362 DOMAIN XII. VOLCANIC. 



And since I have quoted a poet, I will cite two 

 others ; Claudian and Pindar ; as it is sufficient- 

 ly evident that poetry here must express truth, 

 and not fiction. 



* Seel quamvis nimio fervens exuberet aestu, 

 Scit nivibus servare fidem : pariterque favillis 

 Durescit glacies, tanti secura vaporis, 

 Arcano defensa gelu, fumoque fideli 

 Lainbit contiguas innoxia flamma pruinas*.' 



' Amid the fires accumulates the snow, 

 And frost remains where burning ashes glow ; 

 O'er ice eternal sweep th' inactive flames, 

 And winter, spite of fire, the region claims/ 



" Thus the Latin poet ; but the Greek has 

 given us a picture of Etna much more highly 

 coloured, representing it not only as the eternal 

 abode of snows, but as the column of heaven, to 

 express its astonishing height. 



K.IOOV S" ovg&viot 



\ , Nttpos&cf Atfva, 



* Snowy Etna, nurse of endless frost, 



The mighty prop of heaven.' 



It is to be remarked that Pindar lived five hun 

 dred years before the Christian aera. 



* Claud, de Rapt. Pros. 

 f Find. Pyth. Od. i. 



