Here’s an old nautical song that was evidently popular at one time, judging from how often it was reprinted. I don’t think it has been posted at Mudcat before. The author of this play seems to be the author of the song as well:
The Liverpool Prize; A Farce: In Two Acts, by Frederick Pilon (London: T. Evans, 1779), page 40.
“As it is performed at the Theatre-Royal, in Covent-Garden, with Universal Applause”
SONG.
Tune, The dusky night, &c.[*]
Behold upon the swelling wave,
With streaming pendants gay,
Our gallant ship invites the brave,
While glory leads the way.
CHORUS.
And a cruizing we will go,
And a cruizing we will go,
A cruizing we will go,
And a cruizing we will go,
II.
Ye beauteous maids your smiles bestow,
For if your prove unkind,
How can we hope to beat the foe,
Who leave our hearts behind.
When a cruizing, &c.
III.
See Keppel's flag once more display'd,
Upon the deck he stands,
Old England's glory ne'er can fade,
Nor tarnish in his hands.
So a cruizing, &c.
IV.
Be England to herself but true,
To France defiance hurl’d,
Give peace, America, with you,
And war with all the world.
Then a cruizing, &c.
* Ebsworth (see below) identifies this as “Henry Fielding’s Hunting Song of 1735”: “The dusky night rides down the sky, and ushers in the morn; the hounds all join in jovial cry, the huntsman winds his horn: And a hunting we will go!” Complete lyrics have been posted at Mudcat.
The identical text is found in:
The Bird: Containing a Choice Collection of Love, Hunting and Bachanalian Songs… (London: A. Richardson, 1781)
The Billington: Or, Town and Country Songster, by Elizabeth Billington (London: E. Wenman, 1790), page 51.
The identical text, but with the spelling changed from “cruizing” to “cruising,” can be found in:
The Universal Magazine of Knowledge and Pleasure, Vol. 64, No. 443 (London: James Hinton, Jan., 1779), page 159. (Titled “SONG in the Liverpool Prize.”)
The Scots Magazine. Vol. 41 (Edinburgh: A. Murray and J. Cochran, March, 1779), page 162. (same title)
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