I now concluded the vengeance of Heaven had overtaken me, and that I must soon finish my career by an ignominious death.

This reflection sank so deep into my soul, that I was for some days deprived of my reason, and actually believed myself in hell, tormented by fiends.

Indeed, there needs not a very extravagant imagination to form that idea: for of all the scenes on earth that of Bridewell approaches nearest the notion I had always entertained of the regions.

Here I saw nothing but rage, anguish and impiety, and heard nothing but groans, curses, and blasphemy.

In the midst of this hellish crew, I was subjected to the tyranny of a barbarian, who imposed upon me tasks that I could not possibly perform, and then punished my incapacity with the utmost rigour and inhumanity.