His lightnings; many a one he slew:

Here towns and villages became

A prey to th’ all-devouring flame;

A forest there of oak-trees fum’d,

Down to their very roots consum’d.

The children scream’d; the mothers tore

Their hair; Thor foam’d like angry boar:

And he, who whilom lov’d to save,

Prov’d unrelenting as the grave.

But when at length shone forth the day,