So when famed Eddystone's far-shooting ray, 345 That led the sailor through the stormy way, Was from its rocky roots by billows torn, And the high turret in the whirlwind borne, Fleets bulged their sides against the craggy land, And pitchy ruins blacken'd all the strand. 350 Who then through night would hire the har- ness'd steed?
And who would choose the rattling wheel for speed? [nigher, But hark! distress with screaming voice draws And wakes the slumbering street with cries of
At first a glowing red enwraps the skies, 355 And borne by winds the scattering sparks arise; From beam to beam the fierce contagion spreads; The spiry flames now lift aloft their heads; Through the burst sash a blazing deluge pours, And splitting tiles descend in rattling showers. 360 Now with thick crowds the enlighten'd pavement
The fireman sweats beneath his crooked arms; A leathern casque his venturous head defends, Boldly he climbs where thickest smoke ascends; Moved by the mother's streaming eyes and prayers, The helpless infant through the flame he bears, With no less virtue than through hostile fire 367 The Dardan hero bore his aged sire.
See forceful engines spout their levell'd streams, To quench the blaze that runs along the beams; 370 The grappling hook plucks rafters from the walls, And heaps on heaps the smoky ruin falls. Blown by strong winds, the fiery tempest roars, Bears down new walls, and pours along the floors;
The heavens are all a blaze, the face of night 375 Is cover'd with a sanguine dreadful light; 'Twas such a light involved thy towers, O Rome! The dire presage of mighty Cæsar's doom, When the sun veil'd in rust his mourning head, And frightful prodigies the skies o'erspread. 380 Hark! the drum thunders! far, ye crowds! retire: Behold! the ready match is tipp'd with fire, The nitrous store is laid, the smutty train With running blaze awakes the barrell'd grain; Flames sudden wrap the walls; with sullen sound The shatter'd pile sinks on the smoky ground. 386 So when the years shall have revolved the date, The' inevitable hour of Naples' fate,
Her sapp'd foundations shall with thunders shake, And heave and toss upon the sulphurous lake; 390 Earth's womb at once the fiery flood shall rend, And in the' abyss her plunging towers descend.
Consider, reader! what fatigues I've known, The toils, the perils of the wintry town; What riots seen, what bustling crowds I bored, How oft I cross'd where carts and coaches roar'd: Yet shall I bless my labours, if mankind Their future safety from my dangers find. Thus the bold traveller, (inured to toil, Whose steps have printed Asia's desert soil, 400 The barbarous Arabs' haunt; or shivering cross'd Dark Greenland's mountains of eternal frost, Whom Providence in length of years restores To the wish'd harbour of his native shores) Sets forth his journals to the public view To caution, by his woes, the wandering crew. And now complete my generous labours lie, Finish'd, and ripe for immortality.
Death shall entomb in dust this mouldering frame, But never reach the' eternal part, my fame. 410 When W* and G**, mighty names! are dead, Or but at Chelsea, under custards, read; When critics crazy bandboxes repair,
And tragedies, turn'd rockets, bounce in air; 414 High-raised on Fleet-street posts, consign'd to
This work shall shine, and walkers bless
AUTHOR, for whom he wrote the Poem.. i, 119
Alley, the pleasure of walking in one..... ii, 271
Almanacs, useless to judicious Walkers.. ii, 406
Autumn, what cries then in use.....
Author, his wish.........
Alley, not to be walked in by night................. iii, 127
Bookseller, skilled in the weather.......
Barber, by whom to be shunned......
Baker, to whom prejudicial....... Butchers to be avoided.....
Bully, his insolence to be corrected.. Broker, where he usually walks..............
Burlington-house.................
Beau's chariot overturned..
Bills dispersed to Walkers
Country, the Author's love of his........... i, 21
an amber-headed one useless..... the abuse of it..........
Camlet, how affected by rain.................................
Coat, how to choose one for the winter. Chairs and chariots prejudicial to health... i, Coachman asleep on his box, what the sign i, 153 Chairmen, an observation upon them .............. i, 154 Church monuments foretel the weather..... i, 167 Common sewers................. i, 171 Cold, the description of one.......... i, 267 Clergy, what tradesmen to avoid........... ii, Chimney-sweeper, by whom to be avoided ii, Chandlers prejudicial to Walkers.......... ii, 40 Civility to be paid to Walkers.... Coachman, his metamorphosis ...... Carmen when unmerciful, their punishment ii, 241 Cheapside.......... ii, 244 Cheese not loved by the Author......... ii, 254 Countryman perplexed to find the way... ii, 73 Coachman, his whip dangerous............. ii, 310 his care of his horses ....... ii, 311 Coaches dangerous in snowy weather..... ii, 327 Chairmen, their exercise in frosty weather ii, 335 Covent-garden......................... ii, 343. ii, 547 Cries of the Town, observations upon them ii, 426 Christmas, what cries forerun it............ ii, 438
a season for general charity ii, 444 Coaches, those that keep them uncharitable ii, 451 Cloacina, goddess of common-sewers............ ii, 115
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