[Page
186]
William and
Harriet.
(1)
In fair London city
a gentleman did dwell,
He had a young daughter a farmer loved
well.
Because she proved constant and loved him so
true,
That her father wanted her to bid him
adieu.
(2)
“O no! my dear father, I am not so
inclined
As to put my young farmer far out of my
mind.”
“O unruly daughter, confined you shall be,
And I’ll send your young farmer far over the sea.”
(3)
As she was a sitting in her bowers one day,
When William drew near for to hear her to say,
She
sang like a linnet
1 and appeared like a dove,
And the
song that she sang was concerning of love.
[Page 187]
Willam and
Harriet
(cont.)
(4)
She had not been there long
when William passed by
And on his loving Harriet he cast a
longing eye.
“Since your cruel father with mine did agree
For to send me a sailing far over the sea.”
(5)
She said, "Dearest William, with you I will go,
Since my cruel father hath served us so.
I’ll pass for
your shipmate, I’ll do what I can,
I’ll venture life, William,
for you, my young man.
(6)
She dressed like
a sailor as near as to be,
"So we'll both go together across the
salt sea."
Away they set sailing for some foreign shore,
But never to old England returned
ever more.
[Page
188]
Willam and
Harriet
(cont.)
(7)
As they were sailing for
some foreign shore,
The winds from the ocean began for to
roar.
The ship she went down to the bottom of the sea,
And cast upon an island her William and she.
(8)
They wandered about some place for to spy,
Having nothing to eat, or nowheres
2 to lie.
So they
sat them together down on the cold ground,
While the waves and
the tempest made a terrible sound.
(9)
Then
hunger came on and death it drew nigh,
They clasped themselves
together intending to die.
What pair could be bolder to bid this
world adieu,
So there they must moulder like lovyers
3 so true.
[Page 189]
Willam and
Harriet
(cont.)
(10)
Come all you young people
that pass by this way
I pray drop one tear from your glittering
eye,
One tear drop with pity and point to the way
Where William and Harriet do slumber and decay.
Notes
1
linnet: a
bird from the finch family.
↵
2
nowheres: term idiosyncratic to Atlantic
Canadian dialect.
↵
3
loyvers: antiquated form of "lovers"
↵