TEMPTER. What a question! I've never really thought about it. Hm!

STRANGER. And have you ever thought of this: we may be born in
guilt?

TEMPTER. That's nothing to do with me: I concern myself with the
present.

STRANGER. Good! Don't you think we're sometimes punished wrongly,
so that we fail to see the logical connection, though it exists?

TEMPTER. Logic's not missing; but all life's a tissue of offences,
mistakes, errors, that are comparatively blameless owing to human
weakness, but that are punished by the most consistent revenge.
Everything's revenged, even our injudicious actions. Who forgives?
A magnanimous man-sometimes; heavenly justice, never! (A PILGRIM
appears in the background.) See! A penitent! I'd like to know what
wrong he's done. We'll ask him. Welcome to our quiet meadows,
peaceful wanderer! Take your place at the simple table of the
ascetic, at which there are no more temptations.

PILGRIM. Thank you, fellow traveller in the vale of woe.

TEMPTER. What kind of woe is yours?

PILGRIM. None in particular; on the contrary, the hour of
liberation's struck, and I'm going up there to receive absolution.

STRANGER. Listen, haven't we two met before?