Портрет художника в юности

           Moreover,ourearthlyfiredestroysatthesametimeasitburns,sothatthemoreintenseitistheshorterisitsduration;butthefireofhellhasthisproperty,thatitpreservesthatwhichitburns,and,thoughitrageswithincredibleintensity,itragesforever.

           —Ourearthlyfireagain,nomatterhowfierceorwidespreaditmaybe,isalwaysofalimitedextent;butthelakeoffireinhellisboundless,shorelessandbottomless.Itisonrecordthatthedevilhimself,whenaskedthequestionbyacertainsoldier,wasobligedtoconfessthatifawholemountainwerethrownintotheburningoceanofhellitwouldbeburnedupInaninstantlikeapieceofwax.Andthisterriblefirewillnotafflictthebodiesofthedamnedonlyfromwithout,buteachlostsoulwillbeahelluntoitself,theboundlessfireraginginitsveryvitals.O,howterribleisthelotofthosewretchedbeings!Thebloodseethesandboilsintheveins,thebrainsareboilingintheskull,theheartinthebreastglowingandbursting,thebowelsared-hotmassofburningpulp,thetendereyesflaminglikemoltenballs.

           —AndyetwhatIhavesaidastothestrengthandqualityandboundlessnessofthisfireisasnothingwhencomparedtoitsintensity,anintensitywhichithasasbeingtheinstrumentchosenbydivinedesignforthepunishmentofsoulandbodyalike.ItisafirewhichproceedsdirectlyfromtheireofGod,workingnotofitsownactivitybutasaninstrumentofDivinevengeance.