The Dame of honour/The shannon-side: or, Cap. Thunderbolt's intrigue

Captain Thunderbolt’s Intrigue.

IT was in the month of April,
one morning by the dawn,
When violets and cowslips,
bestrewed every lawn;
And Flora’s flow’ry mantle,
bedeck’d the fields with pride,
I met with a lovely damsel
down by the Shannon-side.

Good-morrow to you sweet-heart,
I to this maid did say,
Why are you up so early?
and where are you going this way?
With cheeks like blooming roses,
the damsel she reply'd,
I'm going to seek my father's sheep,
down by the Shannon-side.

Said I, My lovely damsel,
I'll bear you company,
If you have no objections,
that I do walk with thee.
Kind sir, said she, excuse me,
my friends would me deride,
If I were seen with any man,
upon the Shannon-side.

In transport then I seiz'd her,
gave her a loving kiss;
She said, Forbear such freedom, Sir,
what do you mean by this?
The ground was moss whereon we stood,
her ⟨feet⟩ from her did slide,
And we fell down together,
down by the Shannon-side.

Three times I kiss'd her ruby lips,
as we lay on the grass;
And coming to herself again,
she cry'd, What meaneth this?
Now since you've got your will of me,
make me your wedded ⟨bride⟩,
And do not leave me here to mourn
upon the Shannon-side.

⟨I⟩ said, My pretty damsel,
from murmur now refrain,
We’ll talk concerning marriage,
when I come back again;
⟨And⟩ do not let your spirits sink,
whate’er will you betide,
⟨Until⟩ you see my face again,
Upon the Shannon-side.

We kiss'd, shook hands, and parted,
and from her I did steer;
⟨I⟩ did not come that way again,
for more than half a year:
⟨Crossing⟩ over a pleasant lawn,
by chance my love I spy’d,
⟨Scarce⟩ able for to walk her lone,
along the Shanhon-side.

⟨I⟩ seem’d to take no notice,
but kept along my way,
⟨All⟩ my love call'd out with all her might,
defiring me to stay;
⟨These⟩ words she spoke, as down her cheeks
the crystal tears did glide,
⟨Sir⟩, Don’t forget the fall you gave,
down by the Shannon-side.

⟨To⟩ me it prov’d a woful fall,
for I’m with child to thee,
⟨And⟩ if you would seem satisfy’d,
kind Sir to marry me,
Sixty bright guineas of pure gold,
my father will me provide,
With sixty acres of good land,
down by the Shannon-side.

I said, My lovely damsel,
I love the offer well,
But that I am engaged
the truth to you I tell,
Unto another damsel,
who is to be my bride,
A wealthy Grazier's Daughter,
that lives on yon mountain side.

Now since you will not marry me,
pray let me know your name,
That when your child is born,
I may call it the same.
I am called Captain Thunderbolt,
my name I'll never deny,
And I have men at my command,
on yonder mountain high.

We then shook hands and parted,
and straight I took my way,
And looking back behind me,
I hard her for to say,
Now I may be a warning,
to all fair maids beside,
Never to trust a man again
upon the Shannon-side.

G L A S G O W,
Printed by J. and M. Robertson, Saltmarket, ⟨1802⟩