Captain Wedderburn's courtship to Lord Roslin's daughter/Bess of Bedlam

BESS OF BEDLAM.

To its own proper Tune.

SEE, see poor Bess of bedlam,
in mourning plight and sadness,
I shake my chains, & wreck my brains
in all extremes of madness.

How sharp’s the pointed arrow
which flew at my poor breast!
In mischief dipp’d and venom steep’d,
that broke my peaceful rest.

With love my soul is flaming,
nought my sorrows hinder;
My pulse beats high, I scorch and fry,
my heart burns to a cinder.

My eye-balls roll and wander,
methinks I now behold him;
I’ll stretch my arms to meet his charms
but alas ! I can’t enfold him.

Fly all ye loves and graces,
to Jove with this petition,
To break my chain, & fend my swain
and heal my sad condition.

But, ah ! if Jove refuse,
I’ll set my cell on fire;
To asswage my breast, I’ll burn my nest
and Phoenix-like expire.