[Tea-Table Miscellany Contents]
ALL in the Downs the fleet was moor’d,
The streamers waving in the wind,
When black-eyed Susan came on board;
Oh! where shall I my true love find?
Tell me, ye jovial sailors, tell me true,
If my sweet William sails among the crew.
–
William, who high upon the yard,
Rock’d with the billows to and fro;
Soon as her well known voice he heard,
He sigh’d and cast his eyes below:
The cord slides swiftly thro’ his glowing hands,
And quick as lightning on the deck he stands.
–
So the sweet lark, high pois’d in air,
Shuts close his pinions to his breast
(If chance his mate’s shrill voice he hear)
And drops at once into her nest:
The noblest captain in the British fleet
Might envy William’s lips those kisses sweet.
–
O Susan, Susan, lovely dear!
My vows shall ever true remain,
Let me kiss off that falling tear,
We only part to meet again:
Change as ye list, ye winds, my heart shall be
The faithful compass that still points at thee.
–
Believe not what the landmen say,
Who tempt with doubts thy constant mind;
They’ll tell, the sailors when away,
In every port a mistress find:
Yes, yes, believe them when they tell thee so,
For thou art present wheresoe’er I go:
–
If to fair India’s coast we sail,
Thy eyes are seen in diamonds bright,
Thy breath is Africk’s spicy gale,
Thy skin is ivory so white;
Thus every beauteous object that I view,
Makes in my soul some charms of lovely Sue.
–
Tho’ battles call me from thy arms,
Let not my pretty Susan morn,
Tho’ cannons roar, yet safe from harms
William shall to his dear return;
Love turns aside the balls that round me fly,
Left precious tears should drop from Susan’s eye.
–
The boatswain gave the dreadful word,
The fails their swelling bosom spread,
No longer must she stay aboard;
They kiss’d; she sigh’d; he hung his head:
Her lessening boat unwilling rows to land,
Adieu, she cries, and wav’d her lilly hand.
