An Excellent Ballad, Intituled,
The Constancy of Susanna.
To an Excellent New Tune.
Licensed according to Order.
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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 call'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 not we then talk
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of this lady:
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That year two Judges there were 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 Susannas 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 palace,
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Whereas Susanna commonly,
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herself did daily there 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 chaste 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 Maid 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 can'st thou then avoid this thing?
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therefore consent and to us 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 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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Than 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 doth 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 thought 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 law
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with this Lady.
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Judgment there was for no offence,
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Susanna causeless she must dye,
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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 dye.
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Susannas friends that stood by her,
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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 Judgment they were set,
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for that Lady.
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And when to judgment they were set,
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and 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 Pomegranate 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 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 to 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 Scripture 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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