The Confessions - Neuromantic.net :books you can believe in...

The Confessions
day, when I hoped to be more successful, and returned to “What will be the consequence?” the reply was ready, “I know
my work as if nothing had happened, without once think- the worst, I shall be beat; no matter, I was made for it.”
ing of what the two obvious witnesses I had left in the pan- I love good eating; am sensual, but not greedy; I have such
try deposed against me.
a variety of inclinations to gratify, that this can never pre-
The next day (a fine opportunity offering) I renew the trial. dominate; and unless my heart is unoccupied, which very
I fasten the spits together; get on the stool; take aim; am just rarely happens, I pay but little attention to my appetite; to
going to dart at my prey—unfortunately the dragon did not purloining eatables, but extended this propensity to every-
sleep; the pantry door opens, my master makes his appearthing I wished to possess, and if I did not become a robber
ance, and, looking up, exclaims, “Bravo!”—The horror of in form, it was only because money never tempted me.
that moment returns—the pen drops from my hand. My master had a closet in the workshop, which he kept
A continual repetition of ill treatment rendered me cal- locked; this I contrived to open and shut as often as I pleased,
lous; it seemed a kind of composition for my crimes, which and laid his best tools, fine drawings, impressions, in a word,
authorized me to continue them, and, instead of looking everything he wished to keep from me, under contribution.
back at the punishment, I looked forward to revenge. Being These thefts were so far innocent, that they were always
beat like a slave, I judged I had a right to all the vices of one. employed in his service, but I was transported at having the
I was convinced that to rob and be punished were insepa- trifles in my possession, and imagined I stole the art with its
rable, and constituted, if I may so express myself, a kind of productions. Besides what I have mentioned, his boxes con-
traffic, in which, if I perform my part of the bargain, my tained threads of gold and silver, a number of small jewels,
master would take care not to be deficient in his; that pre- valuable medals, and money; yet, though I seldom had five
liminary settled, I applied myself to thieving with great tran- sous in my pocket, I do not recollect ever having cast a wishquility,
and whenever this interrogatory occurred to my mind, ful look at them; on the contrary, I beheld these valuables
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