Inhabitants of sea, or earth, or skies;

All on whom Adam's wisdom fix'd a name,

All plunge, and perish in the conquering flame.

This globe alone would but defraud the fire,

Starve its devouring rage: the flakes aspire,

And catch the clouds, and make the heavens their prey;

The sun, the moon, the stars, all melt away;

All, all is lost; no monument, no sign,

Where once so proudly blaz'd the gay machine.

So bubbles on the foaming stream expire,