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A Particular NARRATIVE Of the late Dreadful Earthquake, AND IRRUPTION As it is Collected out of several Relations from CATANIA.
MOunt Aetna, or Monte Gibello, a Mountain so Renowned throughout the World for its height and greatnesse, but much more for those Prodigious Flames, Smoak, and Ashes which it hath cast out from the top of it, whilst the other parts are continually (even in the midst of Summer) cover'd with Snow, has been for many Ages observ'd once, or sometimes oftner, in the space of about fifteen years, to throw up more than ordinary Flames with much Smoak and stones, and great quantities of Ashes; which (though ter∣rible to the neighbouring Towns and Villages) was yet wont, in little time, to abate of its fury, and prove but seldom more injurious to the Country near it, than by communicating largely its ashes, which though for the present it did somewhat incommode them, they had afterwards a considerable Compensation in the product of their Lands, which by this means were render'd more fruitful.
But on Friday the 18/•• of March 1669. the Sun was observed before its setting to appear of a pale and dead colour, which (being contrary to what it ever before appeared to us) struck no smal terror into the inha∣bitants, all Objects appearing also of the same colour, with a palenesse received from that of the Sun. The same night happened in this City as well as the whole Countrey hereabouts, a terrible and unusual Earth∣quake, whose strong and unequal motions, joyned with horrible Roar∣ings from Monte Gibello exceedingly frighted the Inhabitants, but was