So weary

228.

bees in little cells repofc;

But if night-robbers lift the well-ftor'd hive, An humming through their waxen city grows, And out upon each other's wings they drive.

229.

Now streets grow throng'd and bufy as by day: Some run for buckets to the hallow'd quire: Some cut the pipes, and fome the engines play; And fome more bold mount ladders to the fire.

230.

In vain for from the Eaft a Belgian wind

His hoftile breath through the dry rafters fent; The flames impell'd foon left their foes behind, And forward with a wanton fury went.

231.

A key of fire ran all along the shore,

And lighten'd all the river with a blaze :
The waken'd tides began again to roar,
And wondering fish in shining waters gaze.
232.

Old father Thames rais'd up his reverend head,

But fear'd the fate of Simois would return :

Deep in his ooze he fought his fedgy bed,
And fhrunk his waters back into his urn.

233.

The fire, mean-time, walks in a broader grofs; To either hand his wings he opens wide:

He wades the streets, and straight he reaches crofs,

And plays his longing flames on th' other fide.

234.

At first they warm, then scorch, and then they

take;

Now with long necks from fide to fide they feed: At length grown ftrong their mother-fire forfake, And a new colony of flames fucceed.

235.

To every nobler portion of the town

The curling billows roll their restless tide:
In parties now they ftraggle up and down,
As armies unoppos'd for prey divide.
236.

One mighty fquadron with a fide-wind sped, Through narrow lanes his cumber'd fire does hafte,

By powerful charms of gold and filver led,

The Lombard bankers and the Change to wafte.

237.

Another backward to the Tower would go,
And flowly eats his way against the wind:
But the main body of the marching foe
Against th' imperial palace is defign'd,
238.

Now day appears, and with the day the king,
Whofe early care had robb'd him of his rest:
Far off the cracks of falling houses ring,

And shrieks of subjects pierce his tender breast,

239.

Near as he draws, thick harbingers of smoke
With gloomy pillars cover all the place;
Whose little intervals of night are broke
By sparks, that drive against his facred face.

240.

More than his guards his forrows made him known,
And pious tears which down his cheeks did show'r;
The wretched in his grief forgot their own ;
So much the pity of a king has pow'r.

241.

He wept the flames of what he lov'd fo well,
And what fo well had merited his love:

For never prince in grace did more excel,
Or royal city more in duty strove,

242.

Nor with an idle care did he behold:

Subjects may grieve, but monarchs muft redress; He chears the fearful and commends the bold,

And makes despairers hope for good fuccefs. 243.

Himself directs what firft is to be done,

And orders all the fuccours which they bring; The helpful and the good about him run, And form an army worthy such a king.

244.

He fees the dire contagion spread so fast,
That where it feizes all relief is vain:
And therefore muft unwillingly lay waste
That country, which would elfe the foe main-

tain.

The powder blows up

245.

all before the fire:

Th' amazed flames ftand gather'd on a heap;

And from the precipice's brink retire,

Afraid to venture on fo large a leap.
246.

Thus fighting fires a while themselves confume,
But straight like Turks forc'd on to win or die,
They first lay tender bridges of their fume,
And o'er the breach in unctuous vapors fly.

247.

Part stay for paffage, 'till a guft of wind
Ships o'er their forces in a fhining sheet:
Part creeping under ground their journey blind,
And climbing from below their fellows meet.
248.

Thus to fome defert plain, or old wood-fide, Dire night-hags come from far to dance their round;

And o'er broad rivers on their fiends they ride,

Or fweep in clouds above the blafted ground. 249.

No help avails: for hydra-like, the fire

Lifts up his hundred heads to aim his way : And scarce the wealthy can one half retire, Before he rushes in to fhare the prey... 250.

The rich grow fuppliant, and the poor grow proud: Thofe offer mighty gain, and these ask more: So void of pity is th' ignoble crowd,

When others ruin may increase their store.

251.

As those who live by fhores with joy behold Some wealthy veffel split or ftranded nigh; And from the rocks leap down for fhipwreck'd gold, And feek the tempefts which the others fly :