*2 A HISTORY OF 



and t\ough we often put out to sea, yet we were as often driven back 

 At length, however, wearied with the delay, we resolved to prosecute 

 our voyage ; and, although the sea seemed more than usually agitated, 

 yet we ventured forward. The gulf of Charybdis, which we ap 

 proached, seemed whirled round in such a manner, as to form a vast 

 hollow, verging to a point in the centre. Proceeding onward, and 

 turning my eyes to Jtna, I saw it cast forth large volumes of smoke, 

 of mountainous sizes, which entirely covered the whole island, and blot- 

 ted out the very shores from my view. This, together with the dread- 

 ful noise, and the sulphureous stench, which was strongly perceived, fill- 

 ed me with apprehensions that some more dreadful calamity was im- 

 pending. The sea itself seemed to wear a very unusual appearance j 

 those who have seen a lake in a violent shower of rain covered ah 

 over with bubbles, will conceive some idea of its agitations. My sur- 

 prise was still increased by the calmness and serenity of the weather ; 

 not a breeze, not a cloud, which might be supposed to put all nature 

 thus into motion. I therefore warned my companions that an earth- 

 quake was approaching ; and, after some time, making for the shore 

 with all possible diligence, we landed at Tropaia, happy and thankful 

 for having escaped the threatening dangers of the sea. 



" But our triumphs at land were of short duration ; for we had 

 scarce arrived at the Jesuits' College in that city, when our ears were 

 stunned with a horrid sound, resembling that of an infinite 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, how- 

 ever, 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 fall- 

 ing houses, the tottering of towers, and the groans of the dying, all 

 contributed to raise my terror and despair. On every side of me I 

 saw nothing but a scene of ruin, and danger threatening 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 approached, 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, reached the shore, but almost terrified out 

 of my reason. I did notsearch 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 all silence, 

 and a gloomy dread of impending terrors. 



" Leaving this seat of desolation, we prosecuted our voyage along 

 the coast ; and the next day came to Rochetta, where we landed, al- 

 though the earth still continued in violent agitations. But we were 

 scarce arrived at our inn, when we were once more obliged to return 

 to the boat, and in about half an hour we saw the greatest nart of tho 



