Conscience is the mirror of our souls, which represents the errors of our lives in their full shape.

Conscience is the mirror of our souls, which represents the errors of our lives in their full shape.

O faithful conscience, delicately pure, how doth a little failing
wound thee sore!
[It., O dignitosa coscienza e read more

O faithful conscience, delicately pure, how doth a little failing
wound thee sore!
[It., O dignitosa coscienza e netta,
Come t' e picciol fallo amaro morso.]

But at sixteen the conscience rarely gnaws
So much, as when we call our old debts in
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But at sixteen the conscience rarely gnaws
So much, as when we call our old debts in
At sixty years, and draw the accounts of evil,
And find a deuced balance with the devil.

Be this thy brazen bulwark, to keep a clear conscience, and never
turn pale with guilt.
[Lat., Hic read more

Be this thy brazen bulwark, to keep a clear conscience, and never
turn pale with guilt.
[Lat., Hic murus aeneus esto,
Nil conscire sibi, nulla pallescere culpa.]

A quiet conscience makes one so serene!
Christians have burnt each other, quite persuaded
That all the read more

A quiet conscience makes one so serene!
Christians have burnt each other, quite persuaded
That all the Apostles would have done as they did.

So may heaven's grace clear away the foam from the conscience,
that the river of thy thoughts may roll read more

So may heaven's grace clear away the foam from the conscience,
that the river of thy thoughts may roll limpid thenceforth,
[It., Se toso grazia risolva le schiume
Di vostra conscienza, si che chiaro
Per essa scenda della mente il fiume.]

A cleere conscience is a sure carde.

A cleere conscience is a sure carde.

The only tyrant I accept in this world is the still voice within.

The only tyrant I accept in this world is the still voice within.

He that has light within his own clear breast
May sit i' the centre, and enjoy bright day:
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He that has light within his own clear breast
May sit i' the centre, and enjoy bright day:
But he that hides a dark soul and foul thoughts
Benighted walks under the mid-day sun;
Himself his own dungeon.