She is greater than the earth in its entirety, and
still continuously increases; she is a hundredfold more hideous than all
Hell which she herself created and which she peoples. If Hell were rid
of her, the vasty deep would be a Paradise; if she were driven from the
earth, the little world would become a heaven; and if she ascended into
Heaven, she would make an uttermost hell of that blissful realm. There
is nought in all the worlds which God has not created, save her alone.
She is the mother of the four deadly enchantresses; she is the mother of
Death and of all evil and misery, and her terrible grasp is upon every
living being. Her name is Sin. Blessed, ever blessed be he who escapes
from her clutches," said the Angel. Thereupon he departed, and I could
hear the distant echo of his voice saying; "Write down what thou hast
seen; and whosoever readeth it thoughtfully will never repent."
WITH HEAVY HEART.
With heavy heart I sought th' infernal coast
And saw the vale of everlasting woes,
The awful home of fiends and of the lost
Where torments rage and never grant repose -
A lake of fire whence horrid flames arose
And whither tended every wayward path
Its prey to lead 'midst cruel dragon-foes;
Yet, though I wandered through withouten scath,
A world I'd spurn, to view again that scene of wrath.
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