One mighty blast, frantic as battle-charge When, mad with last despair, ten thousand horse Headlong into the hell at cannon-mouth Plunge--such a blast rushed down the rent ravine Whereby, along a shaggy side, the twain, Now nigh the utmost mountain summit, climbed. The glacial air, as in a torrent rolled Precipitous or vertical sheer down Some dizzy height in cataract, so swift! Unhorsed them both; but, crouching, man and steed, With one wise instinct instantly to all, Which equalled all--supreme desire of life-- They huddling crept transverse to where a rock On their right hand lifted its moveless brow And, safely founded in the mountain's base, Made, leaning, an impendent roof which now Proffered a dreadful shelter from the storm. Hardly this refuge gained, the tempest, loosed, Hailstones and coals of fire commingled, fell. The wind, with such a weight oppressed, went down, And, with the sinking wind, a water-spout, Whirled roaring in its spiral from on high, Those watchers saw peel off, with one steep swoop Descending, a whole mountain-top and roll Its shattered forest into the ravine Suddenly thus with foaming torrent filled. Therewith, as weary were the storm, a lull; Lull only, for the welkin seemed to sink Collapsed about them, and what was the sky Became the nether atmosphere on fire, Enrobing them with lightning fold on fold And thunder detonating at their ears. Sergius, ere shut had seared his eyes the glare, Saw a gigantic cedar nigh at hand, Under a flaming wedge of thunderbolt, Riven in parted halves from head to foot, Fall burning down the frightful precipice. Spite of himself, his terror turned to prayer: "O Jupiter," he said, "it was not meant, What I spoke late against thy majesty! Spare me yet this once more, and I a vow, A pledged rich vow, will in thy temple hang, Then when I first shall safe reach Rome, inscribed 'From Sergius Paulus to King Jupiter, Lord of the lightning and the thunderbolt.'" "'Give ye unto Jehovah,'" so at last, Fragments of psalm responsive to the storm-- As in antiphony of worship joined, He and the elements!--chanting, Saul burst forth, At intervals, between the swells of sound, And varying to the tempest's varying phase, "'Give ye unto Jehovah, lo, all ye 'Sons of the mighty, to Jehovah give 'Glory and strength; unto Jehovah give 'The equal glory due unto His name; 'Worship Jehovah in fair robes of praise!'"