The Bold Dragoon- Mrs. Poole (Dorset) 1906 Hammond
[From: Henry Hammond Manuscript Collection (HAM/4/22/4),
R. Matteson 2018]
The Bold Dragoon- sung by Mrs. Poole of Beaminister, Dorset in June 1906. Collected by Henry Hammond.
"My father is a knight, and a man of high renown,
If I should marry a soldier, 'twould pull his honour down,
For your birth, my birth, it never 'twon't agree,
So take it as an answer, bold dragoon," said she.
"Your answer, your answer, I do not mean to take,
I'd rather lay my life down for your sweet sake."
The lady overbearing, it made the lady's heart to bleed,
Oh and then she consented and married was with speed.
After they had been married and returning home again
She saw her honor-ed father with seven armed men,
"Oh now," said the lady, "we both shall be slain.
"For now come my father with seven armed men."
There is no time to talk, love, there is no time to prattle,
If you will hold my horse, love, then I will fight the battle,
The dragoon drew his sword a pistol, which made their bones to rattle,
While the lady held the horse and the dragoon fought the battle.
"Hold your hand, bold dragoon, hold your hand," said he,
And you shall have my daughter and ten thousand pounds in fee,
"Fight on," said the lady, "your portion 'tis too small,"
"Hold your hand, bold dragoon, and you shall have it all."
All you honorable ladies that have got gold in store,
You should never despise a soldier because he's sometimes poor,
And all you lads of honour a-lying on the ground,
So send it to Victoria that wears the British crown.