435. With regard to the punishment by the veil, it is such that through the phantasies impressed upon them, they seem to themselves to be each under his own veil which is extended a great distance, it may be for miles. The veil is, as it were, a thin coherent cloud which becomes denser according to the governance of the phantasy. [Those under it] also excite themselves so that they run about hither and thither throughout its length and breadth, that they may burst forth from the veil, thus with diverse velocity and with diverse force, until at length, overcome with fatigue, they lie down, or are held with their feet upwards, and their head downwards. This may last a long time, even until their indignation has ceased. Such a veil is prepared in the phantasy of those who, although they see the truth, nevertheless of themselves cannot obtain it; there are many reasons within themselves, bursting forth from their loves, as they acknowledge, but from those reasons they are continually indignant, so that they fight against the truth which, however, they see. Such a veil corresponds to their phantasy. And they now tell me that they are miserably tormented by the desire of extricating themselves, which desire is inflamed. 1747, Dec. 31.* * The entry in the Index (s.v. Velum) is: "Concerning a wide band in which some are enveloped and they can scarcely be unrolled for the band is still lengthened. Concerning the veil which is thrown over them, under which they run about desiring ardently to extricate themselves and burst forth, but in vain, from whom there is much trouble for those who remain in the external things of the Word and consequently do not want to be enlightened by interior things. Those also under the veil have their feet upwards and their head downwards." See also AC 963.