Geological Poems. ' 281 



So she moved from the seat of such infinite splendour; 

 For, like us, she loved something more juicy and tender. 

 Long lasted the dinner — No rock from his seat 

 Ever moved, op evinced the least wish to retreat; 

 And old Neptune found t)ut, as the wise ones aver, 

 When the rocks are once seated, thej love not to stin 

 So he rose unobserved, and began to retire ; 

 But 'tis whIsperM the Sea-God already smelt fire. 

 Be this as it may — a deep hollow sound, 



Still nearer and nearer was heard under ground ; 135'* 



Twas the chariot of Pluto, — in whirlwinds of R^m^ * 



Through a rent in the earth to the dinner he came. 

 ' Oh, by Styx and by Hecate, my rage I wont smother. 

 VVhat — Xep give a feast, without asking his brother? 

 Though I am King of Hell — what, am I such a sinner 

 That 1 can't be invited to smoke after dinner? I4l 



•Let Nep with his waves and his waters all go to 

 I'll make the rocks dance, or my name is not Pluto/' 

 Thrice he stampM in a rage, and with crashes like thunder 114 

 ■I he earth open'd wide, and the rocks burst a:?under. 

 And the red streaming lava flow'd over and under. 

 'f spread far and wide, till grim Pluto said " Halt!" 

 And ranged it in columns and files of Basalt 1 

 *or he saw Neptune coming, collecting his might, 



* And roaring and raising his waves for the fight. 150 



Now were Eurite^s and greenstone beginning to run^^y 

 ^hich Hutton and Hall-^ said was excellent fun. 

 But a rock-rending scene in the sequel it proved, 

 E'en the bard heart of Porphyry was melted and moved. 154 



I And many a rock the muse could not draw nigh to, 



^he Saw very plainly was soften'd in situ. 

 ^ow thick vapours of Sulphur and clouds black as night, 

 KolPd in volumes, and hid the whole scene from the sight ; 

 And the Muse told the Poet 'twas time to take flight : 



Adding this — " My good fellow, pray leave off your writing, IGO 

 »Ve have had quite enough both of feasting and fighting." 



22. 



S^eoio^jsts unHer the indefinite and frequently misapplied denominations ol 

 J^-ompact Felspar. The lavas which melt into a t)!ack glass are formed 

 Irom Greenstone, principally cotuposed of Augit and Felspar, and tliose 

 ^hich melt into a white zlass of Eurite, in which Felspar is the predom!- 



naUngin-redient. 



23 Rim or melt. Alluding to the fusibility of these rocks. 



24 Dr. Ilutlon and Sir James Hall, the well knowu supporters of theth^- 

 J7 which ascribes the formation of these rocks to the agency of heat. The 

 fatter has supportt^d his opinions hy a series of the most interestins; ^d sat- 

 isfactory expeiiments. See Tranhuctiousof the Royal Society of &linbiirg!i. 



