224 PHYSICAL SCIENCE BK. vi 



world descend upon my head ; whether I yield up this 

 breath in the open light of day or in the vast abyss 

 of the yawning earth ; whether I am borne down 

 to those depths all alone or along with a great 

 9 throng of perishing nations. To me it can make no 

 difference how great is the turmoil that accompanies 

 my death ; the thing is everywhere just the same. 



Wherefore, let us raise high our courage against 

 that disaster, which can neither be shunned nor 

 yet foreseen. Let us cease to listen to the people 

 that have bid adieu to Campania since the time 

 of this disaster, and have removed to other dis- 

 tricts, vowing they will never set foot in that 

 quarter again ! Who can guarantee them more 



10 solid foundations in whatever soil they choose ? All 

 the world is subject to the same fate. If it has not 

 yet suffered from earthquake, it may ; perchance 

 this spot on which you stand in full security will be 

 rent this night, or even this day before night. How 

 can one tell whether is better the state of the places 

 on which fortune has already spent her force or of 

 those which are upheld meantime, but only for 

 some disaster to come ? We do greatly err if we 

 suppose any quarter of the world wholly exempt 

 from this danger. All quarters are subject to the 

 same law. Nature framed nothing to be immovable. 



11 Different things will fall at different times. Just as in 

 large cities, now this house and now that leans over 

 and has to be shored up, so in the world as a 

 whole, now this part contains a flaw, now that. 

 Tyre was once notorious for a disaster of the kind. 

 The province of Asia lost at a single stroke twelve 

 of its cities. Last year calamity overtook Achaia 

 and Macedonia, now the injury has fallen upon 

 Campania, whatever be the nature of that force 



