The character of Arbaces, the Egyptian Magus, is peculiarly after Bulwer's own heart--for he is an entire, thorough, irredeemable demon, who weeps over venomous reptiles and kills innocent men: but a very large portion of his mystic discourse, which appears on pages 81-2-3-4 of volume first, is borrowed, as customary, without even an apologetic allusion, from Moore's Epicurean. We leave that poet to reclaim his property, and proceed to assert the identity of our own. In the novel, Arbaces beguiles Ione into his house, with the resolution to possess her by fraud or violence. In the poem, the priest of Isis inveigles the virgin of Pompeii into his lascivious temple with the same intent. Both the priest and Arbaces, having conquered every obstacle, are rapidly advancing to the accomplishment of their evil designs, when they are interrupted, and their victims rescued by the very same awful occurrence; "At that awful moment," says Bulwer, "the floor shook under them with a rapid and convulsive throe--a mightier spirit than that of the Egyptian was abroad! a giant and crushing power, before which sunk into sudden impotence his passion and his arts. It woke--it stirred--that dread Demon of the Earthquake," etc.[11] "I woo no longer, thou art in my grasp, And by the Immortals I disown, thou shalt"-- Says our unsainted priest of Isis, when the victim cries exultingly-- "'It comes! the temple reels and crashes--Jove! I thank thee! Vesta! let me sleep with thee!' And on the bosom of the earthquake rocked The statues and the pillars, and her brain Whirled with the earth's convulsions, as the maid Fell by a trembling image and upraised A prayer of gratitude; while through the vaults, In fear and ghastly horror, fled the priest, Breathing quick curses mid his warning cries For succor; and the obscene birds their wings Flapped o'er his pallid face, and reptiles twined In folds of knotted venom round his feet. Yet on he rushed--the blackened walls around Crashing--the spectral lights hurled hissing down The cold green waters; and thick darkness came To bury ruin!" [Footnote 11: Vol. i. p. 159.]