It's down in Cupid's Garden for pleasure I did go,
All for to view the flowers,
All for to view the flowers that in the garden grow.

The first it was the jasmine, the lily, pink and rose:
These are the finest flowers,
These are the finest flowers that in the garden grow.

I hadn't been in the garden not passing half an hour,
Before I saw two maidens,
Before I saw two maidens sitting in a pleasant bower.

The one was lovely Nancy, so beautiful and fair,
And the other was a maiden,
And the other was a maiden that did the laurel wear.

I boldly stepped up to her, these words to her did say:
"Are you engaged to any young man,
Are you engaged to any young man, come tell to me I pray."

"I'm not engaged to any young man," she solemnly declared;
"I mean to be a maiden,
I mean to be a maiden, and still the laurel wear."

"It's down in Portsmouth harbour, my ship is waiting there;
And I must go to sea, my dear,
And I must go to sea, my dear, when the wind it doth blow fair.

And if ever I do return again, married to you I'll be;
I'll make myself contented,
I'll make myself contented and go no more to sea."