It chanced so these warrs were done,
And home he came with victory,
His daughter out of doors did run,
To meet her father speedily,
And all the way did play

To taber and pipe, and many a stripe,
And notes full high,

For joy that he was so nigh, so nigh.

When Jepha did perceive and see
His daughter firm and formostly,
He rent his cloths and tore his haire,
And shrieked out most piteously,
For thou art she (quoth he)

Hath brought me low, alas for woe,
And troubled me so,

That I cannot tell what to doe, to doe.

For I have made a vow (quoth he)
Which must not be diminished,
A sacrifice to God on high,
My promise must be finished,
As you have spoke, provoke,
No further care but to prepare,
Your will to fulfill,

According to God's will, God's will.

For sithence God hath given you might,

To overcome your enemies,

Let one be offer'd up as right,
For to perform all promises,

And this let be, quoth she,

As thou hast said be not afraid,

Although it be I.

Keep promise with God on high, on high.

But father do so much for me,
As let me go to wildernesse,
There to bewaile my virginity,

Three months to bemoan my heavinesse,

And let there go some moe,

Like maids with me. Content, quoth he,

And sent her away,

To mourn till her latter day, her day.

And when that time was come and gone,

That she should sacrificed be,

This virgin sacrificed was,

For to fulfill all promises;

As some say for aye:

The virgins there three times a year,

Like sorrow fulfill,

For the daughter of Jepha still, still, still.

III.

"An excellent Ballad, intituled,

THE CONSTANCY OF SUSANNA."

This is the Ballad the first line of which Sir Toby Belch cites, with other poetical fragments, in Twelfth Night.

THERE dwelt a man in Babylon

Of reputation great by fame, He took to wife a fair woman,

Susanna she was called by name;

A woman fair and virtuous;

Lady, lady:

Why should we not of her learn thus

To live godly?

Virtuously her life she lead,

She feared God, she stood in awe,

As in the story we have read,

Was well brought up in Moses' law;

Her parents they were goodly folk,

Lady, lady:

Why should we not, then, sing and talk
Of this lady?

That year two judges there were made,
Which were the elders of Babylon,
To Joachim's house was all their trade,
Who was Susanna's husband then :
Joachim was a great rich man,

Lady, lady;

These elders oft to his house came
For this lady.

Joachim had an orchard by

Fast joining to his house or place, Whereas Susanna commonly

Herself did daily there solace, And that these elders soon espied,

Lady, lady,

And privily themselves did hide

For that lady.

These elders came to her anon,

And thus they said, Fair dame God speed, Thy doors are fast, the maids are gone,

Consent to us and do this deed, For we are men of no mistrust,

Lady, lady,

And yet to thee we have a lust,

O fair lady!

If that to us thou dost say nay,

A testimonial we will bring,

We will

say that one with thee lay,

How canst thou then avoid the thing: Therefore consent, and to us turn,

Lady, lady,

For we to thee in lust do burn,

O fair lady!

Then did she sigh, and said alas!
Now woe is me on every side,
Was ever wretch in such a case,
Shall I consent and do this deed?
Whether I do, or do it not,

Lady, lady;

It is my death right well I wot,

O true lady!

Better it were for me to fall

Into your hands this day guiltless, Then that I should consent at all

To this your shameful wickedness; And even with that (whereas she stood) Lady, lady,

Unto the Lord she cried aloud,

Pitifully.

These elders both likewise again,
Against Susanna aloud they cried,
Their filthy lust could not obtain,

Their wickedness they sought to hide,