THE
PLYMOUTH Tragedy:
OR,
Fair SUSANs Overthrow.
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BEautiful virgins of birth and breeding,
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Now to my ditty pray lend an ear,
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Let all cruel parents by this take warning.
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In love do not cross your children dear.
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In Plymouth-town livd a beautiful maiden,
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And lovely Susan indeed was her name;
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A young ship-carpenter came for to court her,
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Her beautiful charms did his heart so enflame.
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He said, charming Susan, now grant my desire,
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Strong is the passion I have for my dear;
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If you deny me my life will expire,
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Sweet angel beauty, be not so severe.
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Susan replyd to the beautiful young man,
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Do not despair, I will grant you my love;
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Altho I have got many more suitors,
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And none but sweet William my heart can approve.
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But William replyd, Three years on the ocean,
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Now I am bound sweet lovely dear.
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It shall be spent for my jewels portion,
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Rich costly jewels Ill bring to my dear.
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A peice of gold between them was broken,
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But cruel fortune to them was severe.
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After that day this couple were parted,
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William did never see his charming dear.
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A wealthy merchant beholding her beauty,
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Went to her parents without more delay;
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They saih, Child, it is but your duty,
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Your honoured parents for to obey.
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This noble merchant has store of riches,
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Hell deck you in gold and fine costly pear
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Your beoutiful charms, dear child, are sitting
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To be embraced by lord, duke, or earl.
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Honoured parents, do not be so cruel;
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No other man I can ever adore;
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I made a vow to my dear to be constant,
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We have loved each other these two years or more.
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Tis not cursed gold that shall make me disloyal,
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Perjurd love Heaven sure will require.
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Then do not strive to be my undoing,
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For William I love shall be my delight,
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Then, said her father, Ill quickly part you
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Never each other more you shall see.
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And if you will not marry the merchant,
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You shall be banishd for ever from me.
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Then, cruel father, answerd the damsel,
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If thats your will I am bound to obey.
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May the crime be yours for ever,
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The merchant shall have little comfort of me.
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Then was the merchant admitted the favour
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To go and visit his beautiful dear.
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Her parents they did strive to persuade her
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To marry the merchant, tho never near.
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Still she replyd, Ill ever be constant,
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To my dear Billy, whos over the main.
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No wealth nor riches shall make me disloyel,
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The world for sweet William I can disdain.
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Her parents finding she was so constant,
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Hired a sailor a letter to bring;
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Who said, at the East-Indies your love did expire,
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Then dying he gave me this letter to bring.
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Opening the letter and finding her lover
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Had expired, she thus did say:
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Oh! that I had dyd in the room of my jewel,
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How to another Im forced away,
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Her parents then entreated her to marry,
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At length to the merchant she did consent:
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Poor harmless maid! she never thinking
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The cruel mischief on which they were bent
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Costly rich robes and fine jewels.
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Then were prepared for the bride,
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With a noble train to attend them.
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To Plymouth-church they went to be tyd.
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A splendid dinner was also provided,
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The bells did ring, and the trumpets did play,
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Her covetous parents rejoicd and were happy,
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Because this was a fatal and sad wedding-day.
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This very week sweet William arrived
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All in the Downs with a very good cheer.
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And to let Susan know these happy tidings
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Strait wrote a letter, and sent to his dear.
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As at the window the bride was gazing,
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She saw the post-man ring at the door,
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Calling aloud to the beautiful Susan,
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Saying, That he had a letter for her.
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Strait to the door she flew in passion,
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Eagerly taking the letter in hand,
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Found in the Downs sweet William was riding,
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With vast store of riches he had brought to land.
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She said, Oh! now I am ruind for ever.
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Her costly robes she in pieces did tear,
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Go, unkind parents, for you have been cruel,
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Thus to part me from my only dear,
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What will he say? now I shall be upbraided,
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Where is my girl, the pledge of my vows.
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It was cursed gold of my dear did deprive me,
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Blasted and gone is my virgin rose.
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The bridegroom gently strove to persuade her,
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Saying, Fair Susan, now you are wed,
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You must incline now unto your husband,
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And yield up your charms in the bridal bed.
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No, no, she cries, my dear husband,
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It is not my charms can enjoy.
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Tho I am wedded I will die a maiden,
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Death sent a dart now this life to destroy.
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Thus in distraction this maiden lies weeping,
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Bound in her bed she no comfort can have.
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Crying out, Death, now come ease me,
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On! let my bride-bed be a silent grave:
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Let my bride-men wear the white lillies,
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Instead of costly favours so gay:
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And let the maidens wear the green willow,
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To shew, William, Ive been constant to thee,
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Strew all the groves with the whitest flowers,
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To show how innocent I wrongd my dear,
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Get violets and thyme to make my love poesies,
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Let the funeral wine be the water so clear.
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Ill go to William thats loyal hearted,
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My troubled ghost shall mourn for my dear,
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Then with a sigh and groan she departed,
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Parents, take warning by whats written hear:
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When darksome night bright Sol encompassd.
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And twinkling stars spread the sparkling skies,
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William, who then in his cabbin lay sleeping,
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Was askd by a voice that strangely did cry,
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William, arise, see beautiful Susan,
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Whose charms were once as bright at the sun,
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Now in deaths frozen arms is enclosed,
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William, make haste, to your lover come.
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William, soon from his pillow arising,
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Cried, Oh! what is the sound I do hear
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Soon as he spied the ghost of his Susan;
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His looks more pale then the lead did appear.
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Close in his arms he goes to enfold her,
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But soon the shadow did disappear.
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Willam then raved like one in distraction,
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Crying, Has death robbed me of my dear
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When at fair Plymouth-town he arrived,
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Straitway the tidings to him was told,
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He said, Unkind and most cruel parents,
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Thus to wrong a child for the lucre of gold.
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Many rich offers for her I refused,
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None could I ever love but my dear.
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Soon after thee, dear Susan, thy love wil[l] expire.
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Oh! cruel fortune, to lovers severe.
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That very night to her grave he retired,
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Digging the mould from her breathless clay.
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Upon her coffin he then expired,
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And by her parents was found next day.
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Now these two lovers are both enclosed
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Together in one sad dismal tomb:
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Ye covetous parents by this take warning,
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Blast not children in the midst of their bloom
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