SEARCH
0-9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Prev | Current Page 115 | Next

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

"The Purgatory of St. Patrick"

The Floor of this House was full of
round Pits join'd so close together, that no Man cou'd walk between
them: and each of these Pits was full of boiling Liquors made of
various Mettals, in which were plunged an infinite Number of both
Sexes, and of Divers Ages. Some were dipped down over Head; some to
the Eyes only; Others to the Lips; Some to the Neck; Others to the
Breast; Some to the Navel; Others to the Thighs; Some to the Knees;
Others to half the Leg; Some had one Leg only in; Others both the
Hands: And thus were all these boiling Pits or Cauldrons filled with
wretched Sinners, who set forth such dismal Groans and Lamentations
as were sufficient to chill the Blood of the most hard-hearted Man.
Here (say the Devils to the Soldier) shalt thou Bath, and with that
they lifted him up and endeavour'd to cast him into one of the
Cauldrons, but upon hearing the Name of Jesus they cou'd not prevail.
Whereupon they quit this House, and Carry the Soldier to an exceeding
high Mountain, where they show him a Number of Men and Women far
beyond any of the former. These Wretches sat Stark Naked with their
Toes bent, and look'd towards the North, as if they expected every
minute to expire that way. And while the Soldier stood wondering
what they waited for, one of the Devils said unto him: Possibly thou
wondrest what these People expect with so much trembling and fear,
but if thou agree not to go back, thou shalt soon know to thy cost
the cause of their Fear.


Pages:
103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127