Susanna fair (1588) (William Byrd)

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• CPDL #8691:

Editor: David Fraser (submitted 2004-12-06).   Score information: A4, 4 pages, 117 kbytes    Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: Revised March 2008

General Information

Title: Susanna fair (1588)
Composer: William Byrd

Number of voices: 5vv   Voicing: SATTB
Genre: Secular, Partsong

Language: English
Instruments: a cappella
Published: Psalmes, sonets, & songs... (1588), no.29

Description:

External websites:

Original text and translations

English text

Susanna faire, sometime assaulted was,
by two old men desiring their delight:
whose false entent, they thought to bring to passe,
If not by tender love, by force & might:
to whom she said, if I your sute denye,
you will mee falsely accuse, and make mee die.

And if I graunt to that which you request,
my chastitie shall then defloured bee,
which is so deere to mee that I detest
my lyfe, if it beerefted bee from mee:
And rather would I dye of mine accord,
ten thousand times, then once offend the Lord.