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 a warning,
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In love do not cross your children dear.
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In Plymouth town liv'd a beautiful maiden,
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And lovely Susan indeed was her nam[e]
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A young ship-carpenter came to court her,
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Her beautiful charms did his heart so inflame.
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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 replied 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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Of none but sweet William, my heart can approve.
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But William replied, three years to the ocean,
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Now I am bound sweet lovely dear.
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It shall be spent for my jewel's portion,
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Rich costly jewels I'll bring to my dear.
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A piece 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 was 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 said, 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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He'll deck you in gold and fine costly pearl;
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Your beautiful charms dear child are fitting
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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 have 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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not cursed gold that shall make me disloyal,
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Perjur'd love heaven sure will requite?
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Then do not strive to be my undoing,
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For William I love, he shall be my delight.
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Then, said her father, I'll 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 banished for ever from me.
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Then, cruel father! answered the damsel,
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If that's 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 the near.
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Still she reply'd, I'll ever be constant
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To my dear Billy that's over the main.
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No wealth nor riches shall make me disloyal,
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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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Which said, at the Indies her love did expire.
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When 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 dy'd in the room of my jewel,
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Now to another I'm 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 of gold and fine jewels
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Then were prepar'd for the beautiful bride;
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Then with a noble train to attend them,
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To Plymouth-church they went to be ty'd.
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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 rejoic'd and were merry,
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But this was a fatal and sad wedding day.
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That very week sweet William
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All in the Downs with a very good cheer;
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And to let Susan know these happy tydings,
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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 a postman ringing 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, then she flew in a passion,
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Eagerly taking the letter in her 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 ruined 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 for 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 sweet creature,
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It is not you my charms can enjoy;
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Tho' I am wedded I will die a maiden,
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Death send 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 soon come ease me!
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O! let my bride-bed be a silent grave.
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Let my bridemen 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, I've been constant to thee.
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Strew all the groves with the whitest flowers,
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To shew how innocent I wrong'd my dear:
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Get violets and thyme to make my love posies.
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Let the funeral wine be water so clear.
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I'll go to William that is loyal-hearted,
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My troubled ghost shall mourn for my dear.
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Then with a sigh, and a groan, she departed;
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Parents take warning by what's written here.
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When darksome night bright Sol encompass'd,
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And twinkling stars spread the sparkling skies,
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William who then in his cabbin was sleeping,
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Was wak'd with 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 as the sun;
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Now in death's frozen arms is inclosed,
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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 than 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 then disappear.
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William then raved like one in distraction,
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Crying, has death robbed me of my dear?
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Then at fair Plymouth town he arrived,
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Straitway the tydings unto 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 for thee, dear Susan, thy love will expire.
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O! 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 the next day.
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Now those two lovers are both inclosed
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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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