I go away this blessed day,

To sail across the sea, MATILDA!

My vessel starts for various parts

At twenty after three, MATILDA.

I hardly know where we may go,

Or if it's near or far, MATILDA,

For CAPTAIN HYDE does not confide

In any 'fore-mast tar, MATILDA!

Beneath my ban that mystic man

Shall suffer, COUTE QUI COUTE, MATILDA!

What right has he to keep from me

The Admiralty route, MATILDA?

Because, forsooth! I am a youth

Of common sailors' lot, MATILDA!

Am I a man on human plan

Designed, or am I not, MATILDA?

But there, my lass, we'll let that pass!

With anxious love I burn, MATILDA.

I want to know if we shall go

To church when I return, MATILDA?

Your eyes are red, you bow your head;

It's pretty clear you thirst, MATILDA,

To name the day - What's that you say?

- "You'll see me further first," MATILDA?

I can't mistake the signs you make,

Although you barely speak, MATILDA;

Though pure and young, you thrust your tongueRight in your pretty cheek, MATILDA!

My dear, I fear I hear you sneer -

I do - I'm sure I do, MATILDA!

With simple grace you make a face,

Ejaculating, "Ugh!" MATILDA.

Oh, pause to think before you drink

The dregs of Lethe's cup, MATILDA!

Remember, do, what I've gone through,

Before you give me up, MATILDA!

Recall again the mental pain

Of what I've had to do, MATILDA!

And be assured that I've endured

It, all along of you, MATILDA!

Do you forget, my blithesome pet,

How once with jealous rage, MATILDA,

I watched you walk and gaily talk

With some one thrice your age, MATILDA?

You squatted free upon his knee,

A sight that made me sad, MATILDA!

You pinched his cheek with friendly tweak,Which almost drove me mad, MATILDA!

I knew him not, but hoped to spot

Some man you thought to wed, MATILDA!

I took a gun, my darling one,

And shot him through the head, MATILDA!

I'm made of stuff that's rough and gruff

Enough, I own; but, ah, MATILDA!

It DID annoy your sailor boy

To find it was your pa, MATILDA!

I've passed a life of toil and strife,

And disappointments deep, MATILDA;

I've lain awake with dental ache

Until I fell asleep, MATILDA!

At times again I've missed a train,

Or p'rhaps run short of tin, MATILDA,

And worn a boot on corns that shoot,

Or, shaving, cut my chin, MATILDA.

But, oh! no trains - no dental pains -

Believe me when I say, MATILDA,

No corns that shoot - no pinching boot

Upon a summer day, MATILDA -

It's my belief, could cause such grief

As that I've suffered for, MATILDA,

My having shot in vital spot

Your old progenitor, MATILDA.

Bethink you how I've kept the vow

I made one winter day, MATILDA -

That, come what could, I never would

Remain too long away, MATILDA.

And, oh! the crimes with which, at times,I've charged my gentle mind, MATILDA,

To keep the vow I made - and now

You treat me so unkind, MATILDA!

For when at sea, off Caribbee,

I felt my passion burn, MATILDA,

By passion egged, I went and begged

The captain to return, MATILDA.

And when, my pet, I couldn't get

That captain to agree, MATILDA,

Right through a sort of open port

I pitched him in the sea, MATILDA!

Remember, too, how all the crew

With indignation blind, MATILDA,

Distinctly swore they ne'er before

Had thought me so unkind, MATILDA.

And how they'd shun me one by one -

An unforgiving group, MATILDA -

I stopped their howls and sulky scowls

By pizening their soup, MATILDA!

So pause to think, before you drink

The dregs of Lethe's cup, MATILDA;

Remember, do, what I've gone through,

Before you give me up, MATILDA.

Recall again the mental pain

Of what I've had to do, MATILDA,

And be assured that I've endured

It, all along of you, MATILDA!