Susanne un jour

General information

Lyricist: Guillaume Guéroult

Settings by composers

Original French text

• Johannes de Bacchius SATB or ATTB 1556
• Jean de Castro SSA 1574
• Severin Cornet SAT 1574
• Noé Faignient SAT 1574
• Claude Le Jeune
  • a 5 SATTB 1585
  • a 7 SSAATTB 1572
• Orlando di Lasso SATTB 1560
  • Susannen fromm SATTB 1576 (a different setting, also to Lupi's tune)
• Didier Lupi second SATB 1548
• Philippe de Monte* SAATB 1567
• Cipriano de Rore SATTB 1564
• Jean Servin SSATTB 1578
• Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck a 5
• Geert van Turnout ST 1571

English translations

• Susanna fair some time assaulted was (William Byrd) 1588, a5
• Susanna fair some time assaulted was (William Byrd) 1589, a3
• Susanna fair some time of love (Giles Farnaby)
• Susanna fair whom lying lips (Alfonso Ferrabosco I)

German translation

• Susannen fromm (Orlando di Lasso)

Text and translations

French text Susanne un jour d'amour solicitée par deux viellardz, convoitans sa beauté, fut en son coeur triste et desconfortée, voyant l'effort fait à sa chasteté. Elle leur dict, Si par desloyauté de ce corps mien vous avez jouissance, c'est fait de moy. Si je fay resistance, vous me ferez mourir en deshonneur. Mais j'aime mieux périr en innocence, que d'offenser par peché le Seigneur.

English translation Literal translation One day, Susanne's love was solicited by two old men coveting her beauty. She became sad and displeased in her heart, seeing the attempt at her chastity. She said, 'If, dishonourably, from my body you take pleasure, this is done to me. If I resist, you would make me die in disgrace. But I would rather perish innocent, than to offend the Lord with a sin.

English translation Verse translation Susanne one day did have her favors sought When two old fools were by her beauty caught, And feeling in her heart sad and distraught That they believed her virtue could be bought, Told them, “If you achieve your vile plot To take my body for your pleasures spry, It is my end. And should I not comply, In base dishonor will I be done in. But I prefer in innocence to die Than to offend the Lord with such a sin. Translation by Thomas Daughton