This exists. It can be seen. It can be touched. These in pace, these dungeons, these iron hinges, these necklets, that lofty peep-hole on a level with the river's current, that box of stone closed with a lid of granite like a tomb, with this difference, that the dead man here was a living being, that soil which is but mud, that vault hole, those oozing walls, --what declaimers!

Summary

This quote is a vivid description of a physical space or structure that is surrounded by darkness, captivity, and despair. It emphasizes the tangible and visible aspects of the environment, such as iron hinges, necklets, and a peep-hole. The comparison of the box of stone to a tomb highlights the grim reality that the person confined within this space is alive but feels dead. The use of the term "declaimers" suggests that the narrating voice identifies a potential opposition or resistance to this oppressive environment. Overall, the quote portrays a gloomy place characterized by confinement and suffering.

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