Портрет художника в юності

           As,atthecommandofGod,thefireoftheBabylonianfurnacelostitsheatbutnotitslight,so,atthecommandofGod,thefireofhell,whileretainingtheintensityofitsheat,burnseternallyindarkness.Itisaneverendingstormofdarkness,darkflamesanddarksmokeofburningbrimstone,amidwhichthebodiesareheapedoneuponanotherwithoutevenaglimpseofair.OfalltheplagueswithwhichthelandofthePharaohsweresmittenoneplaguealone,thatofdarkness,wascalledhorrible.Whatname,then,shallwegivetothedarknessofhellwhichistolastnotforthreedaysalonebutforalleternity?

           —Thehorrorofthisstraitanddarkprisonisincreasedbyitsawfulstench.Allthefilthoftheworld,alltheoffalandscumoftheworld,wearetold,shallrunthereastoavastreekingsewerwhentheterribleconflagrationofthelastdayhaspurgedtheworld.Thebrimstone,too,whichburnsthereinsuchprodigiousquantityfillsallhellwithitsintolerablestench;andthebodiesofthedamnedthemselvesexhalesuchapestilentialodourthat,assaintBonaventuresays,oneofthemalonewouldsufficetoinfectthewholeworld.Theveryairofthisworld,thatpureelement,becomesfoulandunbreathablewhenithasbeenlongenclosed.Considerthenwhatmustbethefoulnessoftheairofhell.Imaginesomefoulandputridcorpsethathaslainrottinganddecomposinginthegrave,ajelly-likemassofliquidcorruption.