ZesSfWXXXV.] r EARTHQUAKES. 241 



number of chariots, driven fiercely forward ; the 

 wheels rattling, and the thongs cracking. Soon 

 after this, a most dreadful earthquake ensued; so 

 that the whole tract upon which we stood, seemed 

 to vibrate, as if we were in the scale of a balance, 

 that continued wavering. This motion, however, 

 ' soon grew more violent ; and being no longer able 

 to keep my legs, I was thrown prostrate upon the 

 ground. In the mean time, the universal ruin 

 round me redoubled my amazement. The crash 

 of falling houses, the tottering of towers, and the 

 groans of the dying, ail contributed to raise my 

 terror and despair. On every side of me, I saw 

 nothing but a scene of ruin ; and danger threaten- 

 ing wherever I should fly. I commended myself 

 to God, as my last great refuge. At that hour, O 

 how vain was every sublunary happiness ! Wealth, 

 honour, empire, wisdom, all mere useless sounds, 

 .and as empty as the bubbles in the deep ! Just 

 standing on the threshold of eternity, nothing but 

 God was my pleasure ; and the nearer I approach- 

 ed, I only loved him the more. After some time, 

 however, finding that I remained unhurt, amidst 

 the general concussion, I resolved to venture for 

 safety ; and running as fast as I could, I reached 

 the shore, but almost terrified out of my reason. I 

 did not search long here, till I found the boat in 

 which I had landed: and my companions also, 

 whose terrors were even greater than mine. Our 

 meeting was not of that kind, where every one is 

 desirous of telling his own happy escape: it was 

 M ail 



