tely temples that stood out in sharp relief against the sky.

To this he directed his steps, and ascended the steep declivity up to
the top of the hill. From the summit he looked around upon the scene.
The place itself was a spacious square paved with marble, and surrounded
with lordly temples. On one side was the Campus Martius bounded afar
onward to the Mediterranean. On every other side the city spread its
unequaled extent, crowding to the narrow walls, and over-leaping them to
throw out its radiating streets far away on every side into the country.
Temples and columns and monuments reared their lofty heads. Innumerable
statues filled the streets with a population of sculptured forms,
fountains dashed into the air, chariots rolled through the streets, the
legions of Rome marched to and fro in military array, and on every side
surged the restless tide of life in the Imperial city.

Far away the plain extended, dotted with countless villages and houses
and palaces, rich in luxuriant verdure, the dwelling-place of peace and
plenty. On one side arose the blue outline of the Apennines, crowned
with snow; on the other the dark waves of the Mediterranean washed the
far distant shore.

Suddenly Marcellus was startled by a shout. He turned. An old man in
scant clothing, with emaciated face and frenzied gesticulation, was
shouting out a strain of fearful denunciation. His wild glance and
fierce manner showed that he was partly insane.

"'Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen,
And is become the habitation of devils,
And the hold of every foul spirit,
And a cage of every unclean and hateful bird;
For God hath remembered her iniquities.
Reward her even as she rewarded you,
And double unto her double according to her works.
How much hath she glorified herself and lived deliciously,
Therefore shall her plagues come in one day,
Death, and mourning, and famine;
And she shall be utterly burned with fire;
For strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.
The kings of the earth
Shall bewail and lament,
Seeing the smoke of her burning,
Standing afar off for fear of her torment,
Crying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon,
That mighty city Babylon,
For in one hour is thy judgment come.
The merchants of the earth,
Standing afar off for fear of her torment,
Shall weep and wail.
Crying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon,
That was clothed