The Loyal Soldier
This ballad appears in the collection Rump Tunes
published in 1662. In that publication no tune was specified.
I have found however that it may be sung very successfully to the melody
Drive the Cold Winter Away.
The Loyal Soldier
To the tune of Drive the Cold Winter Away
When in the field of Mars we lye, amongst
those Martial wights,
Who never daunted are to dye for King and
Countries rights,
As on Belona's God I wait and her attendant
be,
Yet being absent from my mate, I live in
misery.
When lofty winds aloud do blow, it snoweth,
hail or rain,
And Charon in his boat doth row, yet stedfast
I'le remain,
And for my shelter in some barn creep, or
under some hedge to lye,
Whilst such as do now strong Castles keep,
knows no misery.
When down in straw we tumbling lye, with
Morpheus charms asleep,
My heavy, sad and mournful eye in security
so deep,
Then do I dream within my arms with thee
I sporting lye,
Then do I dread, or fear no harms nor feel
no misery.
When all my joys are thus compleat, the Cannons
loud do play;
The Drums alarum strait do beat, trumpets
sounds, horse away,
Awake I then, and nought can find but death
attending me,
And all my joys are vansiht quite; this is
my misery.
When hunger oftentimes I feel, and water
cold do drink,
Yet from my Colours I'le not steal, nor from
my KING will shrink:
No Traytor base shall make me yield, but
for the Cause I'le be:
This is my love, pray Heaven to shield, and
farewell misery.
Then to our Arms we straight do hie, and
forthwith march away;
Few Townes or Cities we come nigh, good liquor
us deny:
In Lethe deep, our woes we streep, our Loves
forgotten be,
Amongst the Jovialists we sing hang up all
misery.
Propitions Fate then be more kind, grim death
lend me thy dart,
O Sun and Moon, and eke the Wind, great Jove
take thou our part,
That of these Round-heads and these wars,
an end that we may see,
And thy great name wee'l all applaude, and
hang all misery.
When in the field of Mars we lye, amongst
those Martial wights,
Who never daunted are to dye for King and
Countries rights,
As on Belona's God I wait and her attendant
be,
Yet being absent from my mate, I live in
misery.
When lofty winds aloud do blow, it snoweth,
hail or rain,
And Charon in his boat doth row, yet stedfast
I'le remain,
And for my shelter in some barn creep, or
under some hedge to lye,
Whilst such as do now strong Castles keep,
knows no misery.
When down in straw we tumbling lye, with
Morpheus charms asleep,
My heavy, sad and mournful eye in security
so deep,
Then do I dream within my arms with thee
I sporting lye,
Then do I dread, or fear no harms nor feel
no misery.
When all my joys are thus compleat, the Cannons
loud do play;
The Drums alarum strait do beat, trumpets
sounds, horse away,
Awake I then, and nought can find but death
attending me,
And all my joys are vansiht quite; this is
my misery.
When hunger oftentimes I feel, and water
cold do drink,
Yet from my Colours I'le not steal, nor from
my KING will shrink:
No Traytor base shall make me yield, but
for the Cause I'le be:
This is my love, pray Heaven to shield, and
farewell misery.
Then to our Arms we straight do hie, and
forthwith march away;
Few Townes or Cities we come nigh, good liquor
us deny:
In Lethe deep, our woes we streep, our Loves
forgotten be,
Amongst the Jovialists we sing hang up all
misery.
Propitions Fate then be more kind, grim death
lend me thy dart,
O Sun and Moon, and eke the Wind, great Jove
take thou our part,
That of these Round-heads and these wars,
an end that we may see,
And thy great name wee'l all applaude, and
hang all misery.
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