Remorse: beholding heaven and feeling hell

Remorse: beholding heaven and feeling hell

Remorse is the pain of sin.

Remorse is the pain of sin.

Remorse is virtue's root; its fair increase are fruits of innocence and blessedness

Remorse is virtue's root; its fair increase are fruits of innocence and blessedness

Remorse is the echo of a lost virtue

Remorse is the echo of a lost virtue

Man, wretched man, whene'er he stoops to sin,
Feels, with the act, a strong remorse within.

Man, wretched man, whene'er he stoops to sin,
Feels, with the act, a strong remorse within.

If thou dost slander her and torture me,
Never pray more; abandon all remorse;
On horror's head read more

If thou dost slander her and torture me,
Never pray more; abandon all remorse;
On horror's head horrors accumulate;
Do deeds to make heaven weep, all earth amazed;
For nothing canst thou to damnation add
Greater than that.

Remorse is the echo of a lost virtue.

Remorse is the echo of a lost virtue.

Cruel Remorse! where Youth and Pleasure sport,
And thoughtless Folly keeps her court,--
Crouching 'midst rosy bowers read more

Cruel Remorse! where Youth and Pleasure sport,
And thoughtless Folly keeps her court,--
Crouching 'midst rosy bowers thou lurk'st unseen
Slumbering the festal hours away,
While Youth disports in that enchanting scene;
Till on some fated day
Thou with a tiger-spring dost leap upon thy prey,
And tear his helpless breast, o'erwhelmed with wild dismay.

To be left alone, and face to face with my own crime, had been just retribution.

To be left alone, and face to face with my own crime, had been just retribution.