The Black-Bird Songster/The Confession

THE CONFESSION.

With sorrow and repentance true,
Father, I trembling come to you;
I know I've too indulgent been
To one, but oh! forgive the sin.
To one whom still I love, tho he
Ungrateful proves, and false to me;
Then let me on my knees confess
How I've been tempted to transgress.

Oh! rev'rend father, if you know
The charms of him, alas! untrue;
O had you heard the false one swear
I was the fairest of the fair;
You could not, holy Sir, refuse
So slight a weakness to excușe;
He swore my eyes were loveliness,
Ah! let me then my fault confess.

To grief, eternal grief a prey,
His name is all my heart can say;
When bath'd in sad repentant tears,
Still to my mind his name appears;
Yes, 'tis that name, that name alone,
Which bends me now before thy throne;
Alcander-- but I can't express,
Oh! Father, must I then confess?

Ah! tell him, should he come to you,
Should he, like me, for mercy sue;
Of all tho crimes by heav'n accurst,
Tell him inconstancy's the worst;
Tell him that lie who's false in love,
Can ne'er hope pity from above;
Tell him that I alone can bless,
And send him to me to confess.