Avast! Avast!

Though the lawyer comes to woo, Vainly he attempts to sue, Or with his soft nonsense teaze; In the seaman's sort of phrase, Thus I answer all he says, Avast, avast, Sir, if you please; For better I like to be aboard a good ship, When the sails are all loos'd, and the anchor's a-trip; To hear the right boatswain pipe, hoist and belay, While the merry, merry sailors all foot it away.

But should he yet the cause pursue, Still his brief will never do; For when all his pleading's done, In the seaman's sort of phrase, Thus I answer all he says, Avast, avast, Sir if you please, For better I like, &c.