The diligence of trades and noiseful gain, In this deep quiet, from what source unknown, Now like some rich or mighty murderer, Too great for prison, which he breaks with gold; Who fresher for new mischiefs does appear, And dares the world to tax him with the old : So scapes th' insulting Fire his narrow jail, The winds, like crafty courtezans, withheld With faint denials weaker than before. And now no longer letted of his prey, The ghosts of traitors from the bridge descend, And sing their sabbath notes with feeble voice. Our guardian angel saw them where they sate And drooping, oft look'd back upon the wing. At length the crackling noise and dreadful blaze The next to danger, hot pursued by Fate, Their cries soon waken all the dwellers near; Now murmuring noises rise in every street: The more remote run stumbling with their fear, And in the dark men justle as they meet. So weary bees in little cells repose; But if night-robbers lift the well-stor❜d hive, An humming through their waxen city grows, And out upon each other's wings they drive. Now streets grow throng'd and busy as by day : Some run for buckets to the hallow'd quire: Some cut the pipes, and some the engines play; And some more bold mount ladders to the fire. In vain for from the east a Belgian wind A key of fire ran all along the shore, And lighten'd all the river with a blaze: Old father Thames rais'd up his reverend head, And shrunk his waters back into his urn. The Fire, meantime, walks in a broader gross; He wades the streets, and straight he reaches cross, At first they warm, then scorch, and then they take; Now with long necks from side to side they feed; At length grown strong, their mother Fire forsake, And a new colony of Flames succeed. To every nobler portion of the town The curling billows roll their restless tide; In parties now they straggle up and down, As armies unoppos'd for prey divide. One mighty squadron with a side-wind sped, Through narrow lanes his cumber'd fire does haste, By powerful charms of gold and silver led, The Lombard bankers and the 'Change to waste. Another backward to the Tower would go, Against th' imperial palace is design'd. Now day appears, and with the day the king, And shrieks of subjects pierce his tender breast. Near as he draws, thick harbingers of smoke More than his guards his sorrows made him known, He wept the flames of what he lov'd so well, Nor with an idle care did he behold: Subjects may grieve, but monarchs must redress; He cheers the fearful, and commends the bold, And makes despairers hope for good success. Himself directs what first is to be done, And orders all the succours which they bring : The helpful and the good about him run, And form an army worthy such a king. He sees the dire contagion spread so fast, That country, which would else the foe maintain. The powder blows up all before the Fire : Th' amazed Flames stand gather'd on a heap; Thus fighting Fires awhile themselves consume, Part stay for passage, till a gust of wind Thus to some desert plain, or old wood side, Dire night-hags come from far to dance their round; And o'er broad rivers on their fiends they ride, Or sweep in clouds above the blasted ground. No help avails: for, hydra-like, the Fire Lifts up his hundred heads to aim his way: And scarce the wealthy can one half retire, Before he rushes in to share the prey. The rich grow suppliant, and the poor grow proud: Those offer mighty gain, and these ask more: So void of pity is th' ignoble crowd, When others' ruin may increase their store. |