174 LIGHT SCIENCE FOR LEISURE HOURS. 



he found his friend Pomponianus in great consterna- 

 tion, already prepared for embarking and waiting only 

 for a change in the wind. Exhorting Pomponianus to 

 be of good courage, Pliny quietly ordered baths to be 

 prepared ; and ' having bathed, sat down to supper 

 with great cheerfulness, or at least (which is equally 

 heroic) with all the appearance of it.' Assuring his 

 friend that the flames which appeared in several places 

 were merely burning villages, Pliny presently retired 

 to rest, and ' being pretty fat,' says his nephew, * and 

 breathing hard, those who attended without actually 

 heard him snore.' But it became necessary to awaken 

 him, for the court which led to his room was now 

 almost filled with stones and ashes. He got up and 

 joined the rest of the company, who were consulting 

 on the propriety of leaving the house, now shaken 

 from, side to side by frequent concussions. They 

 decided on seeking the fields for safety : and fastening 

 pillows on their heads, to protect them from falling 

 stones, they advanced in the midst of an obscurity 

 greater than that of the darkest night though beyond 

 the limits of the great cloud it was already broad day. 

 When they reached the shore, they found the waves 

 running too high to suffer them safely to venture to 

 put out to sea. Pliny 'having drunk a draught or 

 two of cold water, lay down on a cloth that was spread 

 out for him ; but at this moment the flames and 

 sulphurous vapours dispersed the rest of the company, 

 and obliged him to rise. Assisted by two of his 

 servants, he got upon his feet, but instantly fell down 



