Jockie to the fair/The Turkish Lady

THE TURKISH LADY.

To its own Proper Tune.

YOung virgins all I pray draw near,
A pretty story you shall hear,
Its of a Turkish Lady brave,
Who fell in love with an English slave.

A merchant ship in Bristo’ lay,
As we were failing o’er the sea,
By a Turkish Rover took were we,
And all of us made slaves to be.

They bound us down in irons strong,
They whipp’d and slash’d us all along,
No tongue can tell, I’m certain sure,
What we poor sailors do endure:

Come sit you down and listen a while,
And hear how fortune did on him smile,
It was his fortune for to be,

A slave unto a rich Lady.

She drest herself in rich array,
And went to see her slaves one day,
Hearing the moan this young man made,
She went to him, and thus she said,

From what country young man are you?
I’m an Englishman, madam, that’s true.
I wish you were some Turk, said she,
I’d ease you of your slavery.

I’d ease you of your slav’ry work,
If you’ll consent to turn a Turk,
And me myself to be your wife,
For I do love you as my life.

No, no, no, no, no, no, said he,
Your constant slave, dear ma’am I’ll be,
I’ll sooner be burnt at a stake,
Before that I’ll my God forsake.

This Lady to her chamber went,
And spent this night in discontent,
Little Cupid with his piercing dart,
Did deeply wound this Lady’s heart;

She was resolved the next day,
To ease him of his slavery,
And own herself to be his wife,
For she did love him as her life.

She drest herself in rich array,
With this young man she sail’d away,
Until they came to Bristol shore,

With jewels, diamonds & gold great store.

Houses and land she has left behind,
And all her slaves are close confin’d;
Unto her parents she bid adieu,
By this you see what love can do.

Now she has turn’d a Christian brave,
And married unto her own slave,
That was in chains and bondage too,
By this you see what love can do.