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9. Theft is punished by Thy law, O Lord, and by the law written
in men's hearts, which iniquity itself cannot blot out. For what
thief will suffer a thief? Even a rich thief will not suffer him who
is driven to it by want. Yet had L a desire to commit robbery, and
did so, compelled neither by hunger, nor poverty through a distaste
for well-doing, and a lustiness of iniquity. For I pilfered that of
which I had already sufficient, and much better. Nor did I desire
to enjoy what I pilfered, but the theft and sin itself. There was a
pear-tree close to our vineyard, heavily laden with fruit, which was
tempting neither for its colour nor its flavour. To shake and rob this
some of us wanton young fellows went, late one night (having,
according to our disgraceful habit, prolonged our games in the streets
until then), and carried away great loads, not to eat ourselves, but
to fling to the very swine, having only eaten some of them; and to do
this pleased us all the more because it was not permitted. Behold my
heart, O my God; behold my heart, which Thou hadst pity upon when
in the bottomless pit. Behold, now, let my heart tell Thee what it
was seeking there, that I should be gratuitously wanton, having no
inducement to evil but the evil itself. It was foul, and I loved
it. I loved to perish. I loved my own error not that for which I
erred, but the error itself. Base soul, falling from Thy firmament
to utter destruction not seeking aught through the shame but the
shame itself
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