MS-HRC-SB-5-9-2

[2023] less, as time passes, he continues to suffer
as much, pre-
cisely, as the first day?[2024] That must be possible.

[2025] And but supposing, instead of suffering less
than the first day, or as much, he suffers
more,
more and more, as time passes, and the
metamorphosis is accomplished,
of unchanging future into unchangeable past.

[2026] Another thing, but of a different order.
[2027] The affair is thorny.[2028] Is not a uniform
suffering preferable to one which, by its
ups and downs, is liable at certain moments
to encourage the view that perhaps after all
it will not last for ever?

[2029] That must depend on
the object pursued.[2030] Namely?[2031] A little access of impatience,
on the part of the patient.[2032] Thank you.[2033] That's
the immediate object.[2034] Afterwards there will be
others.[2035] Afterwards he'll be taught to stay quiet.

[2036] For the moment let him toss and ^turn at
least, roll on the ground, damn
it all, since there's no other remedy, anything,
to break the monotony.

[2037] Damn it all, look
at the burnt alive, they don't ^wait to be told,
when they're ^not tied down, to rush about in
every direction, without method, crackling,
in search of a little cool.

[2038] There are some who
even have the sang-froid to throw themselves out
of the window.[2039] No one asks him to
go that far.

[2040] ^{But simply to}
discover without further
assistance the consolations of flight from self,
that's all, he won't go far, he won't need to go far.

[2041] To find within himself a palliative for
what he is, through no fault of his own.[2042] To
imitate the hussar who gets up on a chair the
better to adjust the plume on his busby, it's
the least he might do.

[2043] No one asks him to ^think
, simply to suffer, always in
the same way, without hope of diminution,
without hope of dissolution, it's no more
complicated than that.[2044] No need to ^{think in order} to be
without hope.[2045] Agreed then on monotony, it's
more stimulating.[2046] But how can it be ensured?

[2047]
No matter no matter how, they're doing
the best they can, with the wretched means at
their disposal, a voice, a little light, the
poor devils, that's what they're paid for, they