Портрет художника в юности

           Andnow,thoughyouweretofloodallhellwithyourtearsifyoucouldstillweep,allthatseaofrepentancewouldnotgainforyouwhatasingletearoftruerepentanceshedduringyourmortallifewouldhavegainedforyou.Youimplorenowamomentofearthlylifewhereintorepent:Invain.Thattimeisgone:goneforever.

           —Suchisthethreefoldstingofconscience,theviperwhichgnawstheveryheart’scoreofthewretchesinhell,sothatfilledwithhellishfurytheycursethemselvesfortheirfollyandcursetheevilcompanionswhohavebroughtthemtosuchruinandcursethedevilswhotemptedtheminlifeandnowmockthemineternityandevenrevileandcursetheSupremeBeingWhosegoodnessandpatiencetheyscornedandslightedbutWhosejusticeandpowertheycannotevade.

           —Thenextspiritualpaintowhichthedamnedaresubjectedisthepainofextension.Man,inthisearthlylife,thoughhebecapableofmanyevils,isnotcapableofthemallatonce,inasmuchasoneevilcorrectsandcounteractsanotherjustasonepoisonfrequentlycorrectsanother.Inhell,onthecontrary,onetorment,insteadofcounteractinganother,lendsitstillgreaterforce:and,moreover,astheinternalfacultiesaremoreperfectthantheexternalsenses,soaretheymorecapableofsuffering.