Before long a sudden whirlwind arose, and drove away the pitch-dark mist
usually hovering over the Land of Oblivion, and in the wan light, I could
see myriads of livid candles, and by their gleam, I obtained a far-off
view of the mouth of the bottomless abyss. But if that was a horrible
sight, overhead was one still more horrible--Justice, on her throne,
guarding the portal of hell, and holding a special tribunal above the
entrance thereto, to pronounce the doom of the damned as they arrive. I
beheld the seven hurled headlong over the terrible verge, and the
Wrangler, too, rushing to throw himself over, lest he should once look on
the Court of Justice, for, alas, the sight thereof was intolerable to
guilty eyes. I was only gazing from a distance, yet I beheld more
dreadful horrors than I can now relate, nor then could endure; for my
spirit so strove and panted through exceeding fear, and struggled so
violently, that all the bonds of Sleep were burst; my soul returned to
its wonted functions, and I rejoiced greatly to perceive myself still
among the living, and resolved to lead a better life, for I would rather
suffer affliction an hundred years in the paths of holiness than,
perforce, take another glance at the horrors of that night.
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