TEMPEST Az NAPLES.
{"newspaper_name": "The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware register.", "edition": "01", "page": "p4", "byline": ""}
In the year 1913, while Petrarch was at
Naples, horrible tempest visited that ci-
ty, which had been foretold by an astrooger


The CONSERVATION it excited in the minds
OF the inhabitants, and the effects of it, are
thus described by him, in a letter to a
friend.


A monk, who was the bishop Of an neigh
bouring island, and held in great esteem
for his sancttv, and skill in astrology, had
foretod that Naples was to be destroyed by
an earthquake on the 25th OF November
This prophecy spread such terror through
the city, that the inhabitants abandoned
their affairs, to prepare themselves for
death-some hardy spirits, indeed, rdiculed
those who betrayed marks of fear on the
approach of thunder. storm; aud AS soon as
the storm was over, iestingly cried out, See
Me flro1thccy has faHed!


AS to myself, | was in state between
fear and hope but ! must confess that fear
sometimes got the ascendant. Accustomed
to colder climate, and in which thunder
storm in winter was rare phenomenon,
considered what now saw was threatening
from heaven.


On the eve of the night in which the pro-
phecy was to be fulfilled, number of fe-
males, more attentive to the impending
evil than to the decorum of their sex, ran
half naked through the streets, pressing
their children to their bosoms They has
tened to prostrate themselves in the
churches, which they delugcd with their
tears, CRYING out with all their might, Haze
mercy, o Lord, hare mercy an as!


Moved and distressed with the general
CONSERVATION, / retired to the convent of
st. Laurence. The monks went to rest at
the usual hour. 1t was the seventh day of
the moon: and as was anxious to observe
i'll what manner she would set, stood look
ing at my window till she was hid from nv
sight by a neighbouring mountain. This
was little before midnight. The moon
was gloomy and overcast; nevertheless felt
myself tolerably composed, and went to
bed. But scarce had l closed my ewes
when | was awakened by the loud rattling
of the convent violently shaken from their
foundations. The lamp which alway
kept lighted through the night was extin-
guished. The fear Of death laid fast hold up
on me.


The whole city was in commotion, and
you heard nothing but lamentations, and
confused exhortations to make ready for the
dreadful event The monks, who had risen
to sing their mathis, terrified by the move.
ments of the earth, ran into my chamber
armed with crosses and relics, implorine
the mercy of Heaven. A prior, whose
name was David, and who was considered
as saint, was at their head. The sigh
of these inspired us with courage. VIZ
proceeded to the church, which was already
crowded: and here we remained during the
rest of the night, expecting every momen
the completion of the prophecy.