The Innocent Maid in Bedlam/Τhe Innocent Maid in Bedlam

by Anonymous

The Innocent MAID in BEDLAM.

O Pity an innocent maiden,
in Bedlam I lie confin'd,
With sorrow and grief overlaiden,
and sorely disturbed in mind;
My love he was surely prest from me.
they've sent my love over the main;
And I shall never be happy,
till Billy comes home again.

Press-masters, Why are you so cruel?
to send my dear creature away.
Oh! Why do you seek my ruin?
a sad, yea, unfortunate day:
In Bedlam here, I am lamenting,
in show'rs of tears I do complain,
For why, I ne'er shall be contented,
till Billy comes home again.

My snow white hands shall toil,
in brading each silver straw,
Who knows but in a little time,
I may set out a man of war!
Yea, rigging with cables and anchors,
with which I shall cross the main:
O ten thousand lists will I venture,
to bring my love back again.

I'll shake off each iron fetter,
and lighten my heavy heart,
And presently send him a letter,
and tell him what pain and smart;
Lately caused by his absence,
which makes me in tears complain,
For why, I shall never be happy,
till Billy comes home again.

My heart it has more upon it,
than a maid is able to bear;
I'll sit down and sing a sonnet
of Billy my only dear:
Each night I dream that I’m with him,
in tempest of wind and rain;
But O if I could but see him,
then I should be happy again.

Now Bedlam I will split asunder,
hark, hark how the chamber rings,
The eagle’s nest I will plunder,
and borrow her spreading wings:
I’ll mount the wide air for my jewel
and swiftly fly over the main;
Though fortune at present be cruel,
I hope I shall see him again.

As she in tears was lamenting,
the young man a letter had penn'd,
And sent it away to his discontented,
by the hand of a faithful friend:
It was writ by thine own dear jewel,
I'd have thee no more to complain;
Though fortune at present be cruel,
I hope that we shall meet again.

What though I am forc'd from my nation,
I'll leave thee my heart behind,
My sorrow I'll bear with patience,
and strive to content my mind:
Dear Bet, my love, make thyself easy,
thy sighing is all in vain.
I'll do my endeavour to please thee,
when I come home again.

Having read out the letter she kiss'd it,
and trembling with sad surprize;
Ten thousand times over she blest it,
with tears in her youthful eyes:
Alas! how in tears she lamented,
and oft-times will sigh and complain,
And cry I shall ne'er be contented.
till Billy comes home again.

One moment her hands she is wringing,
for the loss of her only dear,
The very next moment she's singing,
just ready to pierce the air;
Be kind to my true love, dear Neptune,
conduct him safe over the main,
For I shall never be happy
till Billy comes home again