I would say in conclusion what will be apparent enough to many, that these Ballads make no great pretence to be poetry. They consist of incidents or small “motives” cast into rhyme or measure, as the easiest method of giving them a certain value, just as a tune brings out a song. Most rhymers are criticised more or less severely for pretending to be poets; all that I can claim for this volume is, that it is a kind of collection of curiosities which, as they have seemed to me to be worth remembering, will, I trust, be regarded by others as worth reading. CHARLES GODFREY LELAND. FLORENCE, 1894. CONTENTS SONGS OF THE SEA PAGE THE OLD TAVERN 1 EL CAPITAN GENERAL 5 UNCLE SAM 9 MOTHER CAREY 13 THE BIRD CREW 17 DAVY JONES 19 THE DEVIL’S POT 21 ONE, TWO, THREE 24 LA BELLA STREGA 27 THE BEAUTIFUL WITCH 31 THE WITCH’S BOX 35 THE MERMAID 41 THE MERMAN 43 THE WIZARD FINN 51 CHARLEY BUFF 55 BOLD ROBIN ROVER 59 TIME FOR US TO GO 64 ROLLING OVER 67 THE MUSQUITO 71 STAND FROM UNDER! 73 NEAR HAVANNA 77 THE THREE DEAD MEN 80 THE LADY-SAILOR 82 THE SPANISH SAILOR’S SONG 84 THE LOVER TO THE SAILOR 86 GREEN CORN AND POTATOES 87 THE SAILOR’S FAREWELL 90 MACKEREL SIGNS 94 TRUE BLUE 96 THE STORY OF SAMUEL JACKSON 99 THE DANDY SHIP 104 JACK OF ALL TRADES 107 THE GIRL WIND 110 LAYS OF THE LAND