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SCENE Iv] LOVE FOR LOVE 249
Mrs. Fore. Well, I won't go to bed to my husband tonight;
because I'll retire to my own chamber, and think of
what you have said.
Scan. Well; you'll give me leave to wait upon you to your
chamber door, and leave you my last instructions?
Mrs. Fore. Hold, here's my sister coming towards us.
Mrs. Frail. If it won't interrupt you, I'll entertain you
with a song.
Ben. The song was made upon one of our ship's crew's
wife; our boatswain made the song; mayhap you may know
her, sir. Before she was married, she was called buxom
Joan of Deptford.
Scan. I have heard of her.
BEN sings.
A soldier and a sailor,
A tinker and a tailor,
Had once a doubtful strife, sir,
To make a maid a wife, sir,
Whose name was buxom Joan.
For now the time was ended,
When she no more intended
To lick her lips at men, sir,
And gnaw the sheets in vain, sir,
And lie o' nights alone.
The soldier swore like thunder,
He loved her more than plunder;
And showed her many a scar, sir,
That he had brought from far, sir,
With fighting for her sake.
The tailor thought to please her,
With offering her his measure.
The tinker too with mettle,
Said he could mend her kettle
And stop up every leak.
But while these three were prating,
The sailor slily waiting,
Thought if it came about, sir,
That they should all fall out, sir,
He then might play his part.
And just e'en as he meant, sir,
To loggerheads they went, sir,