LIFE A^'D WRITINGS OF PLINY. IX 



ing this, lie called for Ins shoes, and ascended a spot from 

 which he could more easily observe this remarkable phae- 

 nomenon. The cloud was to be seen gradually risiug up- 

 wards ; though, from the great distance, it was uncertain 

 from which of the mountains it arose ; it was afterwards, 

 however, ascertained to be Vesuvius. In appearance and 

 shape it strongly resembled a tree ; perhaps it v.as more like 

 a pine than anything else, with a stem of enormous length 

 reaching upwards to the heavens, and then spreading out in 

 a number of branches in every direction. I have little doubt 

 that eitlier it had been carried upwards by a violent gust of 

 wind, and that the wind dying away, it had lost its com- 

 pactness, or else, that being overcome by its own weight, it 

 had decreased in density and become extended over a large 

 surface : at one moment it was white, at another dingy and 

 spotted, just as it Avas more or less charged with earth or 

 with ashes. 



" To a man so eager as he was in the pursuit of knowledge, 

 this appeared to be a most singular phaenomenon, and one that 

 deserved to be viewed more closely; accordingly he gave 

 orders for a light Liburnian vessel to be got ready, and lefb 

 it at my option to accompany him. To this however I made 

 answer, that I should prefer continuing my studies ; and as 

 it so happened, he himself had just given me something to 

 \ATite. Taking his tablets with him, he left the house. The 

 sailors stationed at Eetina, alarmed at the imminence of the 

 danger — for the village lay at the foot of the mountain, 

 and the sole escape was by sea — sent to entreat his assist- 

 ance in rescuing them from this frightful peril. Upon this 

 he instantly changed his plans, and what he had already 

 begun from a desire for knowledge, he determined to carry 

 out as a matter of duty. He had the gallics put to sea at once, 

 and went on board himself, witli the intention of rendering as- 

 sistance, not only to Eetina, but to many other places as well ; 

 for the whole of this charming coast w^as thickly populated. 

 Accordingly he made all possible haste towards tlie spot, 

 from which others were flying, and steered straiglit onwards 

 into the very midst of the danger: so far indeed was he 

 from every sensation of fear, that he remarked and had 

 noted down every movement and every change tliat was to 

 be observed in the appearance of this ominous eruption. 



