A poem on the earthquake at Lisbon

CALM was the Sky, the Sun serenely bright, Shot o’er the Sea long dazzling Streams of Light. Thro’ Orange Groves soft breathing Breezes play’d, And gather’d Sweets like Bees where e’er they stray’d. In fair Relievo stood the lofty Town, 5 Set off by radiant Lights and Shadows brown; While ev’ry Dome, each Cupola and Spire, Shone doubly gilt by the Sun’s lambent Fire. And where beneath, the Silver Tagus flow’d, In many a stately Row tall Vessels rode; 10 So smooth it flow’d that all the various View, Reflected there, was downward seen anew, And as it softly stole along the Plain, Carry’d a floating Landskip to the Main.
Within the Town gay Crowds were seen to stray, 15 While full Processions grac’d the festive Day. Mechanicks by their honest Labour fed, With chearful Visage earn’d their daily Bread; Misers were counting o’er their ill-got Store, But not contented meditating more. 20 Spendthrifts were just awak’d from Golden Dreams; Projectors were inventing Lottery Schemes; Merchants were storing Goods from India brought; Clients were selling Lands which Lawyers bought. Behold a Youth, and sitting by his Side, 25 A Damsel new-betroth’d, his destin’d Bride; Around them throngs a Train of Virgins gay, Preparing Garments for the Marriage-day. Alas!—And now rings out the Matin Bell, The pious Matron issuing from her Cell, 30 Inspir’d by true Devotion joins the Crowd, And aw’d with Reverence seeks the House of God; There humbly prostrate kneels upon the Ground— Happy the Few that watching so are sound!
Ill-fated City! there were Revels kept, 35 Devoid of Fear, they eat, they drank, they sleep’d. No friendly Voice like that of antient Rome , Was sent to give them Warning of their Doom: No Airy Warriours to each other clung, Such as ’tis said o’er destin’d Sion hung; 40 But like a nightly Thief their dreadful Fate, Unlook’d for came and undermin’d their State.
For with a sudden Shock the solid Ground, In dreadful Waves came rolling all around; Not those rough Seas beneath the frozen Pole, 45 Impell’d by Winds, more furious Billows roll. Earth’s Womb was heard to groan with hollow Roar, The Dwellings trembled—but Men trembled more. Aghast they reel like Drunkards here and there, And all distracted fly they know not where. 50 Destruction drives them from their dear Abodes, And where their Safety was, fell Ruin nodds. Husbands are here seen pressing thro’ the Throng, Nor know they drag their clinging Wives along. Coy Virgins of their Lovers once afraid, 55 Now hang on Strangers Necks and court their Aid. And there a ghastly Group of Women see! A Picture of the Ghosts they soon must be, Wringing their Hands, sad solemn Silence keep, While Infants wonder why their Mothers weep. 60