Remorse:AFragment

1784

remorse:afragment

ofallthenumerousillsthathurtourpeace,

thatpressthesoul,orwringthemindwithanguish

beyondcomparisontheworstarethose

byourownfolly,orourguiltbroughton:

inev'ryothercircumstance,themind

hasthistosay,“itwasnodeedofmine:”

but,whentoalltheevilofmisfortune

thisstingisadded,“blamethyfoolishself!”

orworserfar,thepangsofkeenremorse,

thetorturing,gnawingconsciousnessofguilt—

ofguilt,perhaps,whenwe'veinvolvedothers,

theyoung,theinnocent,whofondlylov'dus;

naymore,thatverylovetheircauseofruin!

oburninghell!inallthystoreoftorments

there'snotakeenerlash!

livesthereamansofirm,who,whilehisheart

feelsallthebitterhorrorsofhiscrime,

canreasondownitsagonizingthrobs;

and,afterproperpurposeofamendment,

canfirmlyforcehisjarringthoughtstopeace?

ohappy,happy,enviableman!

ogloriousmagnanimityofsoul!