it is so.
T. We will be wed, come Margaret let us go.
Finis.
*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.
EBBA ID Number: 21708
EBBA ID Number: 33663
EEBO Proquest ID Number: 2240859414
ESTC Citation Number: R184341