As if he took delight to see

Mine eyes like fountains flow, Oh, most ungrateful man, said she, Love proves my overthrow.

Not long ago he did adore,
My very charms, he cried,
Was ever man so false before,
In all the world beside ?
A harmless lover to deceive,
And drown in tears of woe,
This world I am resolv'd to leave,
Love proves my overthrow.

The killing torment that I feel,
Doth such a passion raise,
That I no longer can conceal
The sorrows of my days;
I'll hasten death this very day,
To ease my heart of woe,
I find there is no other way,
Love proves my overthrow.

Thus being fill'd with discontent,
She took a bloody knife,

In desperate sort resolv'd and bent
To cut the thread of life :

Down from her throat the reeking gore
In purple streams did flow,

And though she lay a week and more,
It prov'd her overthrow.

With grief and sorrow compass'd round,
She languish'd night and day,
At length her fatal bleeding wound,
Did take her quite away:

And all along before she died,

Her eyes with tears did flow, Likewise she wrung her hands and cried, Love proves my overthrow.

Farewell to him who is the cause
Of all my grief and care,
Had he been true to Cupid's laws,
I solemnly declare,

We might have liv'd in happiness,
In love and peace I know;
But sorrows do my soul oppress,
And prove my overthrow.

Though now at present he may have

Content, and pleasure find, When I am sleeping in my grave,

He then will call to mind,

Who caus'd this present wretched state,

And fill his heart with woe,

And then he may repent too late
My dismal overthrow.

XLVII.

THE YOUNG SEAMAN'S MISFORTUNE,

OR,

The False-hearted Lass of Limehouse.

[From the Pepys Collection.]

To the tune of the Spinning-wheel. Licensed according to order.

You loyal lovers far and near,

That live and reign in Cupid's court, I'd have you freely lend an ear,

While I my sorrows do report:

She that I lov'd has left me o'er ;
I'll never trust a woman more.

In her I plac'd my chief delight,
And was her captive night and day;
For why? her charming beauty bright
Had clearly stole my heart away:
But she will not my joys restore;
I'll never trust a woman more.

On board of ship I chanc'd to go,

To serve our good and gracious king; Now when she found it must be so, She did her hands in sorrow wring, Yet wedded when I left the shore; I'll never trust a woman more.

My dearest love, she often cry'd,
Forbear to sail the ocean sea;
If fortune shall us now divide,

Alas! what will become of me?
This she repeated ten times o'er !-
I'll never trust a woman more,

A thousand solemn vows I made,
And she return'd the like again,
That no one should our hearts invade,
But both in loyal love remain ;
Yet she another had in store!

I'll never trust a woman more,

I was obliged to leave the land,
And ready to go hoist up sail,

At which tears in her eyes did stand,
And bitterly she did bewail;
Yet she another had in store!
I'll never trust a woman more,}

I gave her then a ring of gold,
To keep in token of true love,
And said, My dearest dear behold!
I evermore will loyal prove.
She married when I left the shore!
I'll never trust a woman more.

Five months I ploughed the ocean main, With courage void of dread and fear: At length with joy return'd again

To the embraces of my dear.

But she another had in store!
I'll never trust a woman more.

Constancy doth torture me,

And make my sorrows most severe;
Like a keen dart it pierc'd my heart,
For why? I did the tydings hear,
As soon as e'er I came on shore !
I'll never trust a woman more.