SEQUITUR SUA POENA
NOCENTEM.

THE GUILTY MAN PUNISHES HIMSELF

Conscius offensarum, animusque suipsius ultor.
Vivit in invita: vita [=vitam] cùm vivere nolit.
Cúmque mori exoptet: sua mortis vulnera sentit.
Nec tamen emoritur: sed fert sua tormina[1] secum.
Carnificémque sui cùm seipsum sentiat: à se
Vellet abesse quidem. Sed adest, ac usque rotatur
Ut miser Ixion.[2] & se sequitúrque, fugitque.

The man with a bad conscience and the soul that is its own avenger lives a life unwilling; for he doesn’t desire to live. If he should wish to die, he feels his own death-wounds. Nor does he die, but bears his torments with him; and since he feels he’s hangman to himself, he longs for freedom from the same. But he remains, and is borne everywhere on his wheel like poor Ixion: he pursues and flees himself.