38 MEMOIR OF PLINY. 



forerunner of an approaching burst of flames ( which 

 it really was) than the return of day ; however, the 

 fire fell at a distance from us. Here again we were 

 immersed in thick darkness, and a heavy shower of 

 ashes rained upon us, which we were obliged every 

 now and then to shake off, otherwise we should 

 have been crushed and buried in the heap. At last 

 this frightful darkness was dissipated by degrees, like 

 a cloud of smoke ; the real day returned, and even 

 the sun appeared, though very faintly, and as when 

 an eclipse is coming on. Every object that present- 

 ed itself to our eyes (which were extremely weaken- 

 ed) seemed changed, being covered over with white 

 ashes, as with a deep snow. We returned to Mi- 

 senum, where we refreshed ourselves as well as we 

 could, and passed an anxious night betwixt hope 

 and fear, though indeed with a much larger share of 

 the latter, for the earth still continued to shake ; 

 while several enthusiastic persons ran wildly among 

 the people, throwing out temporary predictions, and 

 making a kind of frantic sport of their own and their 

 friends' wretched situation. But notwithstanding the 

 danger we had passed, and that which still threaten- 

 ed us, we had no thoughts of leaving Misenum till 

 we should receive some accounts of my uncle." * 



A short time brought them tidings of the melan- 

 choly event, as has been already narrated. The ne- 

 phew inherited the estates and effects of his deceased 

 relative, and appearing soon after at the bar in Rome, 



* Plinii Epist. lib. vi. 17, 20. 



