An Excellent Ballad, intituled, The Constancy of
Susanna. To an excellent New tune.
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THere was a man in Babylon,
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of reputation great by fame,
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He took to wife a fair woman
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Susanna was she cal'd by name:
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A woman fair and vertuous,
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Lady, Lady,
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Why should not we of her learn thus,
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to live godly.
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Vertuously her life she led,
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she feared God, she stood in awe,
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As in the story you may read,
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was well brought up in Moses law.
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Her parents they were godly folk,
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Lady, Lady,
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Why should we not then talk
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of this Lady.
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That year two Judges there was made
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which were the Elders of Babylon,
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To Joachims house was all their trade,
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who was Susanna's husband then:
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Joachim was a great rich man,
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Lady, Lady,
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These Elders oft to his house came,
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for this Lady.
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Joachim had an Orchard by,
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fast joyning to his house or place,
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Whereas Susanna commonly,
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herself did daily their solace:
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And that these Elders soon espy'd,
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Lady, Lady,
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And privately themselves did hide
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for that Lady.
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Her chast and constant life was try'd,
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by these Elders of Babylon,
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A time convenient they espy'd,
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to have this Lady all alone.
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In this Orchard it came to pass,
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Lady, Lady,
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Where she alone herself did wash
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her fair body.
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The Elders came to her anon,
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& thus they said fair Dame good speed
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The doors are fast the Maids are gone,
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consent to us and do this deed,
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For we are men of no mistrust:
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Lady Lady,
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And yet to thee we have a lust,
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O fair Lady.
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If that to us thou dost say nay,
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a testimonial we will bring.
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We will say that one with thee lay,
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how canst thou then avoid this thing.
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Therefore consent and to me turn,
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Lady Lady,
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For we to thee in lust do burn,
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O fair Lady.
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Then did she sigh and said alas,
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now woe is me on every side;
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Was ever wretch in such a case?
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shall I consent and do this deed,
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Whether I do or do it not,
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Lady Lady,
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It is my Death right well I wot,
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O true Lady.
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Better it were for me to fall
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into your hands and be guiltless,
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Then that I should consent at all,
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to this your shameful wickedness?
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And even with that (whereas she stood)
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Lady Lady,
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Unto the Lord she cry'd aloud,
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pittifully.
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THese Elders both likewise again,
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against Susanna aloud they cry'd
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Their filthy lust could not obtain,
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their wickedness they sought to hide,
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Unto her friends they then her brought
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Lady Lady,
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And with all speed the life was sought
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of that Lady.
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On the morrow she was brought forth,
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before the people for to stand,
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that they might hear & know the truth,
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how these two Elders Susanna found,
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The Elders swore and thus did say,
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Lady Lady,
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How that they saw a young man lay
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with this Lady.
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Judgement there was for one offence,
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Susanna causeless she must Die,
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These Elders bore such evidence,
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against her they did verifie,
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Who were believed then indeed,
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Lady Lady,
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Against Susanna to proceed,
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that she should Die.
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Susanna's friends that stood her by,
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they did lament and were full woe,
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Whenas they saw no remedy,
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but that to Death she then must go.
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Then unto him that is so just,
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Lady Lady,
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In God was all her hope and trust,
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to him they cry.
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The Lord her voice heard and beheld
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the Daughters cry of Israel;
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His Spirit he raised in a child,
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whose name was call'd young Daniel,
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Who cryed aloud whereas he stood,
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Lady Lady,
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I am clear of the guiltless blood,
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of this Lady.
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Are you such fools (quoth Daniel then)
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in Judgment you have not done well,
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Nor yet the right way have you gone
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to judge the Daughter of Israel,
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By this witness of false Disdain,
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Lady Lady,
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Wherefore to judgement turn again
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for that Lady.
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And when to Judgement they were set
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he called for these wicked men,
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And soon he did them seperate,
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putting the one from th' other then:
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He askt the first where he did see
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that fair Lady,
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He said under a Mulberry tree,
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who lyed falsly.
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Thou lyest (said Daniel) on thy head,
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thy sentence is before the Lord,
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He bad that forth he might be led,
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and bring the other that bare record,
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To see how they two did agree
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Lady, Lady,
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He said under a Pomgranate tree,
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who lyed falsly.
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Said Daniel as he did before,
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behold the Messenger of the Lord,
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Stands waiting for you at the Door,
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even to cut thee with a Sword:
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And even with that the multitude
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aloud did cry,
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Give thanks to God, and so conclude,
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for this Lady.
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They dealt like with these wicked men
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according as the Scrip[t]ure saith,
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They did as with their Neighbour then,
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by Moses Law were put to Death:
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She innocent preserved was,
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Lady, Lady,
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As God by Daniel brought to pass,
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for this Lady.
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