xxvii THE DELUGE 145 



plants feel the strain ; their roots are loosened, and 

 the pollard elms fall forward, carrying their vines 

 with them. All shrubs lose their hold on the soil, 

 which has become soft and flabby. Soon the ground 

 is so saturated that it can support neither grain nor 

 fruitful pasture. The stress of famine is felt, and 

 recourse is had to the ancient sustenance of berries. 

 The fruit is shaken from ilex and oak, and any 

 other tree that has been able to keep its ground by 

 the support of the clefts of the rocks in the moun 

 tains. Roofs are sodden and rickety ; the rain has 6 

 penetrated to the depths, and the foundations sink. 

 The ground is all a marsh. It is vain to seek 

 supports to the tottering houses ; every foundation 

 is set on slippery ground, and in the muddy soil 

 nothing is firm. After the storm-clouds have more 

 and more densely massed, and the accumulated 

 snows of centuries have melted, a cataract sweeps 

 down from the lofty mountains carrying before it 

 the woods now insecure in their place, tearing off 

 boulders from their fastenings, and whirling them 

 down in fierce career. It washes off the country 7 

 houses, and takes down with it flocks of sheep 

 among the debris. The smaller hamlets it carries 

 off as it passes, but at length it leaves its course 

 and rushes in fury upon the larger homesteads. 

 It draws in its career whole cities, inhabitants, and 

 buildings all mixed together : people know not 

 whether to complain of a catastrophe or a shipwreck. 

 So utterly crushed are they and at the same time 

 submerged by its coming. 



By and by, as it advances, the cataract is 

 swollen by the absorption of other torrents, and in 

 devastating course roams through the whole plain. 

 Finally, it holds universal sway ; it has earned a 



L 



