MONTHLY RfiVlLW Of LITERATURE. 313 



Invested the wide streets the windows many 



Were set with grace and beauty youth and age. 



The fields, the hills, and woody groves around 



Her marble domes and sacred fanes were full. 



A sight it was most fearful to behold. 



Silent as death itself when now again 



The second trumpet sounded ^silent still : 



All eyes were cast towards the City gates 



From whence, in vastest continuity, 



Gleaming uprose the bridge of sounds and death, 



With brazen pomp towards the postern, south. 



At either end drawn up were horse and foot, 



Soldiers adventurous in proud array, 



Honour's self-called defenders shameless crew, 



Who knew no bounds to vanity and lust, 



But liv'd to live no more beyond the grave, 



And prowling strode the land in Heathen pride, 



Or else disgrace'd the capital at night, 



When all was silence, solemn and profound. 



Expectancy on tiptoe wilder grew, 



But still dread silence reign'd unbroken silence. 



The sun had scarcely touched the hour of noon, 



When suddenly a furious blast awoke, 



By trumpets manifold, the listless crowd, 



Who watching long, and disappointed oft, 



Subsiding stood in seeming apathy. 



Forth went the artful sounds, which fell upon 



The ear with strange affright, and linger 'd there. 



Meanwhile, forth came Salmoneus' chariot 



From the swift wide-flung gate, burning with fire : 



Emblazon'd was the car, unseemly bright 



Within, and round about, the burning flame 



Though seen consum'd not momently increasing. 



Resounded now the fetid air with praise 



Or joy, as now divine Salmoneus 



Pass'd through the gates down to the brazen bridge, 



O'er which he rode, and to the fatal arch 



Drew near, in all the ecstasy of guilt, 



Deep, damning, undeniable, and vile. 



His coursers, wild and furious, madly strove 



Against the kingly will : their efforts vain. 



Mark'd was that moment by a dismal roar 



Of public scorn, oh strange, unwonted sound ! 



Loud and more loud the universal hiss, 



And louder still the swelling murmur rose 



Undying on the winds that sped to heaven. 



The heavens now op'ning, th' Almighty show'd 



His arm of might, his God-like arm propell'd. 



Down come the crashing thunder-bolt, amain, 



Resistless, hurl'd by the INSULTED GOD ! 



With fell annihilation fraught, and doom. 



With sonorous crash unutterable it struck 



(The earth beneath distracting with the roar 



And e'en the dead, that shudder'd in their graves) ; 



Hissing and scorching down it came, and blasted 



Salmoneus, impious king, his charioteer, 



And his bright flaming car, sulphureous. 



