Volume 5 — The Unconstant Woman.
Reading edition
[Listen]
DID you not hear of a gallant Sailor, Whose Pockets they were lin’d with Gold; He fell in Love with a pretty Creature, As I to you the Truth unfold: With a kind Salute, and without Dispute, He thought to gain her for his own, Unconstant Woman proves true to no Man, She has gone and left me all alone. Don’t you remember my pretty Peggy, The Oaths and Vows which you made to me: All in the Chamber we were together, That you would ne’er unconstant be: But you prove strange Love, and from me range, And leave me here to Sigh and Moan; Unconstant Woman is true to no Man, She’s gone and left me all alone. As I have Gold you shall have Treasure, Or any dainty kind of thing; Thou may’st command all Delights and Pleasure, And what you’d have, Love, I would you bring: But you prove shy, and at last deny, Him that admires you alone; Unconstant Woman proves true to no Man, She’s left me here to make my moan. When first I saw your charming Beauty, I stood like one all in amaze; I study’d only how to pay Duty, And could not speak but only gaze, At last said I, fair Maid comply, And ease a wretched Lover’s Moan; Unconstant Woman proves true to no Man, She’s gone and left me here alone. I made her Presents of Rings and Jewels, With Diamond Stones I gave her too; She took them kindly, and call’d me Jewel, And said her Love to me was true: But in the end she prov’d unkind, When I thought she had been my own; Unconstant Woman, &c. For three Months time we saw each other, And she oft said she’d be my Wife; I had her Father’s Consent and Mother, I thought to have liv’d a happy Life: She’d laugh and toy both Night and Day, But at length she chang’d her Tone; Unconstant Woman, proves true to no Man, She’s left me now to make my Moan. Many a time we have walk’d together, Both Hand in Hand to an Arbour green; Where Tales of Love in Sun-shiny Weather, We did discourse and were not seen: With a kind Salute we did dispute, While we together were alone: Unconstant Woman she’s true to no Man, She’s gone and left me here alone. Since Peggy has my kindness slighted, I’ll never trust a Woman more; ’Twas in her alone I e’er delighted, But since she’s false I’ll leave the Shoar: In Ship I’ll enter, on Seas I’ll venture, And sail the World where I’m not known: Unconstant Woman proves true to no Man, She’s gone and left me here alone.
