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??n de la Barca, Pedro, 1600-1681

"The Purgatory of St. Patrick"

The Spokes and Stakes of this
Wheel were tarnished all round with Iron Crooks set on Fire, and on
them hung Men fixed. One half of the Wheel stood above, and the
other under ground: the horrid sulphurous Flame which issued from
the Earth and surrounded this Wheel, did exceedingly torment the Men
that hung on it. The same (say the Devils to the Soldier) that these
suffer if thou will not return, shalt thou endure, nay and even see
first what it is. Then they fasten'd Iron Bars to the Spokes of the
Wheel, and turn'd it about with such Celerity, that not one Man of
those that hung upon it cou'd be discern'd from another; for the
whole Wheel appear'd like a Circle of Fire: And when they had
fasten'd the Soldier to it and, by turning it about, lift him up in
the Air, he called upon the Name of Jesus, and came down unhurt.
"From hence they dragged him towards a Certain House of an
extraordinary breadth, and so long that the End of it was out of
sight. When they drew near this House the Soldier stood still, being
afraid to go forward in the excessive Heat that came out of it. Then
the Devils said unto him: What thou seest are Baths, and whether
thou wilt or no, thou shalt Bath in them, as others do that are there
now. Immediately after, there were heard the most dismal Cries and
Lamentations imaginable proceeding from thence; and being brought in,
he saw a cruel and horrid sight.


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