With a pebble, he says, or by number—being struck upon the cheek according to each tooth—or with a hard stone. And according to David he also says: “I was eating ash as my bread,” (Psalm 102:9) showing that he was not even taking bread with pleasure because of affliction. It was not possible, then, for the soul to be in peace—herself being troubled and moreover seeing outward tumults, inward fights. For which reason, having hoped nothing useful, I uttered Job’s voices: “mercy has renounced me, and my hope from the Lord.” (Lamentations 3:16–18) For it was not possible to conquer the surrounding terrors (Job 6:14).