THE
SUSSEX TRAGEDY:
OR, THE
Fatal Overthrow of a Young Man in Petworth,
WHO
Broke his Heart for the sake of a False-hearted LOVER.
To the Tune of, I love thee dearly, I love thee well.
Licensed and Entred, according to Order.
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YOung Men and Maidens, pray draw near,
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And hearken what I do declare;
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'Tis of a young Man, that dy'd for Love,
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His Sweet-heart did unconstant prove:
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He lov'd this Maiden his Life,
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She promis'd him to be his Wife;
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The Wedding-day appoin ed were,
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For the young Tailor and his Dear.
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But a young Tapster liv'd hard by,
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Went unto her, and thus did cry,
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If then my lawful Wife will be,
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I ever will be true to thee.
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Then streight to him she gave consent,
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To married be; to Chruch they went:
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Her mind was soon alter'd now,
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That she soon broke her former Vow.
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But when the Tailor came to know
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The Tapster he had serv'd him so,
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[He] [w]rung his Hands, and oft would cry,
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[Was] [ever]Man so serv'd as I?
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[He] [fell] [in] [melanc]holly Fits,
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[Ready] [to] [run] [beside] [his] Wits;
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[Our] [Love] [has] [broke] [my] [Heart,] he cry'd;
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[And] [in] [a] [Week] [or] [less] [he] [dy'd]
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No sooner he in Grave was laid,
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But the young Tapster and his Bride
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They fell to Variance and to Strife,
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He is run away and left his Wife.
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See now does weep and make sad moan,
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Because that she is left alone;
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She cries, Let other Maids beware,
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For fear they'r drawn in the same Snare.
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'Twas my false Heart did us betray,
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Or else he might liv'd till this day;
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I might a been his married Wife,
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And liv'd a comfortable Life.
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Methinks that every Night I see
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His Ghost standing and looks on me;
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And oft I think I hear him cry,
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Come, you must go as well as I.
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'Tis just of God such things should be.
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I deserve Death as well as he;
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And free to die indeed I am,
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For wronging a true-hearted Man.
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Young Lovers all, a Warning take,
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And see you don't your Promise break,
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As I did both to Vow and Swear:
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Henceforth, false Lovers, then beware.
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