| |
I
O THE PLOUGHBOY was a-ploughing | |
| With his horses on the plain, | |
| And was singing of a song as on went he: | |
| ‘Since that I have fall’n in love, | |
| If the parents disapprove, | 5 |
| ’Tis the first thing that will send me to the sea.’ | |
| |
II
When the parents came to know | |
| That their daughter loved him so, | |
| Then they sent a gang, and press’d him for the sea. | |
| And they made of him a tar, | 10 |
| To be slain in cruel war; | |
| Of the simple Ploughboy singing on the lea. | |
| |
III
The maiden sore did grieve, | |
| And without a word of leave, | |
| From her father’s house she fled secretlie, | 15 |
| In male attire dress’d, | |
| With a star upon her breast, | |
| All to seek her simple Ploughboy on the sea. | |
| |
IV
Then she went o’er hill and plain, | |
| And she walked in wind and rain, | 20 |
| Till she came to the brink of the blue sea, | |
| Saying, ‘I am forced to rove, | |
| For the loss of my true love, | |
| Who is but a simple Ploughboy from the lea.’ | |
| |
V
Now the first she did behold, | 25 |
| O it was a sailor bold, | |
| ‘Have you seen my simple Ploughboy?’ then said she. | |
| ‘They have press’d him to the fleet, | |
| Sent him tossing on the deep, | |
| Who is but a simple Ploughboy from the lea.’ | 30 |
| |
VI
Then she went to the Captaìn, | |
| And to him she made complain, | |
| ‘O a silly Ploughboy’s run away from me!’ | |
| Then the Captain smiled and said, | |
| ‘Why Sir! surely you’re a maid! | 35 |
| So the Ploughboy I will render up to thee.’ | |
| |
VII
Then she pullèd out a store, | |
| Of five hundred crowns and more, | |
| And she strew’d them on the deck, did she. | |
| Then she took him by the hand, | 40 |
| And she row’d him to the land, | |
| Where she wed the simple Ploughboy back from sea. | |
| |
