The Sea-Man's Adieu to his Dear

Come, all loyal lovers that's faithful and true,
Observe, where ever you be,
A pattern I here have presented to you :
It is good to be constant, you see.

But chiefly to thee, my own dearest, I speak,
With patience my absence to bear,
For now I am prest to serve on the seas,
And I must bid adieu to my dear.

Our King must have seamen and souldiers most stout,
His enemies' heart for to fear,
And I for my honour will venture about,
And I must bid adieu to my dear.

MAID.
O tell me not so, mine own dearest, I pray ;
For love's sake take pitty on me ;
Fie do my endeavour to please thee alway
If that I may have my love free.

Tis far better staying with me on the shore,
Where pleasures and joys do abound,
Than for [you] to venture where cannons do roar,
In the depth of the seas to be drown'd.

O be not so cruel, my love, for to fight,
But tarry, my dearest, with me;
We'l find out a way in Love's war for to fight,
And Fie strive for to set my love free.

MAN.

All that thou canst do, my love, will not procure
My freedom, I sorely do fear;
But I must the hardship of service endure,
And I must bid adieu to my dear.

My captain by no means will let me go free,
He likes me so well, I do hear;
Therefore it's in vain to beg my liberty,
For I must bid adieu to my dear.

MAID.

Fie go to thy captain and fall on my knee;
Perhaps he'l take pitty on me ;
If five pounds or ten pounds will buy thy discharge
He shall have it to set my love free.

THE CAPTAIN'S ANSWER.

Not ten pounds nor twenty will buy his discharge,
Fair maid, you must patiently bear;
He shall go to sea for his King to ingage,
And he must bid adieu to his dear.

I'le have him to serve me upon the salt main,
In battel with foes for to fight;
Then cease, pritty maiden, and do not complain,
For the wars is a souldier's delight.
MAID.

Behold, noble captain, the sorrowful tears,
That down my cheeks trickle amain,
To move your hard heart to release me of fear
And to grant me my love once again.

No maiden's heart ever was so full of woe,
Then, good sir, take pitty on me;
And let him no further into the wars go,
But be pleased to set my love free.

CAPTAIN.

O cease thy suit, damsel, and be not so sad,
Let reason thy mind now aswage;
Ten thousand such seamen must e're long be had,
All against the proud foes to engage.

MAN.

My dearest, why dost thou the captain offend ?
Thou seest he by no means will yield ;
And I am resolved my blood for to spend
Upon the salt sea or in field.

Therefore be contented, and cease thy sad moan,
Take comfort, and do thou not fear ;
If fortune befriend me, when as I am gone,
I shall once again see mine own dear.

MAID.

My dearest, since thou must be parted from me,
And here must no longer remain,
The thought of thy love all my comfort shall be
Until I do see thee again.

Each hour for thy welfare to God will I pray,
That He will in safety preserve
My own dearest lover by night and by day
Whilst he on the ocean doth serve.

This token, I prethee, love, for my sake keep,
Remember me when you it wear;
This parting kiss take, which doth cause me to weep,
And so heavens bless mine own dear.
MAN.

Adieu, my dear jewel: thy love I have found ;
Our parting doth grieve me full sore.
The drums they do beat, and the trumpets do sound,
And I must stay no longer on shore.