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At last, about half-past one o’clock in the morning, the devouring element having communicated to the magazine, the explosion was seen, and the blazing fragments of the once magnificent Kent were instantly hurled, like so many rockets, high into the air; leaving, in the comparative darkness that succeeded, “the deathful scene of that disastrous day floating before the mind like some feverish dream.”

Like all pure moderns, he supposes the Gothic barbarous, notwithstanding his love of it; admires, in an equally ignorant way, totally opposite styles; is delighted with the new town of Edinburgh; mistakes its dulness for purity of taste, and actually compares it, in its deathful formality of street, as266 contrasted with the rudeness of the old town, to Britomart taking off her armor.

No dang'rous tree or deathful fruit shall grow, No tempting serpent to allure the soul, From native innocence; a Canaan here Another Canaan shall excel the old, And from fairer Pisgah's top be seen.

Yet dearer far to me, And brave as he are they, Who fight by land and sea For England at this day; Whose vile memorials, In mournful marbles gilt, Deface the beauteous walls By growing glory built: Heirs of our antique shrines, Sires of our future fame, Whose starry honour shines In many a noble name Across the deathful days, Link'd in the brotherhood That loves our country's praise, And lives for heavenly good. 

Deathful their faces were, and yet The power of life was in them set— Never forgot nor to forget: Sublime significance of mouth, Dilated nostril full of youth, And forehead royal with the truth.