The moon shining down on the sea, on the coasts of Italy!
The moon upon the hours after work, when he read by the candle, when he put it out and looked upon the night.—Moonlight streaming in at the old room’s window, the window so high in the high roof of the tall, old house.
Thought and thought and thought!—Conviction that there was some adventure—
Warfare, warring and sinning, lusting. Pride that beset him. Pride of being proud. Very love of self-love. Very care of self-care. Self!
The moon on the coasts of Italy!
Men he had known, out of many men, and talk with them. The old priest.
The moon on the coasts of Italy!
The old priest.—Illness. Long illness when death’s door had seemed to open. The priest still. Recovery—and still the priest.
Wickedness again. Self-will and self-laudation. Self! Longing, longing and discontent, and ashes in the mouth. Longing and naught to still it. Not work and not thought!