Портрет художника в юности

           Andifthatmountainroseagainafterithadbeenallcarriedaway,andifthebirdcameagainandcarrieditallawayagaingrainbygrain,andifitsoroseandsankasmanytimesastherearestarsinthesky,atomsintheair,dropsofwaterinthesea,leavesonthetrees,feathersuponbirds,scalesuponfish,hairsuponanimals,attheendofallthoseinnumerablerisingsandsinkingsofthatimmeasurablyvastmountainnotonesingleinstantofeternitycouldbesaidtohaveended;eventhen,attheendofsuchaperiod,afterthateonoftimethemerethoughtofwhichmakesourverybrainreeldizzily,eternitywouldscarcelyhavebegun.

           —Aholysaint(oneofourownfathersIbelieveitwas)wasoncevouchsafedavisionofhell.Itseemedtohimthathestoodinthemidstofagreathall,darkandsilentsaveforthetickingofagreatclock.Thetickingwentonunceasingly;anditseemedtothissaintthatthesoundofthetickingwastheceaselessrepetitionofthewords-ever,never;ever,never.