| |
| ALL in the Downs the fleet was moor’d, | |
| The streamers waving in the wind, | |
| When black-eyed Susan came aboard, | |
| ‘Oh! where shall I my true love find! | |
| Tell me, ye jovial sailors, tell me true, | 5 |
| If my sweet William sails among the crew.’ | |
| |
| William, who high upon the yard | |
| Rock’d with the billow to and fro, | |
| Soon as her well-known voice he heard, | |
| He sigh’d and cast his eyes below: | 10 |
| The cord slides swiftly through his glowing hands, | |
| And (quick as lightning) on the deck he stands. | |
| |
| So the sweet lark, high-poised in air, | |
| Shuts close his pinions to his breast | |
| (If, chance, his mate’s shrill call he hear) | 15 |
| And drops at once into her nest. | |
| The noblest captain in the British fleet, | |
| Might envy William’s lip those kisses sweet. | |
| |
| ‘O Susan, Susan, lovely dear, | |
| My vows shall ever true remain; | 20 |
| 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 to thee. | |
| |
| ‘Believe not what the landsmen say, | 25 |
| Who tempt with doubts thy constant mind: | |
| They’ll tell thee, 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. | 30 |
| |
| ‘If to far India’s coast we sail, | |
| Thy eyes are seen in diamonds bright, | |
| Thy breath is Afric’s spicy gale, | |
| Thy skin is ivory, so white. | |
| Thus every beauteous object that I view, | 35 |
| Wakes in my soul some charm of lovely Sue. | |
| |
| ‘Though battle call me from thy arms, | |
| Let not my pretty Susan mourn; | |
| Though cannons roar, yet safe from harms, | |
| William shall to his dear return. | 40 |
| Love turns aside the balls that round me fly, | |
| Lest precious tears should drop from Susan’s eye.’ | |
| |
| The boatswain gave the dreadful word, | |
| The sails their swelling bosom spread, | |
| No longer must she stay aboard: | 45 |
| They kiss’d, she sigh’d, he hung his head; | |
| Her lessening boat unwilling rows to land: | |
| ‘Adieu!’ she cries; and waved her lily hand. | |
| |
