The Sailor Boy To His Lass.

I go away this blessed day,     To sail across the sea, Matilda!     My vessel starts for various parts     At twenty after three, Matilda.     I hardly know where we may go,     Or if it's near or far, Matilda,     For Captain Hyde does not confide     In any 'fore-mast tar, Matilda!     Beneath my ban that mystic man     Shall suffer, coute qui coute, Matilda!     What right has he to keep from me     The Admiralty route, Matilda?     Because, forsooth! I am a youth     Of common sailors' lot, Matilda!     Am I a man on human plan     Designed, or am I not, Matilda?     But there, my lass, we'll let that pass!     With anxious love I burn, Matilda.     I want to know if we shall go     To church when I return, Matilda?     Your eyes are red, you bow your head;     It's pretty clear you thirst, Matilda,     To name the day What's that you say?     - "You'll see me further first," Matilda?     I can't mistake the signs you make,     Although you barely speak, Matilda;     Though pure and young, you thrust your tongue     Right in your pretty cheek, Matilda!     My dear, I fear I hear you sneer -     I do I'm sure I do, Matilda!     With simple grace you make a face,     Ejaculating, "Ugh!" Matilda.     Oh, pause to think before you drink     The dregs of Lethe's cup, Matilda!     Remember, do, what I've gone through,     Before you give me up, Matilda!     Recall again the mental pain     Of what I've had to do, Matilda!     And be assured that I've endured     It, all along of you, Matilda!     Do you forget, my blithesome pet,     How once with jealous rage, Matilda,     I watched you walk and gaily talk     With some one thrice your age, Matilda?     You squatted free upon his knee,     A sight that made me sad, Matilda!     You pinched his cheek with friendly tweak,     Which almost drove me mad, Matilda!     I knew him not, but hoped to spot     Some man you thought to wed, Matilda!     I took a gun, my darling one,     And shot him through the head, Matilda!     I'm made of stuff that's rough and gruff     Enough, I own; but, ah, Matilda!     It DID annoy your sailor boy     To find it was your pa, Matilda!     I've passed a life of toil and strife,     And disappointments deep, Matilda;     I've lain awake with dental ache     Until I fell asleep, Matilda!     At times again I've missed a train,     Or p'rhaps run short of tin, Matilda,     And worn a boot on corns that shoot,     Or, shaving, cut my chin, Matilda.     But, oh! no trains no dental pains -     Believe me when I say, Matilda,     No corns that shoot no pinching boot     Upon a summer day, Matilda -     It's my belief, could cause such grief     As that I've suffered for, Matilda,     My having shot in vital spot     Your old progenitor, Matilda.     Bethink you how I've kept the vow     I made one winter day, Matilda -     That, come what could, I never would     Remain too long away, Matilda.     And, oh! the crimes with which, at times,     I've charged my gentle mind, Matilda,     To keep the vow I made and now     You treat me so unkind, Matilda!     For when at sea, off Caribbee,     I felt my passion burn, Matilda,     By passion egged, I went and begged     The captain to return, Matilda.     And when, my pet, I couldn't get     That captain to agree, Matilda,     Right through a sort of open port     I pitched him in the sea, Matilda!     Remember, too, how all the crew     With indignation blind, Matilda,     Distinctly swore they ne'er before     Had thought me so unkind, Matilda.     And how they'd shun me one by one -     An unforgiving group, Matilda -     I stopped their howls and sulky scowls     By pizening their soup, Matilda!     So pause to think, before you drink     The dregs of Lethe's cup, Matilda;     Remember, do, what I've gone through,     Before you give me up, Matilda.     Recall again the mental pain     Of what I've had to do, Matilda,     And be assured that I've endured     It, all along of you, Matilda!