4716. IN WHAT MANNER SOCIETIES OF FRIENDSHIP LEAD AWAY DELIGHTS FROM OTHERS. It was sometimes observed that societies of friendship passed by over the head, and bore away all pleasantness, delight and agreeableness, so that nothing except what was undelightful was perceived. And there were others who were better; nor did they plot together by affections, thus by arts, against those things which I wrote; but when I wrote such things as they were not pleased with, then they removed themselves. Hence all delight fled, and agreeableness was borne away, thus the life of idea and thought; and, then, evil spirits and genii took their place, because these could not be removed thence by such things as are not agreeable: for they are able to be in such a sphere. I spoke to them concerning that matter, and they acknowledged it to be so. The reason was disclosed, [namely], that they were inwardly bound to that affection; and, so, when they removed themselves, they removed the affection also, since it inflowed by their means; and, thus, when they removed themselves, many spirits in connection also averted themselves from my [delights], and turned to their delights and enjoyments. Hence, also, I experienced sadness: so that sometimes, I was, as it were, in hell.