Портрет художника в юності

           Hefoundeditupontherockofages,andendoweditwithHisgrace,withsacramentsandsacrifice,andpromisedthatifmenwouldobeythewordofHischurchtheywouldstillenterintoeternallife;butif,afterallthathadbeendoneforthem,theystillpersistedintheirwickedness,thereremainedforthemaneternityoftorment:hell.

           Thepreacher’svoicesank.Hepaused,joinedhispalmsforaninstant,partedthem.Thenheresumed:

           —Nowletustryforamomenttorealize,asfaraswecan,thenatureofthatabodeofthedamnedwhichthejusticeofanoffendedGodhascalledintoexistencefortheeternalpunishmentofsinners.Hellisastraitanddarkandfoul-smellingprison,anabodeofdemonsandlostsouls,filledwithfireandsmoke.ThestraitnessofthisprisonhouseisexpresslydesignedbyGodtopunishthosewhorefusedtobeboundbyHislaws.Inearthlyprisonsthepoorcaptivehasatleastsomelibertyofmovement,wereitonlywithinthefourwallsofhiscellorinthegloomyyardofhisprison.Notsoinhell.There,byreasonofthegreatnumberofthedamned,theprisonersareheapedtogetherintheirawfulprison,thewallsofwhicharesaidtobefourthousandmilesthick:andthedamnedaresoutterlyboundandhelplessthat,asablessedsaint,saintAnselm,writesinhisbookonsimilitudes,theyarenotevenabletoremovefromtheeyeawormthatgnawsit.

           —Theylieinexteriordarkness.For,remember,thefireofhellgivesforthnolight.