The Bab Ballads :: :: University of Virginia Library

I go away, this blessed day,
To sail across the sea, Matilda!
My vessel sails for various parts
At twenty after three, Matilda;
I hardly know where we may go,
Or if it's near or far, Matilda,
For Captain Hyde does not confide
In any 'fore-mast tar, Matilda!

349

Beneath my ban that mystic man
Shall suffer, coûte que coûte, Matilda!
What right has he to keep from me
The Admiralty route, Matilda?
Because, forsooth! I am a youth
Of common sailors' lot, Matilda!
Am I a man on human plan
Designed, or am I not, Matilda?

But there, my lass, we'll let that pass!
With anxious love I burn, Matilda.
I want to know if we shall go
To church when I return, Matilda?
Your eyes are red, you bow your head:
It's pretty clear you thirst, Matilda,
To name the day—What's that you say?—
“You'll see me further first,” Matilda?

I can't mistake the signs you make,
Although you barely speak, Matilda;
Though pure and young, you thrust your tongue
Right in your pretty cheek, Matilda!
My dear, I fear I hear you sneer—
I do—I'm sure I do, Matilda—
With simple grace you make a face,
Ejaculating, “Ugh!” Matilda.

Oh, pause to think before you drink
The dregs of Lethe's cup, Matilda!
Remember, do, what I've gone through,
Before you give me up, Matilda!
Recall again the mental pain
Of what I've had to do, Matilda!
And be assured that I've endured
It, all along of you, Matilda!

350

Do you forget, my blithesome pet,
How once with jealous rage, Matilda,
I watched you walk and gaily talk
With some one thrice your age, Matilda?
You squatted free upon his knee,
A sight that made me sad, Matilda?
You pinched his cheek with friendly tweak,
Which almost drove me mad, Matilda!

I knew him not, but thought to spot
Some man you wished to wed, Matilda!
I took a gun, my darling one,
And shot him through the head, Matilda!
I'm made of stuff that's rough and gruff
Enough, I own; but, ah, Matilda!
It did annoy your poor old boy
To find it was your pa, Matilda!

351

I've passed a life of toil and strife,
And disappointments deep, Matilda;
I've lain awake with dental ache
Until I fell asleep, Matilda;
At times again I've missed a train,
Or p'raps run short of tin, Matilda,
And worn a boot on corns that shoot,
Or, shaving, cut my chin, Matilda!

But, oh! no trains—no dental pains—
Believe me when I say, Matilda,
No corns that shoot—no pinching boot
Upon a summer day, Matilda—
It's my belief, could cause such grief
As that I've suffered for, Matilda,
My having shot in vital spot
Your old progenitor, Matilda!

Bethink you how I've kept the vow
I made one winter day, Matilda—
That, come what could, I never would
Remain too long away, Matilda.
And, oh! the crimes with which, at times,
I've charged my gentle mind, Matilda,
To keep the vow I made—and now
You treat me so unkind, Matilda!

For when at sea off Caribbee,
I felt my passion burn, Matilda;
By passion egged, I went and begged
The captain to return, Matilda;
And when, my pet, I couldn't get
That captain to agree, Matilda,
Right through a sort of open port
I pitched him in the sea, Matilda!

352

Remember, too, how all the crew,
With indignation blind, Matilda,
Distinctly swore they ne'er before
Had thought me so unkind, Matilda;
And how they'd shun me one by one—
An unforgiving group, Matilda—
I stopped their howls and sulky scowls
By pizening their soup, Matilda!

So pause to think, before you drink
The dregs of Lethe's cup, Matilda;
Remember, do, what I've gone through,
Before you give me up, Matilda.

353

Recall again the mental pain
Of what I've had to do, Matilda,
And be assured that I've endured
It, all along of you, Matilda!