That seems strange.
BELPHEGOR.
You will understand it better when you have seen living men.
RECAB.
But pray, how do you obtain these good intentions? For since you preside over the pavement, I suppose it is your duty to collect them.
BELPHEGOR.
Every man, who is sent here after death, brings down with him all the thoughts and actions of his life in a bag. At the gates of hell the bag is opened, and if any good deeds are found in it they are let go, and immediately fly up to heaven, where they are kept for the use of future men. His bad actions he carries on with him to the place where he receives his sentence; and his good intentions, that have never been accomplished, as being neither vice nor virtue, are thrown into a heap, and afterwards used in mending the pavement.
RECAB.
Are these intentions then very durable? Or what is the particular excellence of such a pavement? It seems to me a singular choice of materials.
BELPHEGOR.