Портрет художника в юності
Chapter 3
Thesecondpainwhichwillafflictthesoulsofthedamnedinhellisthepainofconscience.Justasindeadbodieswormsareengenderedbyputrefaction,sointhesoulsofthelosttherearisesaperpetualremorsefromtheputrefactionofsin,thestingofconscience,theworm,asPopeInnocenttheThirdcallsit,ofthetriplesting.Thefirststinginflictedbythiscruelwormwillbethememoryofpastpleasures.Owhatadreadfulmemorywillthatbe!Inthelakeofall-devouringflametheproudkingwillrememberthepompsofhiscourt,thewisebutwickedmanhislibrariesandinstrumentsofresearch,theloverofartisticpleasureshismarblesandpicturesandotherarttreasures,hewhodelightedinthepleasuresofthetablehisgorgeousfeasts,hisdishespreparedwithsuchdelicacy,hischoicewines;themiserwillrememberhishoardofgold,therobberhisill-gottenwealth,theangryandrevengefulandmercilessmurdererstheirdeedsofbloodandviolenceinwhichtheyrevelled,theimpureandadulteroustheunspeakableandfilthypleasuresinwhichtheydelighted.Theywillrememberallthisandloathethemselvesandtheirsins.Forhowmiserablewillallthosepleasuresseemtothesoulcondemnedtosufferinhellfireforagesandages.Howtheywillrageandfumetothinkthattheyhavelosttheblissofheavenforthedrossofearth,forafewpiecesofmetal,forvainhonours,forbodilycomforts,foratinglingofthenerves.
