The poems and translations of Sir Edward Sherburne (1616-1702) excluding Seneca and Manilius Introduced and Annotated by F. J. Van Beeck |
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Conscience.
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 | The poems and translations of Sir Edward Sherburne (1616-1702) |  |
Conscience.
Internall Cerberus! whose griping fangsThat gnaw the Soul are the Minds secret Pangs:
Thou greedy Vulture! that dost gorging Tire
On Hearts corrupted by impure desire.
Subtle, and buzzing Hornet! that dost ring
A Peal of Horrour, e'r thou giv'st the sting.
The Souls rough File that smoothness does impart!
The Hammer that does break a stony Heart!
The Worm that never dies! the Thorn within,
That pricks, and pains: the whip, and scourge of sin!
The voice of God in Man! which, without rest
Doth softly cry within a troubled Breast;
To all Temptations is that Soul left free,
That makes not to it self a Curb of Me.
| The poems and translations of Sir Edward Sherburne (1616-1702) | |