The Sailor's Tragedy (1826)/The sailor's tragedy
THE SAILOR'S TRAGEDY.
I am a sailor, and home I write,
And in the the seas took great delight,
The female sex I did beguile
At length two were by me with child.
I promised to be true to both,
And bound myself under an oath,
To marry them if I had life,
And one of them I made my wife.
The other being left alone
Saying you false deluding man,
To me you've done a wicked thing,
Which public shame will on me bring.
Then to the silent shade she went,
Her present shame for to prevent,
And soon she finished up the strife,
And cut her tender thread of life.
She hung herself upon a tree,
Two men a-hunting did her see;
Her flesh by beasts was basely tore,
Which made the young men weep full sore.
Straight they went and cut her down,
And in her breast a note was found;
This note was written out at large,
Bury me not I do you charge.
But on the ground here let me lie,
For every one that passes by,
That they by me a warning take,
And see what follows e’er too late.
As he is false, I do protest
That he on earth shall find no rest,
And it is said she plaug'd him so,
That to the seas he's forc'd to go
As he was on the main-mast high,
A little boat he did espy.
In it there was a Ghost so grim,
That made him tremble every limb.
Dewn to the deck the young man goes,
To the Captain his mind for to disclose;
Here is a spirit coming hence,
O Captain stand on my defence.
Upon the deck the Captain goes,
Where soon he spy'd the fatal Ghost;
Captain said she you must and can,
With speed help me to such a man.
In St Helen's this young man died,
And in St Helen’s is his body laid;
Captain, said she, do not say so,
For he is in your ship below.
And if you stand in his defence,
A mighty storm I will send hence,
Will cause you and your men to weep,
And leave you sleeping in the deep.
From the deck did the Captain go,
And brought this young man to his foe,
On him she fix’d her eyes so grim,
Which made him tremble every limb.
It was well known I was a maid,
When first by you I was betray'd,
I am a spirit come for you,
You beguil’d me once but I have you now.
For to preserve both ship and men,
Into the boat they forced him;
The boat sunk in a flash of fire,
Which made the sailors all admire.
All you that know what to love belong,
Now you have heard my mournful song.
Be true to one whatever you mind,
And dont delude poor woman-kind.