This rumour was of a nature to absorb and suspend the whole soul.

A certain sublimity is connected with enormous dangers that imparts to our consternation or our pity a tincture of the pleasing.

This, at least, may be experienced by those who are beyond the verge of peril.

My own person was exposed to no hazard.

I had leisure to conjure up terrific images, and to personate the witnesses and sufferers of this calamity.
This employment was not enjoined upon me by necessity, but was ardently pursued, and must therefore have been recommended by some nameless charm.
Others were very differently affected.