Портрет художника в юності

           Thevoicesthatheknewsowell,thecommonwords,thequietoftheclassroomwhenthevoicespausedandthesilencewasfilledbythesoundofsoftlybrowsingcattleastheotherboysmunchedtheirlunchestranquilly,lulledhisachingsoul.

           Therewasstilltime.OMary,refugeofsinners,intercedeforhim!OVirginUndefiled,savehimfromthegulfofdeath!

           TheEnglishlessonbeganwiththehearingofthehistory.Royalpersons,favourites,intriguers,bishops,passedlikemutephantomsbehindtheirveilofnames.Allhaddied:allhadbeenjudged.Whatdiditprofitamantogainthewholeworldifhelosthissoul?Atlasthehadunderstood:andhumanlifelayaroundhim,aplainofpeacewhereonant-likemenlabouredinbrotherhood,theirdeadsleepingunderquietmounds.Theelbowofhiscompaniontouchedhimandhisheartwastouched:andwhenhespoketoansweraquestionofhismasterheheardhisownvoicefullofthequietudeofhumilityandcontrition.

           Hissoulsankbackdeeperintodepthsofcontritepeace,nolongerabletosufferthepainofdread,andsendingforth,ashesank,afaintprayer.Ahyes,hewouldstillbespared;hewouldrepentinhisheartandbeforgiven;andthenthoseabove,thoseinheaven,wouldseewhathewoulddotomakeupforthepast:awholelife,everyhouroflife.Onlywait.

           —All,God!All,all!

           Amessengercametothedoortosaythatconfessionswerebeingheardinthechapel.