was like a hideous storm, and the air all about so hot and inflamed, that at last one was not able to approach it so that they were forced1o to stand still and let the flames burn on, which they did" for near two miles in length and one in breadth. The clouds11 of smoke were dismal, and reached, upon computation," near fifty miles in length. Thus I left it this afternoon burning, a resemblance of Sodom, or the last day. London was, but is no more."

9 speciem praebere. 10 Part. in dus. 11 in nubes tristes volutus (i).

XXXII. THE EARTHQUAKE AT LISBON.

1. IT was on the morning" of this fatal day, between the hours of nine and ten, that I was set down in my apartment, just finishingo a letter, when the papers and3 table I was writing on began to tremble with a gentle motion, which rather surprised me, as I could not perceive a breath of wind stirring. Whilst I was reflecting with myself what this could" be owingce to, the house I was in" shook" with such violence, that the upper stories immediately fell, and though my apartment (which was on the first floor) did not then share the same fate, yet every thing was thrown out of its place, in such a manner that it was with no small difficulty I kept my feet, and expected nothing less than to be soon crushed to death," as the walls continued" rocking to and fro in a frightful manner, opening in several places; large stones falling down on every side from the cracks, and the ends of most of the rafters starting out from the roof. To add to this terrifying scene, the sky in

a moment became so gloomy that I could now distinguish no particular object; it was an Egyptian darkness indeed, such as might be felt; owing, no doubt, to the prodigious clouds of dust and lime raised from so violent a concussion, and, as some reported, to sulphureous exhalations, but this I cannot affirm; however, it is certain I found myself almost choked9 for near ten minutes.e

ff

2. I had still presence of mind enough left" to put on a pair of shoes and a coat,' the first that came in my way, which10 was every thing I saved, and in this dress I hurried down stairs, and made3 directly to that end of the street which opens11 to the Tagus.

3. In the midst of our devotions," the second great shock came on, little less violent than the first, and completed the ruin of those buildings which had been already much shattered. You may judge of the force of the shock, when I inform12 you it was so violent that I could scarce keep on my knees; but it was attended13 with some circumstances still more dreadful than the former. On a sudden I heard a general outcry," "The sea is coming in, we shall be all lost." Upon this, turning my eyes towards the river, which in that place is near four miles broad, I could perceive it heaving and swelling in a most unaccountable15 manner, as no wing was stirring. In an instant there appeared; at some distance, a large body of water, rising as it were like a mountain. It came on foaming and roaring, and rushed' towards the shore with such impetuosity, that we all immediately ran for our lives as fast as possible; many were actually16 swept away, and 7 Use cimmerius. 8 Express by mood. 9 animam intercludere. 13 habeo (j).

10

quae quidem.

11 specto.

12

14 Indir. disc.

ex eo quod. 15 mirabilis.

16 quidem.

the rest above their waist in water at a good distance from the banks. For my own part,2 I had the narrowest escape," and should certainly have been lost, had I not grasped a large beam that lay on the ground, till the water returned to its channel, which it didy almost at the same instant, with equal rapidity. As there now appearede at least as much danger from the seace as the land, and I scarce knew17 whither to retire for shelter," I took a sudden resolution of returning back, with my clothes all dripping, to the area of St. Paul's.

4. The new scenes of horrord I met with here exceed 18 all description; nothing could be heard but sighs and groans; I did not meet with a soul' in the passage who was not19 bewailing the death" of his nearest relations and dearest friends, or the loss of all his substance; I could" hardly take a single step, without19 treading on the dead or the dying: in some places lay coaches, with their masters, horses, and riders, almost crushed in pieces; here mothers, with infants in their arms; there ladies richly dressed, priests, friars, gentlemen, mechanics, either in the same20 condition, or just expiring; some had21 their backs or thighs broken, others vast stones on their breasts; some lay almost buried in the rubbish, and, crying out in vain to the passengers for succour, were left to perish with the rest.

5. As soon as it grew dark, another scene presented' itself little less shocking than those already described:" the whole city appeared" in a blaze,22 which was so bright that I could easily see to read by it.23 It may be said without exaggeration it was on 17 habeo. 18 verba deficere. 19 quin. 20 Explain particulars. 23 With lux (i). 24 rem augere.

21

esse.

22 flamma.

fire at least in a hundred different places at once, and thus continued burning for six days together, without intermission, or25 the least attempt being made to stop its progress.j

6. It went on consuming every thing the earthquake had spared,' and the people were so dejected and terrified, that few or none had" courage" enough to venture down to save any part of their substance;' every one had his eyes turned towards the flames, and stood looking on with silent grief, which was only interrupted by the cries and shrieks of women and children calling on the saints and angels for

succour.

25 dum (p).

26 Lesson 22, 3. b.

Gibbon.

XXXIII. CHARACTER OF TRAJAN.

1. TRAJAN1 was ambitious of fame; and,2 as long as mankind shall continue to bestow3 more liberal applause upon their1 destroyers than upon their benefactors, the thirst of military glory will ever be the vice of the most exalted characters. The praises of Alexander, transmitted by a succession of poets and historians, had kindled a dangerous emulation in the mind of Trajan. Like him, the Roman emperor undertook' an expedition" against the nations of the East; but he lamented,10 with a sigh, that his advanced age scarcely left him any hopes of equalling the renown of the son of Philip.

c

1 The proper name should in strictness be omitted, unless opposed to some other person, when it would be introduced by autem.

4 With homo, because it is not the same persons who are destroyed. 6 eximius quisque, to specialize the expression.

5 proprium.

7 With hic: "had kindled him to."

8 With clause: introduce with et vero.

9 Lesson 22, 3. a.

10 queri.

2. Yet the success of Trajan," however transient, was11 rapide and specious. The degenerate Parthians, broken by intestine discord, fled before his arms. He descended12 the river Tigris in triumph," from the mountains of Armenia to the Persian Gulf. He enjoyed the honor13 of beingo the first, as¶¶ he was the last, of the Roman generals who ever navigated that remote sea. His fleets ravaged the coasts of Arabia; and Trajan vainly flattered himself 14 that he was approaching towards the confines of India. Every 15 day the astonished senate received the intelligence of new names and new nations, that acknowledged his sway. They were informed that the kings of Bosporus, Colchis, Iberia, Albania, and even the Parthian monarch himself, had accepted their diadems from the hands of the emperor; that the independent tribes of the Median and Carduchian hills had implored his protection; and that the rich countries of Armenia, Mesopotamia, and Assyria, were reduced into the state of provinces.

11 utor (y).

12 devehi. 13 Lit. "by a singular fortune," &c. 14 Lit. "rejoiced, being deceived by a false hope." 15 identidem.

XXXIV. CHARACTER OF CATO. - Middleton.

In his private life' he was severe, morose, inexorable, banishing all the softer affections as natural1 enemies to justice, and as suggesting false motivesa from favor, clemency, and compassion. In public affairs he was the same; had but one rule of policy," -to adhere to what was right, without regard to times or circumstances, or even to force that could

1 With natura.

2 amplecti.

4 New clause with adeo ut.

3 Lesson 23, 2. c.