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by Matthew Gregory Lewis (1775 - 1818)

William and Susan
 (Sung text for setting by H. Abrams)
 See original
Language: English 
When forced to quit his native land
young William bade farewell,
as Susan fondly wrung his hand,
her tears in torrents fell;
and soft she sighed, her anxious heart
with many a fear beset:
"Oh! would we were not now to part
or that we ne'er had met!"

Dame fortune smiled on William's pains
and blest his growing store;
now gone three years, his honest gains
to Susan's feet he bore.
"Nor think," he said, "that William's heart
can e'er his vows forget;
dismiss your fears, no more we'll part,
once more since we have met."

Ah! ere the honeymoon was flown,
they cursed the marriage life;
a very husband Will was grown,
and Sue a very wife.
She said that he was false at heart,
he called her light coquette,
and both exclaimed: "Next week we'll part,
I wish we ne'er had met!"

Composition:

    Set to music by Harriet Abrams (1760 - 1825), "William and Susan", published 1803 [ voice and piano ], London : Lavenu & Mitchell

Text Authorship:

  • by Matthew Gregory Lewis (1775 - 1818), "William and Susan"

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Researcher for this page: Johann Winkler

This text was added to the website: 2023-10-06
Line count: 24
Word count: 146

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