suvxus. 



MOUNT VESUVIUS. 547 



height, showers of ignited stones, which generally descended, Late eruption 

 nearly in a perpendicular direction, into the very mouth of the *^,f j^,^""*' ^^" 

 crater; but someti*mes falling beyond its brink, rebounded 

 around us, and rolled, red hot, down the declivity which we 

 had climbed. Columns of fire, clouds of smoke, and showers 

 cf stones, succeeded each other, without interruption, accom- 

 panied by continual subterraneous noises ; the bowels of the 

 mountain seemed convulsed ; the ground on which we stood 

 shook, and threatened to sink beneath our feet. Never had 

 we beheld a more melancholy image of the convulsions of na- 

 ture, and notwithstanding the risk Ave incurred from the con- 

 tinual falling of the stones, we could scarcely be prevailed upon 

 to leave it. 



Our guides, who were better judges of the danger than our- 

 selves, now became alarmed, and urged us to descend. 



The violence of the volcano had increased since we reached 

 ■the summit, and the Power that presides over the place, seemed 

 inclined to punish us for our audacity, and for having pre- 

 sumed to violate his tremendous abode. 



We accordingly descended, and in a few minutes arrived at 

 ihe Atrio del Cavallo. We were out of the reach of danger, 

 and were enabled to contemplate, without apprehension, the 

 objects by which we were surrounded. What an admirable 

 spectacle ! Over our heads, the volcano, with its smoking 

 lava rushing down the sides of the mountain ; before us, the 

 sea smooth and calm ; the full moon illumining with her mild 

 beams the- extremity of the horizon ; the clouds and the smoke, 

 wafted around the summit of the mountain, and concealing, 

 for a few moments, the vast conflagration, which appeared 

 again more lively and more brilhant ; this succession of lights 

 and shades, this contrast of turbulence and tranquillity, this 

 sohtude in the midst of such a vast convulsion, produced a 

 multitude of contrary impressions, that cannot be described, 

 but the recollection of which will never be erased. 



Wc returned about four in the morning to Naples, having 

 fc'pent eight hours in the excursion. 



On the second, the eruption continued the whole day with 



much greater violence than before ; two currents of lava were 



formed ; one of these stopped in the morning ; the other, 



taking an eastern course, spread with great rapidity, and de- 



Y y 2 luged 



