Запретный лес
XVIII. The Plague
Whatcontactcouldheestablishwiththesickinthedeliriumorlanguorofdeath,andwiththosewhowaitedonthesamefatewiththewilddespairofbeastsinatrap?WhatusetopointtoGodwhenGodovershadowedthemasamercilesstormentor?Andallthewhilehewasinafeverofanxiety.MorethanoneofthedeadwereamongthosewhomhehadremarkedintheWood.Menandwomenwerehasteningtojudgmentwiththeirsinsheavyonthem--sinsunrepentedandforeverunrepentable.He,theirminister,hadtostandfeeblybyandseesoulsdescendingintodamnation.
Thethoughtdrovehimfrantic,butitalonegavehimpowertocontinueinhisfruitlessduties,forinthistrialhefoundthefleshveryweak.Itwasnotthathefeareddeath,evendeathbyplague,butthatahorrorofWoodileehadfallenonhisspirit.HisshrinkingfromtheWood,hishatredofthesinsoftheWood,hisquarrelwiththeSession,thedistrustinwhichhewasheldbymanyofhiscongregation,theepisodeoftheprickerandBessieTodd’sdeath--allcombinedtomaketheplacereekforhimofuglinessanddecay.Thepestseemedmerelytoaddrottingcarcassestorottingsouls....Thenthepityofitwouldovercomehim,whenhethoughtofchildrenwhomhehadtaughtandhonestfolkwhohadbeenkindtohim,nowcoldindeath.Hewashelplesstocureeitherbodyorspirit.Hehadnoleechcraft--whatwouldithaveavailedifhehad,forherememberedtheEdinburghdoctorbyhisfather’sbed?--andhisspiritualministrationswereasidleaswind....Aboveall,hefelthimselfaprisonershutintoanoisomecagefromwhichtherewasnoescape.
