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Bretvster: Ballads and Songs of Indiana 239
43 THE SILK-MERCHANT'S DAUGHTER
The following variant of "The Silk-Merchant's Daughter" is the only one recovered in this state, not even fragments of other variants having been found.
For American texts, see Brown, p. 10; Campbell and Sharp, No. 54; Cox, p. 334; Greenleaf and Mansfield, p. 57; Hudson, Folksongs, p. 148; Journal, XXVIII, 160; XXXIX, 113; Shearin and Combs, p. 12.
British texts will be found in JFSS, II, 33; III, 292; in Sharp and Marson, Folh-Songs from Somerset, I, 28; and in Ord, Bothy Songs and Ballads, p. 63.
"The Silk-Merchant's Daughter." Contributed by Mr. Byers Brenton, of Oakland City, Indiana. Gibson County. Secured from Mrs. John S. Mason, of Dongola, Indiana. October 28, 1935.
1. Come listen, good people (come listen unto me),
To a comedy, although very near a sad tragedy. A silk-merchant's daughter in London, we hear How a Londoner stole her, her heart did ensnare.
2. She fancied his person, he made it but light,
And by false endeavors he gained her quite. He began for to slight her, as many he'd done; 'T was hard to remove her affections so strong.
3. They both met together by chance on a day,
And being alone, these words she did say: "I desire to know, love, what I ask of you;
I think by your actions your love is not true."
4. "I do not love you," he told her plain;
"Neither do I hate you, nor you I disdain. But I'll leave this land, love, and I'll go to sea;
'Out of sight, out of mind/ love; you'll not think of me."
5. "O be not exposed to the ocean, my dear;
I will not disturb you, you need not to fear." "But I am determined to say I will go
To try my heart's fortune where'er the wind blow." |
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