6
There was only a dreadful fire, lit by no human hand, that shone on them, and in their terror they believed that the real world was even worse than the things they imagined.
7
The illusions produced by their magic tricks were put to shame, and all the wisdom they had boasted of came to nothing.
8
They had claimed they could drive away all the fears and illnesses of sick minds, but now they themselves were sick with silly, groundless fears.
9
Even though nothing dangerous had actually happened, they were terrified by hissing snakes and animals advancing on them.
10
And so they died, shaking with fear, afraid even to open their eyes, yet unable to keep them shut.
11
Wickedness is cowardly in itself and stands self-condemned. Someone with a guilty conscience will always imagine things to be worse than they really are.
12
Fear is nothing but the failure to use the help that reason gives.
13
When you lack the confidence to rely on reason, you give in to the fears caused by ignorance.
14
All night long those people slept the same restless sleep, even though the night held no power over them, since it came from the powerless depths of the world of the dead.
15
They were chased by hideous forms and lay paralyzed as they surrendered themselves to the sudden, unexpected fear that came over them.
16
People would suddenly collapse and lie locked in the chains of their own fear.