"Eventhismusthaveapreface—thatis, aliterarypreface," laughedIvan, ", myactiontakesplaceinthesixteenthcentury, andatthattime, asyouprobablylearntatschool, , inFrance, clerks, aswellasthemonksinthemonasteries, usedtogiveregularperformancesinwhichtheMadonna, thesaints, theangels, Christ, 'sNotreDamedeParisanedifyingandgratuitousspectaclewasprovidedforthepeopleintheH?.ItwascalledLebonjugementdelatrèssainteetgracieuseViergeMarie, , chieflyfromtheOldTestament, wereoccasionallyperformedinMoscowtoo, , , copying, andevencomposingsuchpoems—, forinstance, onesuchpoem (ofcourse, fromtheGreek), TheWanderingsofOurLadythroughHell, withdescriptionsasboldasDante', ; someofthemsinktothebottomofthelakesothattheycan'tswimout, and 'theseGodforgets'—, shockedandweeping, fallsbeforethethroneofGodandbegsformercyforallinhell—forallshehasseenthere, , shewillnotdesist, andwhenGodpointstothehandsandfeetofherSon, nailedtotheCross, andasks, 'HowcanIforgiveHistormentors?' shebidsallthesaints, allthemartyrs, , andthesinnersatonceraiseacryofthankfulnessfromhell, chanting, 'Thouartjust, OLord, inthisjudgment.' Well, , butHesaysnothing, , fifteencenturiessinceHisprophetwrote, 'Behold, Icomequickly'; 'Ofthatdayandthathourknowethnoman, neithertheSon, buttheFather,' , withgreaterfaith, foritisfifteencenturiessincemanhasceasedtoseesignsfromheaven.
Nosignsfromheavencometo-day
Toaddtowhattheheartdothsay.
