# Black-ey'd Susan's garland/Black-ey'd Susan's garland

John Gay is bibliographic antecedent, but not author.
BLACK EY'D SUSAN.
PART I.
ALL in the Down the fleet was moor'd, The streamers waving in the wind, When Black ey'd Susan came on board, Oh where shall I vow true love find? Tell me ye jovial sailors, tell me true, If my sweet William, if my sweet William, ⟨sails⟩ among the crew?
William aloft upon the yard, Recked with the billows to and fro! Soon at her well known voice he heard, He sigh'd and cast his eyes below, The cords ⟨slipt⟩ quickly through his ⟨glowing hands⟩ And quick as lighting, and quick as light'ning on the deck he stands.
So the sweet lark poised in the air, Shuts close his opinions to his brest, If chance his mate's shrill voice he hear, And drops at once into her nest, Each noble captain in the British fleet, Might envy Wiliam's, might envy William's with kisses sweet
Oh! Susan Susan lovely dear, My vows shall ever true remain, Let me kiss off that falling tear, We only part to meet again, Change as ye list winds my heart shall be, The faithful compass, the faithful compass, still points to thee.
​Believe not what the landsmen say. With doubts they'll fill your constant mind, They'll tell that sailors, when gone away. In every port a mistress find Believe them not whene'er they tell you so, For thou art present for thou art present, where e'er I go.
If to fair India's coast we sail. Thy eyes are seen in diamonds bright, Thy breasts are like Africa's spices small, Thy skin as evory white, Those ev'ry beauteous obj ct that I veiw, Wakes in my soul wakes in my soul, some charms of lovely Sue.
Though battle call me from thy arms, William shall to his dear return, Though cannons roar yet safe from harm, My pretty Susan do not mourn, Love turns aside the balls that round me fly, Least precious tears, least precious tears should drop from Susans eye.
The boatswain gave the dreadfull. The sails their swelling bosoms spread, No longer must she stay on board, They kiss'd; she sigh'd, and hung her head, The list'ning boat unwilling rows to land, Adieu she cried, adieu she cried, and wav'd her lilly hand.
PART. II.
AS through a grove I took my way, sweet recreation for to take, ​A charming maiden fair and gay, For her true love sad moan did make, In a sweet bower near a pleasant green, Drest like a godess, drest like a godess, Or some beauteous Queen.
To this poor maid with sorrow fill'd, I went to ease her of her smart, But when my person she beheld, She said kind sir, I pray depart. What business have you here to trouble me, Or to be scoffing, or to be scoffing at my misery.
Sweet lovely mistress of the grove, Why should I make a scoff at the, I do perceive thou art in love, And I should wish it was with me, Sweet lovely creature tell me but your name, For your sweet charms, for your sweet charms, my senses do inflame.
Susan that is my name,said she, Who am opprest with grief and woe, My dearest love is gone to sea, But where he is I do not know, My jewel's absence fills my eyes with tears, I have net seen him, I have not seen him, for these five long years,
Dear mistress Susan I do protest, I think I know the same young man, Has he not a mole upon breast, Likewise his name is William Lamb, And if he be the same I'll tell you plain, hat all you sighs, that all your sighs, are truly spent in vain.
​That is the man who is my dear, Pretty sweet Susan did reply, You make me tremble for to hear, Of my true love's inconstancy, But such a thing can surely never be, For he admires, for he admires, [ no other maid but me.
That's your mistake, sweet charming fair, For I will let you understand, William is married I do declare. To a young maid in New England, And rais'd to be a man of high degree, Therefore forget him, therefore forget him since he is false to thee.
If this be true that you have said, Then all my joys are laid aside, I am a poor distressed maid, None other shall make me a bride, Since he is false a maid I'll live and die, But still my heart, but still my heart, to the sweet William's nigh
If I could but my William veiw Who is across the watery main, Then I my mind would soon impart, To him who breaks my heart in twain, And she who is his bride I'd love her two, Tho' he is false, tho he is fale, my love to him is true,
PART III.
WHERE is my William, where is my dear, toss'd by the billows to and fro, ​Sometimes as high as mountain top: Then sinking in the waves below, Thus like my troubled heart the ship doth move, And like my wanderning, and like my wandering fancy it doth rove.
Sometimes in silent sleep I see, The ship is full spread sails come in, With watermen so neat and trim, For to convey me safe to him, Come, hail the ship, ye tailors tell me true. If my sweet William it my sweet Wiliam's now alive with you
Then I see him swiftly fly, For to receive me in his arms, Susan, says he, welcome on board, I do admire thy beauteous charms, A thousand kisses on me he does bestow. While the ship softly, while the ship softly: is waving to and fro,
Millions of raptures I enjoy, Far Helen with all her beauty bright, By Paris could not be admired more, Then I by William, my hearts delight, But when I awake like Rosamdond fair I see, Loves but a fable, lov's but a fable all my contentments flee.
How does my heart thus ⟨panting⟩ lie, When I do find it out a dream, William is on the ocean wide, Not by his Susan to be seen. O Neptune, pray be kind unto my dear, And quick convey him, and quick convey him, here my soul to chear,
​Boreas, instead of blustring winds, Breath out a sweet and and pleasant gale. That softly o'er the purling streams, My dearest love may safely sail, You mermaids with your harmony so sweet, Charm my sweet Willia, charm my sweet William to his silent sleep.
And when they to the harbour come, Wind whisper gently in my ear, Like unto light ning I will fly, William thy constant heart to cheer. The boat so willing rows to the ship's side, Calling sweet William, calling sweet William, to receive his bride.
Into my arms he straight will fly, Saying, why doth my love complain; Tho' I have been absent many a day, Yes I have returned to my love again, I am thy William join'd to thee by oath: Nothing but death, nothing but death, shall ever part us both.
PART. IV
SEEING sweet Susan's loyalty, Years down his cheeks did drop amain. My dear, beheld on my right breast, You know there grows a certain mole, Let not my heart before opprest; There is the broken piece of gold, Which we did break upon certain day, When we did part, when we did part, and I did sail away.
Sorrow and hardship I went through, ​While I was on the raggin main, Now my dear beloved Sue, I am return'd to thee again, No more I'll cross the raging ocean wide, But live at pleasure, but live at pleasure, with my lovely bride.
Susan in a swoon did faint, At William's feet I do declare, Soon he reviv'd his charmer's saint. There was a happy loving pair, William and Susan sweetly past along, To Plymouth church, to Plymouth church, where multitudes did throng.
Twenty stout sailors brave and bold, And twenty maids in rich attire, A glorions sight for to behold, Music play d sweet to their desire, To accompany the bride and bridegroom there, Now they are joined, now they are joined, a sweet and happy pair.
This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
Public domainPublic domainfalsefalse