University of Virginia Library

The Eruption of the Vasuvian flames in Campania about the yeare of Christ 81.

The Mount Vasuvius in Campany
Facing towards thee, Naples, on the Sea
Is wont to spit greate flake of burning fire
Out of its mouth on e'ry side round by her:
This once each yeare; she did But now behold
In Autumn when Titus the sword did hold
Evin of his second yeare its Tops belcht out
Such horrid flames, tremendous round about
The intrails burnt to ashes but the Skin
Remains unsinged and so at the brim
Like to an Amphitheater in frame
Belching out Smoake by day, by night much flame
Wherein Perfumes of ev'ry kinde do seem
To be Effected, which these Vapours teem.
It Puffs out dust when things therein do fall
And whirls out Stones with violence, doth gall
And more anoyes and bellowing like Bulls
Yea now a mighty number (Oh it Skulls)
Of men of an unusuall life like to
The feigned Gyants, in this mountain show
And in the bordering Coasts and neighbour towns
By night and day to wander up and down
And do appeare to wander in the Aire
Then after follows mighty draught most rare
And grievious Earth Quakes: all that plain grew warm
The mountains tops fell in and wonders swarm.
Then subterraneous sounds our ears did lull
Like Thunder, and on Earth lowings like bulls.
Then seas did rage, all heaven ore rings, a Crash
Rose great and sudden as if all mountains Clash
Then immense stones out first did leape unto
The Highest tops and a greate plenty loe
Of Fire and Smoke out brake, which did in Summ
Obscure the Aire and hide the very Sun.
Night then was made of Day, Darkness of Light,
Gyants among themselves (some deem'd) did fight
Because their Shapes did in this Smoke appeare
And 'cause they did the sound of Trumpets heare
And others thought the World itselfe would turn
Into a Chaos or in th'fire should burn.
Hence out of houses to the wayes some high,
Some from the wayes into their houses fly.
Some from the Sea run to the land, and then
Run from the Land unto the Sea again.
Some all Disturbd hope things that are to come
More safe will be than present things do run.
Such mighty Store of Ashes rose that still
The land and Sea and very Aire they fill
Nay and they flew quite o're the Sea away
To Affrick, Egypt, and to Syria
And brought greate dammage both to beast and men,
But killd the fish and fowles yea all of them.
Two Cities calld Pompy and Herculane
With all their host receav'd a totall bane
And they in Rome for some dayes after th'ill
Not knowing of the reason of this still
Deemd all things would to topsy turvy run
Earth get to heaven and to the Earth the Sun.
And when the following yeare Titus did go
Into Campania to se this Woe
A mighty Conflagration up at Rome
Rose out of th'Earth and much did then Consume.
The Chappells, Septs, and Temple up araisd
For Serapis, Isis, and Neptune praisd,
The Agrippine sa ------
The Balkine States Pommpeian Scene in Glory
Th'Octavian Edifices with brave bookes
The Temple of greate Jupiter that looks
After the Capitoll, with th'Temples neer
Consumed by this Conflagration were.
Rome Rome looke to't: God will his Glory save
Slight Grace and Justice will her penworths have.