POMPEIANA. 59
good health, if they were not mistaken,
would soon be in their power also.
The holy man, giving up the cause of
the prince as hopeless, immediately be-
took himself to the constable; told him
all he had seen and heard, and exhorted
him, as the only way of avoiding this dis-
agreeable alternative, to become a monk.
To this Don Juan was easily persuaded,
since upon inquiry he found that in the
interim the prince had expired: but, as he
had received orders to join the emperor
Otho, who was expected in a fortnight, for
the purpose of driving the Saracens from
Calabria; he deferred the execution of his
pious resolution until the infidels were
conquered: the consequence was, that he
died before the emperor arrived; and we
are assured, that at the moment of his
decease Vesuvius burst forth into most
dreadful flames, bellowing from a mouth
whence fire everlastingly issues; which fire,
it is added, always flamed with propor-
good health, if they were not mistaken,
would soon be in their power also.
The holy man, giving up the cause of
the prince as hopeless, immediately be-
took himself to the constable; told him
all he had seen and heard, and exhorted
him, as the only way of avoiding this dis-
agreeable alternative, to become a monk.
To this Don Juan was easily persuaded,
since upon inquiry he found that in the
interim the prince had expired: but, as he
had received orders to join the emperor
Otho, who was expected in a fortnight, for
the purpose of driving the Saracens from
Calabria; he deferred the execution of his
pious resolution until the infidels were
conquered: the consequence was, that he
died before the emperor arrived; and we
are assured, that at the moment of his
decease Vesuvius burst forth into most
dreadful flames, bellowing from a mouth
whence fire everlastingly issues; which fire,
it is added, always flamed with propor-