18
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 excuse:
He swore my eyes were loveliness,
Ah! let ne then my fault confess.
To grief, eternal grief a prey,
His name is all my heart can say it
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 the crimes by heav'n accurst,
Tell him inconstancy's the worst;
Tell him that he 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.
