THE
Dreadful Voice
OF
FIRE,
Begun at Edinburgh, the 3d of February 1700:
-----Quis, talia fando,
Temperet a Lachrymis?----
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THE Elements, Earth, Water, Air, and Fire,
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Make happy Men, or sometime they conspire
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Apart, or in Society, to staine
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The varnish't honour of Man, frail and vain.
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Jamaica lately was a dreadful Scheme,
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And sad Example, of this threatning Theam;
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Earth opened it's mouth, 'gainst people bad,
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(Because to Heav'n. no mouths these people had)
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And, weary of it's Burden, did enclose
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Them in it's hollow womb; There to disclose
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The real darkness, which their Sins did love,
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And En'mity against the Powers above;
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For which just Heav'n sent them a packing thence,
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Like Corah, Dathan, for their sad Offence.
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The World was drowned last by Watter's large
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Deludge; Which did it's Vials soon discharge,
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Upon the Earth, scorch'd by the heat of Lust,
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Which them condemn'd, not to be burnt to dust,
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But from a Sea of Lust, streight to be sent
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By Water, to the Pit of Punishment.
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This night, the El'ments did, in strife, contend
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For Umpirage, and which should most commend
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Their active Vigour, to the double Senses,
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Of Knowing Men; when Fire (alas) Commences
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A Tragick Act; which, in short to rehearse
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Shall be the Scope, of this ensueing Verse.
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In Rob'sens Land, 'bout Ten a Cloak at Night,
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Happ'ned a Fire, soon shewing clear and bright;
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And. in a Trice, from North-East, did o'respread,
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The Fabrick whole, well covered with Lead;
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And as if pincht in narrow bounds it went,
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Streight for St Geils; but soon it did Repent,
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And stayed at the Statue, thence did flee
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North watd to th' Croce, to serve it's Luxury.
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How did it Triumph 'ore the sturdy Oak?
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And did obscure fair Cynthia, by it's smoak?
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Dislodging soon the Loving Man and Wife,
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The Family and Children, without strife;
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From Babel's Tow'r them sending to the deep
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Of saddest Plight, yea some amidst their sleep.
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Vulcan was now inexorable grow'n;
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Nor Piety nor Riches, would he oune;
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Best Gifts of Heav'n and earth he did disdain,
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Threatning with blood, his Fury to maintain;
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And, deaf as Adria, did neglect the Cryes,
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Of rich and poor, all in deep Miseryes;
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Yea did invade the day of Holy Rest,
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And so the Toun, with hideous flames, molest,
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He raged so, so domineered he,
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As, but himself, no other God could be,
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At last, by Holy Pray'rs, he was apeas'd.
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And then his force and cruel fury ceas'd.
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Hence learn ye Mortals, what great madness be,
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To build up houses, thrice five stories high,
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Or to put Trust, in any earthly Thing,
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Save in Great GOD, of Heav'n and Earth the King;
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But trust in him alone. who can defend
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You, from sad accidents, and dreadfull End;
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And now repent, and to the Lord now turn,
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Lest he should you, in Flames eternal, burn.
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