Indeed, how should you, living in this grot, the world forgetting, by the world forgot? You should be living in those splendid regions where art and grandeur claim a like allegiance. Where each new day, agilely, at the double, a living hero steps forth from the marble! Where...

Stop! Don't tempt me to learn any more: what gain is that on what I knew before? Enough! I will not let such thoughts intrude upon my silence and my solitude.