Etruscanprophecywhichsaith，\"Whenthemountainopens，thecityshallfall——whenthesmokecrownstheHilloftheParchedFields，thereshallbewoeandweepinginthehearthsoftheChildrenoftheSea。\"Dreadmaster，ereIleavethesewallsforsomemoredistantdwelling，Icometothee。Asthoulivest，knowIinmyheartthattheearthquakethatsixteenyearsagoshookthiscitytoitssolidbase，wasbuttheforerunnerofmoredeadlydoom。ThewallsofPompeiiarebuiltabovethefieldsoftheDead，andtheriversofthesleeplessHell。Bewarnedandfly！’
’Athens。
GLAUCUStohisbelovedSallust——greetingandhealth！——YourequestmetovisityouatRome——no，Sallust，comerathertomeatAthens！IhaveforsworntheImperialCity，itsmightytumultandhollowjoys。InmyownlandhenceforthIdwellforever。Theghostofourdepartedgreatnessisdearertomethanthegaudylifeofyourloudprosperity。Thereisacharmtomewhichnootherspotcansupply，intheporticoeshallowedstillbyholyandvenerableshades。Intheolive—grovesofIlyssusIstillhearthevoiceofpoetry——ontheheightsofPhyle，thecloudsoftwilightseemyettheshroudsofdepartedfreedom——theheralds——theheralds——ofthemorrowthatshallcome！Yousmileatmyenthusiasm，Sallust！——betterbehopefulinchainsthanresignedtotheirglitter。YoutellmeyouaresurethatI
cannotenjoylifeinthesemelancholyhauntsofafallenmajesty。YoudwellwithraptureontheRomansplendors，andtheluxuriesoftheimperialcourt。
MySallust——\"nonsumqualiseram\"——IamnotwhatIwas！Theeventsofmylifehavesoberedtheboundingbloodofmyyouth。Myhealthhasneverquiterecovereditswontedelasticityereitfeltthepangsofdisease，andlanguishedinthedampsofacriminal’sdungeon。MymindhasnevershakenoffthedarkshadowoftheLastDayofPompeii——thehorrorandthedesolationofthatawfulruin！——Ourbeloved，ourrememberedNydia！Ihaverearedatombtohershade，andIseeiteverydayfromthewindowofmystudy。Itkeepsaliveinmeatenderrecollection——anotunpleasingsadness——whicharebutafittinghomagetoherfidelity，andthemysteriousnessofherearlydeath。Ionegatherstheflowers，butmyownhandwreathesthemdailyaroundthetomb。ShewasworthyofatombinAthens！