Classic Poem

An excellent New BALLAD. To the Tune of Fair Rosamond

I.

All, in Soho , there liv'd a Toast ,
Her Name was Blue-ey'd Nan ,
More Charms , did Virgin never boast,
To win the Heart of Man.

II.

Of Liberal Parents she was born;
Well nurtur'd too was she;
Her Manners did her Birth adorn,
And eke her Modesty .

III.

Two Eyes she had, both lovely bright,
Where Cupid , oft, was found
To lurk, and thence to take his Flight,
Poor mortal Hearts to wound.

IV.

One Day the Roguish Imp , unseen,
Behind a SPECK withdrew;
A Present! from the Cyprian Queen ,
T' embellish Nancy 's BLUE.

V.

Long it remain'd in her Fair Eye,
A beauteous Speck! indeed;
Who saw it, straight, of Love did die,
To think on't makes me bleed.

VI.

Now, here, as He lay in the Lurch,
He drew a deadly Dart,
When she gaz'd up to Heaven at Church,
And shot TAR through the Heart,

VII.

And then he wrench'd it out, again,
As there it reeking lay;
And plung'd it into her Heart's Vein ,
While she her Prayers did say.

VIII.

To Woods and Lawns , away she hies,
And wanders all-around;
The Air she perfumes by her Sighs;
Her Tears refresh the Ground.

IX.

To Shores relentless, and to Rocks,
Inflam'd, does he complain;
Then Thetis and er Nymphs invokes,
To ease him of his Pain.

X.

Upon the Sand he writes her Name;
And she carves his on Tre's;
She Dryads prays to cool her Flame;
He, Naiads , to quench his.

XI.

Far dearer Nancy is to Tar ,
More Brilliant in his Eyes,
Than polish'd Gold or Diamonds are,
Or Sol , that gilds the Skies.

XII.

In Tar , again, to Nancy 's Mind,
More Beauties do abound,
Than midst the Spicy Shrubs we find,
Or on the Flow'ry Ground .

XIII.

Ah! Hymen hasten, why dost thou
Thy Silken Knot forbear?
Thy Blessings thou canst ne'er bestow
On a more Goodly Pair .

XIV.

But Fate had ty'd up Hymen 's Hands;
For, fair the Winds do prove;
Honour to India Tar commands,
Honour! that Foe to Love .

XV.

Three Times his Steeds had Phaebus drove
Through the bent Zodiac 's Bow,
And by his rapid Course, Above,
Made Three long Years Below.

XVI.

No Pleasure Wealth or Conquest yields
To Tar 's distracted Mind!
No Joy, in Courts or Verdant Fields,
Can absent Nancy find.

XVII.

When, lo! the Gods, who Lovers aid,
And gently fan their Flames,
To Nancy 's Ears the News convey'd,
That Tar had reach'd the Thames .

XVIII.

To Whitehall Stairs , all in great haste,
The Nymph her Course does bend;
Greenwich and Woolwich , soon, are past,
She meets him at Gravesend .

XIX.

But stop, my Muse ! forbear to tell
The Meeting of them Twain;
My Eyes o'erflow, my Breast does swell;
They meet, to part again.

XX.

Hymen appear'd, when first, he saw
Bright Nancy at the Door;
But Pluto rising, cry'd, Withdraw,
Your Tar shall be no more.

XXI.

With that the Fury Febris came,
(Her Eye-balls darting Fire)
And put Tar 's Blood all into Flame,
Of which he did expire.

XXII.

Then, just as she her Lover lost,
Enrag'd, she snatch'd a Knife,
And, Stabbing , said, I'll not be cross'd;
My Ghost shall be his Wife .