The Sailor Boy to His Lass

I go away this blessed day,
   To sail across the sea, Matilda!
My vessel starts 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!

Beneath my ban that mystic man
   Shall suffer, coûte qui 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!

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 hoped to spot
   Some man you thought 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 sailor boy
   To find it was your pa, Matilda!

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’rhaps 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!

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.
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!