THE BANKS OF THE BAN.
On Esebeth harbour, that place call’d Hiltown,
"Where the rivers & fountains they did me surround;
I spied a fair female as you soon shall understand,
Was viewing small fishes on the banks of the Ban.
I stepped up to her, and to her did say,
Kind nature has fram’d you all hearts to betray,
But if you will go with me, love, here is my hand
That we will be married on the banks of the Ban.
It’s I can’t go with you, young man, she did say,
For you are a stranger and would me betray,
And I a chaste virgin might break the command.
Your absence is a cordial on the banks of the Ban.
O at length my persuasions they seem to take place,
I knew from the blushes was seen in her face;
Her feet they did slide oh the soft beds of sand;
She fell into my arms on the banks of the Ban.
But she being come to her senses again,
And then being gall’d with a sense of her shame;
She cried, you’ve undone me, my dear, out of hand,
Come let us be married on the banks of the Ban.
It's I cannot marry you, for I am a prentice bound
To a young weaver nigh Rufryland town;
But when my trade’s learned, love, here is my hand
That we will be married on the banks of the Ban.
