Subject: Lyr Add: BETSY WILLIAMS
From:
Mick Tems
Date: 24 Aug 09 - 04:01 AM
Sorry - I might've pressed something. Betsy Williams is in the Gaianydd Williams Collection in Cardiff Library (or was; Cardiff Council's policy with rare and valuable reference books amounts to sheer Attila-the-Hun vandalism:
BETSY WILLIAMS
1. Come near, you lads and lasses all, and listen to my song,
About my strange adventures, I'll not detain you long;
Misfortune has befallen me through losing a young man,
Who was well-built and handsome too, against my fathers' plan.
2. My father was a nobleman of credit and renown,
A stately mansion he did own not far from Cardiff town;
I was his only daughter, my mother she was dead,
And I was like a princess, so richly clothed and fed.
3. My schooling was the very best that money could embrace,
And midst the lords and ladies fair I played my part with grace;
The sons of lords and marquesses were ready at my call,
For I the fairest damsel was amidst the ladies all.
4. But none of them my fancy drew my husband for to be,
For father's coachman, Arthur Gwynne, was truly loving me;
I loved him too, without a doubt, for he was tall and fair,
Each other often we did meet at night when none was near.
5. At last my father was informed of Arthur's love for me,
And he to India far was sent across the angry sea;
When I was told that he had gone without a last goodbye,
My heart was breaking and my grief so great I could not cry!
6. For many months my bed I kept, in a low state I lay,
But one could comfort me, but one, and he was far away;
When summer came and health restored, I roamed about once more,
But one fine day I ran away and sailor's clothes I wore.
7. A man of war I went aboard to sail to India's main,
But cruel pirates came and took us prisoners back to Spain;
In prison dank we long were kept, till peace at last did reign,
To India's shore I sailed once more to seek my love again.
8. The stormy winds on us did blow, the ship began to sink,
To ships we were obliged to go with little food or drink;
So far from land out boat was gone, we could not reach the shore,
And many died from hunger's pangs, exhausted was our store.
9. Oh, horrid it is now to think where hunger did us drive,
We threw up lots, one was to die, the rest to keep alive;
Oh cruel fate! On me it fell – a painful death to meet,
And tome came the bosun bold to bind my hands and feet.
10. But as my sailor's garb he tore, my female form he saw,
He stood abashed, his colour changed, and looked quite struck with awe.
When in my face he looked, he said: "Can this Miss Betsy be?"
And in his fainting arms I fell – for Arthur Gwynne was he.
11. When to my senses I returned, I heard the captain call,
"We're waiting, Gwynne, for you to do your duty to us all."
"Captain," said Arthur, bold and clear, "my long-lost love I've here,
I'll sacrifice my worthless life – but spare this one so dear."
12. "Well," said the captain, "we will wait an hour longer now,
To see what Providence will do for these lovers sweet true."
Some minutes passed, when lo, a ship came slowly into sight,
My life was saved, and Arthur's too, and we were happy quite.
13. London was reached in a few weeks, my father met us there,
Forgave us both, and took us home, and married now we are.
My husband's rich and very kind, and glories in his wife,
My children also know full well the story of my life.
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