COME all you who delight in frolicsome songs, I'll tell you a story before it be long; 'Twas of a sea captain, a frolicsome spark, Who play'd with a sailor's fair wife in the dark. John Linson, a sailor, he's called by name, His wife was fair, and a beautiful dame; She must needs go on board her brisk husband to see, Think's the captain, my girl, you're supper for me. The captain's chops did water full sore- One day he commanded all women on shore, And every sailor on board for to be, While he his fair charmer must go for to see. Then beautiful Polly took leave of her dear; The captain, he, after her quickly did steer, Pursuing the sailor's wife all the way home, And began to make a lamentable mourn. You fairest of creatures, have pity on me, And keep a small secret I tell unto thee; The charms of your beauty my favor has won, And if you do deny me I'm surely undone. Forbear, noble captain, your suit is in vain, My husband's a sailor and crosses the main, And you being his captain, O be not so base, For we both shall be ruin'd if he knows the case. Here's fifty gold guineas my joy and delight, I'll give you for leave to lay with you a night; His horns let him carry a venture to sea, And I'll use him kindly in every degree. The sight of the money so tempted the dame, That soon she consented to play at the game. The captain he surely lay with her all night, He paid her down fifty gold guineas so bright. His bed-fellow pleas'd him so well to the life, He often times killed her and left his own wife. At length this young sailor got word by the by But kept it as close as a pig in a stye. At length he resolved to know what was done, In the dusk of the evening slips into the room; Crawls under the bed where he lay very warm, She sends for the captain, she thinking no harm. Says she noble captain my husband's on board, I doubt, says the captain, says she, on my word, For he gave me a kiss and bid me good night Zounds, says the captain, we'll have our delight. They slipt off their clothes and into bed goes, Began to rum tumble and do as he chose; They tumbled the sailor so under the bed, That he soon found the captain put horns on his head. Jack lay snug and warm till they both fell asleep, From under the bed he silently did creep, He slips on the captain's lace jacket and coat, His hat and his breeches to make up the joke. Then being all drest from the top to the toe, Home to the captain's fair lady did go; He knock'd at the door with courage so bold, All drest in hi glittering robes of fine gold. The maid let him in, being late in the night, And being half asleep, she brot't him a light; He says where's your mistress? she is in her bed, Come open my chamber-door, quickly he said. For to be start drunk, himself he did fein, This lady cry d husband, you run at your game; Sometimes 'tis all night from me you do strole, And when you come home you're drunk as an owl. He jump'd into bed, gave the candle a puff, The lady she turn'd her backside in a huff; He haul'd her and pull'd her for to buckle too, She mumbl'd and grumbl'd a far as't would do. You'll tare my fine linen says the lady so fair; Your breath it does smell of strong ale, wine and beer: You've been a carousing all night with your whore, I will not turn to you, entice me no more. But still this young sailor would play with her knees, At length this fair lady began to be pleas'd. So he tit for tat with the captain did play, And lay in her arms till the broad break of day. When light appear'd, and she saw his face, This lady cry'd out in a pitiful case; He says my dear jewel be not in a fright, For your husband's been lying with my wife all night. He told her his story, and when she did hear, This lady with wonder began for to stare: She laugh'd very heartily to hear of the joke, To think how the captain would fret for his coat. Says she, I will go in my coach I protest, And see how he looks in his tarpolian dress; The sailor put on the embroider'd array, And into the coach they both took their way. They came to the house and up stairs they tript, The captain he in his short jacket was fixed; He looks on them both, but says not a word, Zounds, says the captain, I tho't you's aboard, Jack up with his cane, hit the captain astroke, Zounds, says the captain, Jack pull off my coat. O husband, says the lady, where might you be, When Jack got your coat and came unto me? I'm sure this was done by some woful mistake: I'm sure says the captain he's not horned my pate, Ah, says the lady say little about that, For tho he has kiss'd me, 'tis but tit for tat. Jack pull off my coat, and here's fifty pound, For if this report to to the sailors go round, There's many would mock us I very well know So we are but cuckold boys all in a row.