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Volcanic Mountains

Description of Vesuvius-Hecla-Etna.

The fluid lake that works below, Bitumen, sulphur, salt, and iron scum, Heaves up its boiling tide. The lab'ring mount Is torn with agonizing throes. At once, Forth from its side disparted, blazing, pours A mighty river, burning in prone waves, That glimmer thro' the night, to yonder plain.

Divided there, a hundred torrent streams, Each ploughing up its bed, roll dreadful on, Resistless. Villages, and woods, and rocks, Fall flat before their sweep. The region round, Where myrtle walks, and groves of golden fruit Rose fair, where harvest wav'd in all its pride, And where the vineyard spread its purple store, Maturing into nectar,-now despoil'd Of herb, leaf, fruit, and flow'r, from end to end Lies buried under fire, a glowing sea!

Mallet.