Ingemisco tanquam reus,
  Culpa rubet vultus meus;
  Supplicanti parce, Deus.

  Qui Mariam absolvisti
  Et latronem exaudisti,
  Mihi quoque spem dedisti.

  Preces meae non sunt dignae,
  Sed tu bonus fac benigne
  Ne perenni cremer igne.

  Inter oves locum praesta. 
  Et ab haedis me sequestra,
  Statuens in parte dextra.

  Confutatis maledictis,
  Flammis acribus addictis,
  Voca me cum benedictis.

  Oro supplex et acclinis,
  Cor contritum quasi cinis;
  Gere curam mei finis.

  Lacrymosa dies illa
  Qua resurgent et favilla,
  Judicandus homo reus
  Huic ergo parce, Deus!

  THE DAY OF WRATH.

  Day of Satan’s painful duty! 
  Earth shall vanish, hot and sooty;
  So says Virtue, so says Beauty.

  Ah! what terror shall be shaping
  When the Judge the truth’s undraping! 
  Cats from every bag escaping!

  Now the trumpet’s invocation
  Calls the dead to condemnation;
  All receive an invitation.

  Death and Nature now are quaking,
  And the late lamented, waking,
  In their breezy shrouds are shaking.

  Lo! the Ledger’s leaves are stirring,
  And the Clerk, to them referring,
  Makes it awkward for the erring.

  When the Judge appears in session,
  We shall all attend confession,
  Loudly preaching non-suppression.

  How shall I then make romances
  Mitigating circumstances? 
  Even the just must take their chances.

  King whose majesty amazes. 
  Save thou him who sings thy praises;
  Fountain, quench my private blazes.

  Pray remember, sacred Savior,
  Mine the playful hand that gave your
  Death-blow.  Pardon such behavior.

  Seeking me fatigue assailed thee,
  Calvary’s outlook naught availed thee: 
  Now ’t were cruel if I failed thee.

  Righteous judge and learned brother,
  Pray thy prejudices smother
  Ere we meet to try each other.

  Sighs of guilt my conscience gushes,
  And my face vermilion flushes;
  Spare me for my pretty blushes.

  Thief and harlot, when repenting,
  Thou forgav’st—­be complimenting
  Me with sign of like relenting.

  If too bold is my petition
  I’ll receive with due submission
  My dismissal—­from perdition.

  When thy sheep thou hast selected
  From the goats, may I, respected,
  Stand amongst them undetected.

  When offenders are indicted,
  And with trial-flames ignited,
  Elsewhere I’ll attend if cited.

  Ashen-hearted, prone, and prayerful,
  When of death I see the air full,
  Lest I perish, too, be careful.

  On that day of lamentation,
  When, to enjoy the conflagration. 
  Men come forth, O, be not cruel. 
  Spare me, Lord—­make them thy fuel.