PART I.
A seaman of Dover, whose excellent parts,
For wisdom and learning, had conquered the hearts
Of many young damsels, of beauty so bright,
Of him this new ditty in brief I shall write;
And show of his turnings, and windings of fate,
His passions and sorrows, so many and great:
And how he was blessèd with true love at last,
When all the rough storms of his troubles were past.
Now, to be brief, I shall tell you the truth:
A beautiful lady, whose name it was Ruth,
A squire’s young daughter, near Sandwich, in Kent,
Proves all his heart’s treasure, his joy and content.
Unknown to their parents in private they meet,
Where many love lessons they’d often repeat,
With kisses, and many embraces likewise,
She granted him love, and thus gainèd the prize.
She said, ‘I consent to be thy sweet bride,
Whatever becomes of my fortune,’ she cried.
‘The frowns of my father I never will fear,
But freely will go through the world with my dear.’
A jewel he gave her, in token of love,
And vowed, by the sacred powers above,
To wed the next morning; but they were betrayed,
And all by the means of a treacherous maid.
She told her parents that they were agreed:
With that they fell into a passion with speed,
And said, ere a seaman their daughter should have,
They rather would follow her corpse to the grave.
The lady was straight to her chamber confined,
Here long she continued in sorrow of mind,
And so did her love, for the loss of his dear,—
No sorrow was ever so sharp and severe.
When long he had mourned for his love and delight,
Close under the window he came in the night,
And sung forth this ditty:—‘My dearest, farewell!
Behold, in this nation no longer I dwell.