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Brewster: Ballads and Songs of Indiana 241
14. The silk-merchant's daughter in readiness stands;
She holds a death warrant all in her own hands. She said nothing still, and they cast lots again
To see by whose hand this young man should be slain.
15. Now mark how endeavors (?) these lots did agree;
It fell on her true-love the butcher to be. It set the whole ship-crew all in a surprise To see how the tears did flow from her eyes.
16. "My father and mother are old and at home,
The pride of their old age about to be slain. A silk-merchant's daughter in London I be;
Now see what I come to by the loving of thee!"
17. "0 hush, my dear damsel, my heart it will burst;
In hopes of your long life, love, I'll die first/' "0 hush, my dear jewel, 0 don't you say so; I'll yield to my doom, I'm ready to go."
18. With a knife in his hand, he drew near where she stood,
And, too, with a basin to catch her blood. She cried: "For God's sake, do hold your hand; I'm sure we are nearing some ship or some land!"
19. In a few minutes after, they all heard a gun;
Away to the roundtop they gladly did run. And to their great joy they all spied a sail, An American vessel after them in full gale.
20. She had a long sight, an hour at the most;
The sons of Old England were all overjoyed. They gladly received the last joy in arrear (?), And all joined together their course to steer.
21. He treated her well on crossing the main
Until they arrived at fair London again, Until they arrived at her own parents' door;
They had no objections, and married they were. |
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