Six new songs (1)/The Banks of Claudy

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The Banks of Claudy.

TWAS on the banks of Claudy I heard a maid com-
plain,ſiraam;
Setting forth her lamentation nigh to purling
She ſays I am confined, bound in the bands of love,
All by an Iriſh young weaver, who did inconſtant
prove.

It's to my deep vexatiou he to me did expreſs,
As I was ſitting by him upon the verdant graſs,
He ſays fair maid I'm ſorry 'tis for me you grieve,
As I'm engag'd already, your ſuit I can't relieve.

O Johnny, my dear jewel, don't treat me with diſdain,
Nor leave me here behind you in ſorrow to complain,
For if you do forſake me for ever I'm undone,
Quite void of ſhame and danger diſtracted I will run.

Twas on the banks of Claudy my love and did meet
In our private converſation our joys for to complete,
When the pretty feather'd ſongſters their note did
ſweetly ſing
Whilſt in my lover's arms he did me entertain.

Ye bonny Belfaſt virgins now grant me ſome relief,
Or were it in your power to mitigate my grief,
Had you a tongue to prattle, you'd tell ſoft tales of
love,
of the bonny boy of Claudy who did inconſtant prove

By whoſe deluding charms I was led firſt aſtray,
When I was young and tender he did my heart betray
May unerring Cupid wound him that he may feel
the pain,
What it is to love ſincerly and not be loved again.