131. The 'George-Aloe'. Quiller-Couch, Arthur, ed. 1910. The Oxford Book of Ballads

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Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. (1863–1944). The Oxford Book of Ballads. 1910.

131. The ‘George-Aloe’

THE George-Aloe, and the Sweepstake, too,

With hey, with hoe, for and a nony no,

O, there were two Merchant-men, a sailing for Safee

And alongst the Coast of Barbarye.

The George-Aloe came to anchor in the bay,

With hey, &c.

But the jolly Sweepstake kept on her way,

And alongst, &c.

III

They had not sayl’d but leagues two or three,

With hey, &c.

But they met with a French Man-of-War upon the Sea,

And alongst, &c.

‘All haile, all haile, you lusty Gallants all!

With hey, &c.

Of whence is your fair Ship, and whither do ye call?’

And alongst, &c.

‘We are Englishmen, and bound for Safee,’—

With hey, &c.

‘Ay, and we are Frenchmen, and war upon the sea,

And alongst, &c.

‘Amaine, Amaine, you English dogs, hail!’—

With hey, &c.

‘Come aboard you French swads, and strike down your sayle,’

And alongst, &c.

VII

They laid us aboard on the Starboard side,

With hey, &c.

And they threw us into the Sea so wide,

And alongst, &c.

VIII

When tidings to the George-Aloe came,

With hey, &c.

That the jolly Sweepstake by a Frenchman was ta’en,

And alongst, &c.

‘To top, to top, thou little Cabin-boy,

With hey, &c.

And see if this French Man-of-War thou canst descry,’—

And alongst, &c.

‘A Sayle, a Sayle, under our lee!

With hey, &c.

Yea, and another that is under her obey!’

And alongst, &c.

‘Weigh anchor, weigh anchor, O jolly Boat-swain!

With hey, &c.

We will take this Frenchman, if we can,’

And alongst, &c.

XII

We had not sayl’d leagues two or three,

With hey, &c.

But we met the French Man-of-War upon the Sea,

And alongst, &c.

XIII

‘All haile, All haile, you lusty Gallants hail!

With hey, &c.

Of whence is your faire Ship, and whither do ye sayl?’

And alongst, &c.

XIV

‘O, we are Merchant-men and bound for Safee,’—

With hey, &c.

‘Ay, and we are Frenchmen, and war upon the sea,

And alongst, &c.

‘Amaine, Amaine, you English Dogges, hail!’—

With hey, &c.

‘Come aboard, you French rogues, and strike down your sayl!’

And alongst, &c.

XVI

The first good shot that the George-Aloe shot,

With hey, &c.

He made the Frenchman’s heart sore afraid,

And alongst, &c.

XVII

The second shot the George-Aloe did afford,

With hey, &c.

He struck their main-mast over the board,

And alongst, &c.

XVIII

‘Have mercy, have mercy, you brave English Men!’—

With hey, &c.

‘O, what have you done with our merry Brethren?’—

And alongst, &c.

XIX

‘We laid them aboard the starboard side,

With hey, &c.

And we threw them into the Sea so wide,’—

And alongst, &c.

‘Such mercy as you have shewed unto them,

With hey, &c.

Then the like mercy shall you have again,’—

And alongst, &c.

XXI

We laid them aboard the larboard side,

With hey, &c.

And we threw them into the Sea so wide,

And alongst, &c.

XXII

Lord, how it grieved our hearts full Sore,

With hey, &c.

To see the drowned Frenchmen to swim along the shore!

And alongst, &c.

XXIII

Now gallant Seamen I bid you all adieu,

With hey, &c.

This is the last Newes I can write to you,

To England’s Coast from Barbarye.

GLOSS: shifted his room] made place. swads] peascods, a cant term for soldiers.

CONTENTS · BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

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