Amid the groan and rumbling heave of earth,
And noise of waters, came each silver tone.
But ere my wonder ceased, a storm had birth,
And rattling thunder mingled with the moan
And sob of nature. O'er car--skeleton--
A cloud-veil passed and hid them from my sight;
While o'er that cloud, far on a mountain throne,
A city rocked--illumined by the light
Of its own burning towers--fit type of frail man's might!