The Leicester-shire Tragedy:
OR, THE
Fatal Over-throw of two Unfortunate Lovers,
CAUS'D
By SUSANNAs Breach of Promise.
To the Tune of, The Jealous Lover: or, The Languishing Swain.
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YOung Lovers most discreet and wise,
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With bleeding heart and melting eyes,
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A sad Relation here I write,
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Of one whose beauty shined bright:
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Susana Lynard, was her name,
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To whom for Love young Gallants came,
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Amongst the rest, a Yeoman's Son,
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Who at the length her favour won.
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To her he brought a Ring of Gold,
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And said, My dearest Love behold,
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Receive this Token now from me,
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And let our hearts united be.
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If I am false to thee, my Dear,
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I wish that I may never here
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One day of Joy or Comfort find;
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Then Dearest never change thy mind.
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The youthful Damsel then reply'd,
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If I refuse to be thy Bride,
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Or falsifie the Vows of Love,
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Let me a just Example prove.
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Yet, notwithstanding what had past,
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When a young Squire came at last,
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Who did to her new Courtship make,
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Her former Love she did forsake.
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Now when her loyal Lover knew,
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That she her Vows had bid adieu,
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He went to her in woeful case,
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But she'd not let him see her face.
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Then like a dart, it pierc'd his heart,
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He sighing said, And must we part?
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Oh, most unconstano Wretch, he cry'd,
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Sure Justice will be satisfy'd.
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He waited till the Wedding-day,
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When meeting her, he thus did say,
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Tho' you shall with another wed,
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You are my own alive or dead.
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Your Love you shall not long enjoy,
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For since my Life you do destroy,
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When I have yielded up my breath,
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My Ghost shall haunt you after Death.
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This said, he left the Perjur'd Bride,
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And wander'd to a River side,
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Where the next Morning he was found,
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Bath'd in his Blood upon the ground.
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This Tydings to the Bride was brought,
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Whose false heart his destruction wrought,
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Her eyes did then like fountains run,
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Aloud she cry'd, What have I done!
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My Vows comes fresh into my mind,
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No Peace of Conscience can I find;
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Alas, there's nothing left for me,
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But the Reward of Perjury.
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As she lamented night and day,
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His bleeding Ghost was heard to say,
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You shall not have an hour's rest,
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For I will still your Joys molest.
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The dreadful Visions of the Night,
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Did fair Susanna so afright,
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That she into a Feaver fell,
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And dying, said, False World farewel.
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Young Men and Maids both far and near,
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That shall this sad Relation hear,
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See that you are not false in Love
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For there's a Righteous God above,
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Who will no doubt just Vengeance take
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Of those that does no Conscience make,
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When solemnly they Vow and Swear.
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Henceforth false Lovers then bewear.
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