Air.—Pray, fair one, be kind

Mac. My heart was so free,

It roved like the bee,
   Till Polly my passion requited;
I slipped each flower
I changed every hour,
   But here every flower is united.

Polly. Were you sentenced to transportation, sure, my dear, you could not leave me behind you—could you?

Mac. Is there any power, any force, that could tear me from thee? You might sooner tear a pension out of the hands of a courtier, a fee from a lawyer, a pretty woman from a looking-glass, or any woman from quadrille. But to tear me from thee is impossible!

Air.—Over the bills and far away

Mac. Were I laid on Greenland’s coast

   And in my arms embraced my lass,
Warm amidst eternal frost,
   Too soon the half-year’s night would pass.

Polly. Were I sold on Indian soil,

   Soon as the burning day was closed, I could mock the sultry toil,    When on my charmer’s breast reposed.

Mac. And I would love you all the day—

Polly. Every night would kiss and play,

Mac. If with me you’d fondly stray—

Polly. Over the hills and far away.

Polly. Yes, I would go with thee. But, oh! how shall I speak it? I must be torn from thee. We must part.

Mac. How! part!

Polly. We must, we must. My Papa and Mamma are set against thy life. They now, even now, are in search after thee. They are preparing evidence against thee. Thy life depends upon a moment.

Air.—Gin thou wert mine awn thing

Polly. Oh, what pain it is to part!

   Can I leave thee, can I leave thee?
Oh, what pain it is to part!
   Can thy Polly ever leave thee?
But lest death my love should thwart
   And bring thee to the fatal cart,
Thus I tear thee from my bleeding heart!
   Fly hence and let me leave thee!

One kiss, and then—one kiss. Begone. Farewell!

Mac. My hand, my heart, my dear, is so riveted to thine that I cannot unloose my hold.

Polly. But my Papa may intercept thee, and then I should lose the very glimmering of hope. A few weeks, perhaps, may reconcile us all. Shall they Polly hear from thee?

Mac. Must I, then, go?

Polly. And will not absence change your love?

  By PanEris using Melati.

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