one to another, filling themselves with wrath, rancour, envy, impatience and rage one against another, that one cannot endure to see the other, nor to give him a good word. The father abhors the son, and the son the father; the lord his vassal, and the vassal his lord; one cursing another, biting and rending themselves with rage. And specially those who in this life loved with an inordinate love, and were companions in sins, will much more abhor one another, and their pains will be augmented with rage to see themselves together. For as burning coals, when they are together, kindle each other, so these infernal coals, kindled with the fire of their own anger, will add heat to the burning heat of their companions.
2. Add to this the most painful consideration that, through necessity and in spite of themselves, they will be eternally together, not being able to fly or separate one from another. For, flying from one whom they much abhor, they light upon another that is worse; and so shall they have a perpetual and cruel war, having no one to pacify or to comfort them; for from the earth none will go, though he could; and none come from heaven though he would; for none that is good will deign to enter into so infamous a place, insomuch that Christ our Lord, when he descended into hell, entered not into this place, nor gave them any comfort. What will princes, then, think, to see themselves consorted with plebeians, and treated by them with such insolence and hatred? What a torment will it be to be forced to live with my enemies, who actually abhor me and curse me, without being able either to stop their mouths or my own ears! What a pain will it be never to see a person that wishes me well, nor is compassionate of my miseries, but that rather increases and augments them!
Colloquy. — O my soul, ground all thy friendships upon true charity, for this only is eternal, and perisheth
