Disease, despair, and death, at three reprises told:

At three insulting strides she stalked the town,

And, like contagion, struck the loyal down.

Down fell the winnowed wheat; but, mounted high,

The whirlwind bore the chaff, and hid the sky.

}

Here black rebellion shooting from below, }

(As earth's gigantic brood by moments grow,) }

And here the sons of God are petrified with woe: }

An apoplex of grief! so low were driven