The Jolly Miller (1799)/Jack the Sailor Parting With Molly

by Anonymous

Divider from 'The Jolly Miller', a chapbook printed in Glasgow in 1799

Jack the Sailor parting with Molly.

Early one morning, a jolly brisk Tar,
signal being made for sailing,
Nimbly stept down, and told his dear,
who was of her loss bewailing.

Orders are come, the ship's unmoor'd,
the boat along-side is waiting;
Haste away, Molly, you must away,
here is no time for prating.

Molly, with her arms around his neck,
look'd as if life had left her;
So sad a word from her dear Jack,
quire of her speech bereft her.

Seeing her face look too so pale.
Jack laugh'd at the silly creature,
Till from her heart the blood began
to brighten every feature.

Molly, my dear, since I must go,
why such recoils at parting;
You may be happy, you very well know,
with other men's wives comforting.

Oh no! my dear, there's no such thing,
I ne'er will cease from crying;
For, perhaps, I may be merry and sing,
when you by a shot may be dying.

No sooner she spoke, than Trinkilot call,
all hands aloft did rattle;
Jack, with a frown, cries, set off, dear Mall,
this is no time to prattle:

Get into the boat, the ship is away;
Molly crept slowly over;
At ev'ry step, she cries, day! day!
deep sighs did her fear discover.

Now, afar off, with wat'ry eyes,
she saw the ship a sailing:
Eager she looks, and this she cries,
speech o'er her thoughts prevailing.

Ha! he is gone! gone is my dear!
gone is my heart's desire!
O! may the bullets miss my dear Jack,
that is all I require.