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and fro in the most frightful manner, ⟨and⟩ opening in several places; large stones ⟨fell⟩ down on every side by the cracks, and ⟨the⟩ end of most of the rafters started at ⟨the⟩ same time from the wall. The sky in ⟨a⟩ moment became so gloomy, that I ⟨could⟩ distinguish no particular object. It ⟨was⟩ an Egyptian darkness, such as might ⟨be⟩ felt; owing to the prodigious clouds ⟨of⟩ dust and lime, raised from so violent a concussion, and from the overthrow of so many buildings, and, as some reported, ⟨from⟩ sulphurous exhalations. However, it ⟨is⟩ certain that I found myself almost ⟨choked⟩ for nearly ten minutes.
As soon as the gloom began to disperse and the violence of the shock to abate, ⟨the⟩ first object I perceived in my room was ⟨a⟩ woman sitting on the floor, with an ⟨infant⟩ in her arms, covered with dust, pale ⟨and⟩ trembling. I asked her how she came there; but her consternation was so great that she gave me no account: She asked me in the utmost agony, if I did not ⟨think⟩ the world was at an end; at the same ⟨time⟩ she complained of being choked, and begged I would procure her a little drink. ⟨I⟩ told her she must not think of quenching her thirst, but of saving her life, as ⟨the⟩ house was just falling on our heads, and a second shock would certainly bury us
