Arose, a monster never known before 540
Rear’d from Cocytus its portentuous head.
This rapid fury not, like other pests,
Pursued a gradual course, but in a day
Rush’d as a storm o’er half th’ astonish’d isle,
And strew’d with sudden carcasses the land. 545
First thro’ the shoulders, or whatever part
Was seiz’d the first, a fervid vapour sprung.
With rash combustion thence, the quivering spark
Shot to the heart, and kindled all within;