In an unusual tone The embassy delivered was; The teeming air itself did groan, Nor for its burden could it farther pass. Their dialects, but to themselves unknown, Only by sad effects we see, They did agree, To execute the great decree; And all with the same secrecy conspire, That as heaven whispered to the air, the air should to the fire. The drowsy coals no sooner understand The purport of their large command, And that the officious wind did there attend Its needful aid to lend, But suddenly they seek out The work they were to go about; And sparks, that had before inactive lain, Each separate had its portion ta'en; Though scattered for a while, designed to meet again. Thus far contrived the wary fire, Thinking how many 'twould undo; Fearing their just complaint, And the perpetual restraint; It winked, as one would think 'twould fain Have slept again; Had not the cruel wind rose higher, Which forced the drooping coals revive, To save themselves alive. Thus without fresh supply of food, Not able to subsist, Much less resist A breath by which they were so rudely kist, They seized a neighbouring stack of wood, Which straight into one horrid flame did turn, Not as it stood designed to burn. Thus, while each other they oppose. Poor mortals trace the mighty foes, By the vast desolations each makes where'er he goes. Besides this choice imitation of Cowley, we have "_Londini quod reliquum_, or London's Remains," in Latin and English; "_Actio in Londini Incendiarios_, the Conflagration of London, poetically delineated;" _Londinenses Lacrymæ_, or "London's tears mingled with her ashes;" and, doubtless, many other poems on the same memorable event. Note LVIII. _Not with more constancy the Jews, of old, By Cyrus from rewarded exile sent Their royal city did in dust behold, Or with more vigour to rebuild it went._--St. 290. p. 155. When Cyrus conquered Babylon, he restored the Jewish tribes to their native land, after seventy years captivity. The mixed feelings, with which they began to rebuild their ruined temple and city, are emphatically described in the book of Ezra, chap. iii. "11. And they sung together by course, praising and giving thanks unto the Lord, because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever towards Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid.