[This very day a Warning take by me,]
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[?] with speed;
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This very day a Warning take by me,
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The Actor of this Bloody Tragedy.
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The Sin of Murther on my Conscience lyes,
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Her blood aloud for Fearful Vengeance crys;
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So that I can't enjoy one hours rest,
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Nothing but Horror lodges in my breast.
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If I had liv'd a Sober Christian life,
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Loving and Loyal to my Lawful Wife,
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Oh! then a happy Man I might have been,
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But now I see the sad Effects of sin.
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The fond embraces I have often us'd,
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Likewise the Sabbath, which I have abus'd,
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Declares that I from sin to sin did go,
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Until at length it prov'd my overthrow.
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Religious Counsel I would never take,
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So that the Lord at length did me forsake,
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And suffer'd me (alas!) to run this Race,
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The which will end in shame and sad disgrace.
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My heart was fix'd on foolish Vanity,
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Those fading Glories then delighted me;
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But now of them I clearly am bereft,
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There's none but the sad sting of Conscience left.
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Unto the world I freely will declare,
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How Black and Heinous my Offences are:
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A Womans blood maliciously I spilt,
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How shall I e'er be cleansed from this Guilt?
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Septembers Month upon the second day,
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This Creature I did then entreat and pray,
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That she in love would go along with me;
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To which, poor heart, she straightways did agree.
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A Plot for her Destruction I had laid,
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Resolv'd I was her life should be betray'd;
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[?]
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I should escape, therefore I need not fear.
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Nay, further still, the Tempter did declare,
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That I might Murther her in Lambeth, where
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We were not known, and then by hasty flight,
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If I was free to save my life I might.
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To my sad grief, I took his Counsel then,
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I, William Close, the very worst of Men:
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As in a Tavern we were drinking Wine,
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Did there resolve to finish my design.
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As she was drinking off a glass to me,
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I took that very opportunity,
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And with the Pot I gave a dreadful blow
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Upon her head, which soon did lay her low.
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This done, I took in hand the bloody knife,
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Her Throat I cut, and Robb'd her of her life:
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For which I now in Chains and Fetters lye,
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To wait the time I shall be call'd to Dye.
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Methinks I see her now this very Day,
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Where bleeding on the ground she sprawling Lay,
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Giving a screek, and the Last Dying Groan,
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Enough to melt the hardest Heart of Stone.
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Straight in my Face a Guilty Conscience flew,
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And cry'd the Hand of Justice would pursue,
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To cut me off for this Black Villany,
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It being clear to God's all-seeing Eye.
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Then was my soul in sad Confusion hurl'd,
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Had I been worth the Wealth of all the World,
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[I] could have parted with it for her sake,
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[F]or why, I did not know what Course to take.
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When from her Throat the streams of blood did run,
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[I] cry'd within myself, what have I done,
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[?] Heinous Murther now do what I can,
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[I] can't escape the wrath of God and Man.
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[?] night,
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Oftentimes wishing for the Morning light,
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And in the morning wish for night again,
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Thus am I wrack'd with more than common pain.
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When heavy sleep or slumber seizes me,
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In frightful Dreams her Bleeding Ghost I see,
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My Murdering hands together then I joyn,
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And Weeping Cry, was ever Grief like mine?
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She now lies sleeping in the silent Dust,
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(Yet at the Resurection of the Just,
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When we shall Face to Face together Meet,)
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What shall I say at that Tribunal seat.
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Where all my Sins they shall in Order Lye,
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With this, which is of a more Scarlet Dye,
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Then if the Lord above should be severe,
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Eternal wrath I have just cause to fear.
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But from this Minute to the Day I Dye,
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To God alone I will myself apply,
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Both Night and Day I will his Love implore,
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Hoping that he has mercy still in store,
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With all the pleasures of the world I'll part,
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And beg for grace, and a repenting heart,
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Weeping for all my sins continually,
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And who can tell but he may pardon me.
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The King of Kings had mercy on a Thief,
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Which gives me hope that I may find relief,
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Therefore so long as I have life and space,
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Ill never cease to seek the means of Grace.
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And while I lye in Iron Fetters here,
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I beg the Prayers of all both far and near,
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That when by Law this painful Life I leave,
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The Lord in mercy may my soul receive.
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