Th'infernal crew-with Satan 'scaped from hell,
By whom our first-our gen'ral parent fell ;-
Had in the air-by sufferance-dwelt for years,
Mark'd the long lapse of time-with hopeless tears;
But now they fall-unable to behold

The splendours which the Godhead can unfold.
To look upon the glories of that face,
Were sure destruction to the human race.
With them it is-as has been with the one
Who dar'd to look at the meridian Sun :-
Though but a ray to that which beams around
The great Jehovah-where all glory's found.
Quick then as thought-Satan his weakness feels,
Displays his figure-and his art reveals ;—
Scarce sav'd from utter darkness-ev'n so now,
With look averted-he doth bend his brow,
Descends to earth-and murmurs at his fall
From high estate-to less than least of all.

Tohim-whilst falling-thus the Godhead speaks, Whilst light on light-glory on glory breaks :"Rebellious spirit, hence-to where thy arts "Have captivated the unwary hearts "Of all that worship thee-and can believe

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Thy frauds-a fit reception they receive. "Wait of thy worshippers the general fall "That must attend upon the steps of all

D

"Who wait on thee-in preference to that LORD, "Whose ways are sacred-and who's name's ador'd. "Go-teach the Atheist's creed unto thy slaves; "Lest they to freedom turn-freedom which saves "From guilt, and all true wisdom can detestObeying me-and working my behest.

"True freedom yields obedience to my will, "And yielding such-is more than stable still. "Let proud Philosophy explain the cause "Of storms and tempests-urge her general laws : Why plagues and bloody wars arise—and spread "The field with stiffen'd corpses of the dead;

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Why earthquakes shake the burning globe and why Fire-hail and thunder-in confusion fly.

"Conceal, with care, that all was long foretold "Thou'rt doomed to witness, and the world behold, "That speaks th'approach of Him-whom thou know'st well

Reign'd high in bliss before th' Archangels fell,"Whom well thou further know'st is come in state: "That hosts of heav'n ready upon Him wait "To drive thee from thy arrogated seat, "And shew thee what thou art—a very cheat. "In fires eternal to bind thee and thine :— "Such the decree of Sovereign Pow'r Divine. "This do with hate implacable-to those "Whom thy false precepts led to espouse the cause

"Which brought destruction upon erring man, "And shorten'd human life to half its span."

Appolyon heard ;—but dar'd not to reply ;—
Struck dumb by voice of Heaven's own majesty.
To earth he falls-through regions of the air,
Whilst thunders roll-and add to his despair.
Then forth the ready angels hasten-lo!
With the last vials, fill'd, for man, with woe.
Now totters Rome, upon the very brink
Of ruin's gulph-in which she soon must sink.
In range unseen th'artillery of heav'n
Prepar'd to act-whene'er the order's giv'n,
To pour destruction on her destin'd head,
And let her name sink with th'ignoble dead.
Flash after flash bursts from the impending clouds ;
Th'atmosphere a darkness overshrouds,—
A great preparative to what's at hand,
In punishment of every guilty land.

The work begins-lo! the dread thunders roar,
And, without ceasing, roll from shore to shore.
Etna-Vesuvius and volcanoes new,

Torrents of fire discharge, to meet the view:-
Through dark impenetrable smoke which clouds,
And the whole land with darkness overshrouds.
Imperial Rome-on seven hill'd mountain plac'd,
From her foundation shakes-her name's disgrac'd,

:

Her buildings fall-her paintings, sculpture, gold—
In one rude mass-confounded-we behold:-
Her people perish in the general wreck,
And not one glory now, her brows bedeck ;-
For one wide rav'nous gulph has swallowed all
That had been grand or noble e'er her fall.
Of the once mistress of the world no trace
Is left to mark her greatness or disgrace.
Where late-surrounding cities met the eye-
But pools of burning sulphur we espy.

Where once the villas rose-the vine once grew-
Myrtles and fragrant flowers entranc'd the view,-
Luxuriant spread their sweets and beauties round;
No trace is left-save waste and barren ground!
With briars entangled, or with brambles spread,
And ev'ry noxious weed there rears its head,
Or creeps along the ground to flourish there
In all the loneliness of dark despair.
Where late a fertile plain regal'd the eye,
A sandy desert-only-we espy :--
Instead of flocks and peaceful herds—or sheep
That low'd, or bleated, in the valleys deep,

Tigers and wolves roam forth-large serpents crawl,
And hiss the last sad requiem of their fall.
The feather'd songsters far are banish'd too;-
No more the linnet sings-the turtles coo;-

But in their place the hateful bird of night Screams with its notes sad horror and affright;In solitude it revels through the year,

Confin'd, by darkness, to its narrow sphere.(8)

Thus falls Imperial Rome, and this work done, Th'Almighty bids the obedient Moon and Sun, With all the host of stars, their order change, And through erratic paths at random range. Then-in the Sun-Christ's wondrous sign is seen,A well mark'd sign of his eternal reign. One universal earthquake now comes on, This globe convulsing-to proclaim the Son. The sea's high waves-with one tremendous roar, Bellow their tumults unto ev'ry shore. Mankind, appall'd-the sight with horror see The tumult wild-the mad perplexity ;To powers above, their energies resign, And sink, with dread, before the wrath Divine.

Now comes the Saviour of the world-in state, As high and mighty Prince and Potentate :For whom th'Almighty yields eternal sway, Bidding all nations, his mild will obey. Th'elect he gathers out-from various lands,And to his right Divine he now demands