The Sweet Trinity (The Golden Vanity)
No: 286; variant: 286B
- THERE was a gallant ship, and a gallant ship was she
Eck iddle du, and the Lowlands low
And she was called The Goulden Vanitie.
As she sailed to the Lowlands low
- She had not sailed a league, a league but only three,
Eck, etc.
When she came up with a French gallee.
As she sailed, etc.
- Out spoke the little cabin-boy, out spoke he;
'What will you give me if I sink that French gallee?'
As ye sail, etc.
- Out spoke the captain, out spoke he;
'We'll gie ye an estate in the North Countrie.'
As we sail, etc.
- 'Then row me up ticht in a black bull's skin,
And throw me oer deck-buird, sink I or swim.'
As ye sail, etc.
- So they've rowed him up ticht in a black bull's skin,
And have thrown him oer deck-buird, sink he or soom.
As they sail, etc.
- About, and about, and about went he,
Until he cam up with the French gallee,
As they sailed, etc.
- O some were playing cards, and some were playing dice,
When he took out an instrument, bored thrity holes at twice.
As they sailed, etc.
- Then some they ran with cloaks, and some they ran with caps,
To try if they could stap the saut-water draps.
As they sailed, etc.
- About, and about, and about went he,
Until he cam back to The Goulden Vanitie.
As they sailed, etc.
- 'Now throw me oer a rope and pu me up on buird,
And prove unto me as guid as your word.'
As ye sail, etc.
- 'We'll no throw you oer a rope, nor pu you up on buird,
Nor prove unto you as guid as our word.'
As we sail, etc.
- Out spoke the little cabin-boy, out spoke he;
Then hang me, I'll sink ye as I sunk the French gallee.
As ye sail, etc.
- But they've thrown him oer a rope, and have pu'd him up on buird,
And have proved unto him far better than their word.
As they sailed, etc.