| AMBROSE BIERCE |
- - -
| Day of Satan's painful duty! | Dies iræ! dies illa! | |
| Earth shall vanish, hot and sooty; | Solvet sæclum in favilla | |
| So says Virtue, so says Beauty. | Teste David cum Sibylla. | |
| Ah! what terror shall be shaping | Quantus tremor est futurus, | |
| When the Judge the truth's undraping -- | Quando Judex est venturus. | |
| Cats from every bag escaping! | Cuncta stricte discussurus. | |
| Now the trumpet's invocation | Tuba mirum spargens sonum | |
| Calls the dead to condemnation; | Per sepulchra regionem, | |
| All receive an invitation. | Coget omnes ante thronum. | |
| Death and Nature now are quaking, | Mors stupebit, et Natura, | |
| And the late lamented, waking, | Quum resurget creatura | |
| In their breezy shrouds are shaking. | Judicanti responsura. | |
| Lo! the Ledger's leaves are stirring, | Liber scriptus proferetur, | |
| And the Clerk, to them referring, | In quo totum continetur, | |
| Makes it awkward for the erring. | Unde mundus judicetur. | |
| When the Judge appears in session, | Judex ergo quum sedebit, | |
| We shall all attend confession, | Quicquid latet apparebit, | |
| Loudly preaching non-suppression. | Nil inultum remanebit. | |
| How shall I then make romances | Quid sum miser tunc dicturus, | |
| Mitigating circumstances? | Quem patronem rogaturus, | |
| Even the just must take their chances. | Quum vix justus sit securus? | |
| King whose majesty amazes, | Rex tremendæ majestatis, | |
| Save thou him who sings thy praises; | Qui salvandos salvas gratis; | |
| Fountain, quench my private blazes. | Salva me, Fons pietatis. | |
| Pray remember, sacred Saviour, | Recordare, Jesu pie, | |
| Mine the playful hand that gave your | Quod sum causa tuæ viæ; | |
| Death-blow. Pardon such behavior. | Ne me perdas illa die. | |
| Seeking me, fatigue assailed thee, | Quærens me sedisti lassus | |
| Calvary's outlook naught availed thee; | Redemisti crucem passus, | |
| Now 'twere cruel if I failed thee. | Tantus labor non sit cassus. | |
| Righteous judge and learnèd brother, | Juste Judex ultionis, | |
| Pray thy prejudices smother | Donum fac remissionis | |
| Ere we meet to try each other. | Ante diem rationis. | |
| Sighs of guilt my conscience gushes, | Ingemisco tanquam reus, | |
| And my face vermilion flushes; | Culpa rubet vultus meus; | |
| Spare me for my pretty blushes. | Supplicanti parce, Deus. | |
| Thief and harlot, when repenting, | Qui Mariam absolvisti, | |
| Thou forgavest--complimenting | Et latronem exaudisti, | |
| Me with sign of like relenting. | Mihi quoque spem dedisti. | |
| If too bold is my petition | Preces meæ non sunt dignæ, | |
| I'll receive with due submission | Sed to bonus fac benigne | |
| My dismissal--from perdition. | Ne perenni cremer igne. | |
| When thy sheep thou hast selected | Inter oves locum præsta. | |
| From the goats, may I, respected, | Et ab hædis me sequestra, | |
| Stand amongst them undetected. | Statuens in parte dextra. | |
| When offenders are indited, | Confutatis maledictis, | |
| And with trial-flames ignited, | Flammis acribus addictis, | |
| Elsewhere I'll attend if cited. | Voca me cum benedictis. | |
| Ashen-hearted, prone and prayerful, | Oro supplex et acclinis, | |
| When of death I see the air full, | Cor contritum quasi cinis; | |
| Lest I perish too be careful. | Gere curam mei finis. | |
| On that day of lamentation, | Lacrymosa dies illa | |
| When, to enjoy the conflagration, | Qua resurget et favilla, | |
| Men come forth, O be not cruel: | Judicandus homo reus, | |
| Spare me, Lord -- make them thy fuel. | Huic ergo parce, Deus! |
|| inspiration || lab || baudelaire || blair ||