Page:Six excellent new songs (1).pdf/2

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The BELFAST MAID'S LAMENTATION

COME all you fair maids a warning take by me, And let not love affect you in any degree, For I was croſs'd in love and it was my pain, By a hanſome youth that has croſs'd o'er the main. O that I was a little bird or had I wings to fly, I'd to the field of battle go and on him would lie With my little fluttering wings his bleeding wounds I'd clean, And on his lovely boſom I'd ever there remain But now my love is gone I'll wander and I'll roam Through each loneſome valley making of my moan The ſmall birds of the buſhes will join and pity me    Since I have loſt my jewel him I'll never ſee. You maid's all take pity on a poor wretched naid Who is by love affected and by Cupid's dart betrayed Ye gods of love afflict me my burning flame to quench I'm wounded by a young mun who's gone to fight the French, His lips are like the coral his cheeksare like the roſe His skin is like the lilly and his eyes as black as ſloes He is proper tall and hanſome in every degree, He has croſs'd the wide ocean to face his enemy, Iſ to the field of battle my dear darling he goes, O guardian angel protect him from his daring foes. May he be crown'd with laurels the boy that I adore And may I live to ſee him in the ſlesh once more If by the cruel french my darling ſhould be ſlain, Then forever ſingle be his ſake I will remain, Unto no other man breathing will I give my hand, Till I ſee my dear jewel in his own native land,