Портрет художника в юности

           Whatahorriblething!Whomadeittobelikethat,abestialpartofthebodyabletounderstandbestiallyanddesirebestially?Wasthatthenheoraninhumanthingmovedbyalowersoul?Hissoulsickenedatthethoughtofatorpidsnakylifefeedingitselfoutofthetendermarrowofhislifeandfatteningupontheslimeoflust.Owhywasthatso?Owhy?

           Hecoweredintheshadowofthethought,abasinghimselfintheaweofGodWhohadmadeallthingsandallmen.Madness.Whocouldthinksuchathought?And,coweringindarknessandabject,heprayedmutelytohisguardianangeltodriveawaywithhisswordthedemonthatwaswhisperingtohisbrain.

           Thewhisperceasedandheknewthenclearlythathisownsoulhadsinnedinthoughtandwordanddeedwilfullythroughhisownbody.Confess!Hehadtoconfesseverysin.Howcouldheutterinwordstothepriestwhathehaddone?Must,must.Orhowcouldheexplainwithoutdyingofshame?Orhowcouldhehavedonesuchthingswithoutshame?Amadman!Confess!Ohewouldindeedtobefreeandsinlessagain!Perhapsthepriestwouldknow.OdearGod!

           Hewalkedonandonthroughill-litstreets,fearingtostandstillforamomentlestitmightseemthatheheldbackfromwhatawaitedhim,fearingtoarriveatthattowardswhichhestillturnedwithlonging.HowbeautifulmustbeasoulinthestateofgracewhenGodlookeduponitwithlove!

           Frowsygirlssatalongthecurbstonesbeforetheirbaskets.Theirdankhairhungtrailedovertheirbrows.