102
A Rich Nobleman's Daughter
This form of the female sailor story, doubtless a British stall
ballad originally, seems not hitherto to have come into the collector's
net. A song from Surrey recorded in JFSS i 185 bears some
resemblance to it but is by no means the same ballad.
'A Rich Nobleman's Daughter.' Contributed by Juanita (Mrs. C. K.)
Tillett of Wanchese, Roanoke Island, in 1933.
* One guesses that "roal" is for "royal" and this for "loyal," and that
"stonance" is for "constant."
OLDER BALLADS — MOSTLY BRITISH 321
1 There was a rich nobleman's (laughter,
So handsome, as I've been told.
One day from her drawingroom window
She spied a young sailor so bold.
His cheeks they seemed like two roses,
His hair was black as a jet.
She waited anil sought his departure,
Walked down to young William, and said :
2 'I'm a rich nobleman's daughter,
Worth thirty-five thousand in gold.
I'd forsake my old father and mother
To wed with a young sailor bold.'
'Advice : stay home, young Caroline ;
Your parents you are bound to mind.
In sailors there's no dependence ;
They leave their true lovers behind.'
3 'You need not persuade me one minute
Or try to alter my mind.
I'll dress in pursuit of my sailor;
He never shall leave me behind.'
She dressed like a gallant young sailor,
Forsalt^ her old parents and gold.
Three years and a half on the ocean
She spent with her young sailor bold.
4 Three time these true lovers were shipwrecked.
She always proved constant and true.
Her duty she did as a sailor
When aloft in her jacket of blue.
When returning home to old England,
Caroline and her young sailor true.
Straight home she went to her parents
With her jacket and trousers of blue.
5 'Forgive me, dearest parents,
And do not deprive me of gold.
How happy I'll be, contented
To wed with my young sailor bold.'
Her parents admired young William,
Bound down in sweet unity.
Saying, 'You both live till tomorrow morning.
Both married together shall be.'
' Miswritten evidently for "forsook."