Портрет художника в юності
Chapter 3
Andnow,thoughyouweretofloodallhellwithyourtearsifyoucouldstillweep,allthatseaofrepentancewouldnotgainforyouwhatasingletearoftruerepentanceshedduringyourmortallifewouldhavegainedforyou.Youimplorenowamomentofearthlylifewhereintorepent:Invain.Thattimeisgone:goneforever.
—Suchisthethreefoldstingofconscience,theviperwhichgnawstheveryheart’scoreofthewretchesinhell,sothatfilledwithhellishfurytheycursethemselvesfortheirfollyandcursetheevilcompanionswhohavebroughtthemtosuchruinandcursethedevilswhotemptedtheminlifeandnowmockthemineternityandevenrevileandcursetheSupremeBeingWhosegoodnessandpatiencetheyscornedandslightedbutWhosejusticeandpowertheycannotevade.
—Thenextspiritualpaintowhichthedamnedaresubjectedisthepainofextension.Man,inthisearthlylife,thoughhebecapableofmanyevils,isnotcapableofthemallatonce,inasmuchasoneevilcorrectsandcounteractsanotherjustasonepoisonfrequentlycorrectsanother.Inhell,onthecontrary,onetorment,insteadofcounteractinganother,lendsitstillgreaterforce:and,moreover,astheinternalfacultiesaremoreperfectthantheexternalsenses,soaretheymorecapableofsuffering.
