No one knows when one will break out, or what it will do; and those who live close to them--as the city of Naples is close to Mount Vesuvius--must not be astonished if they are blown up or swallowed up, as that great and beautiful city of Naples may be without a warning, any day.
For what happened to that same Mount Vesuvius nearly 1800 years ago, in the old Roman times?
For ages and ages it had been lying quiet, like any other hill.

Beautiful cities were built at its foot, filled with people who were as handsome, and as comfortable, and (I am afraid) as wicked, as people ever were on earth.

Fair gardens, vineyards, olive-yards, covered the mountain slopes.

It was held to be one of the Paradises of the world.

As for the mountain's being a burning mountain, who ever thought of that?
To be sure, on the top of it was a great round crater, or cup, a mile or more across, and a few hundred yards deep.