78 PLINY THE ELDER. 



He had just retired to his study, when he was 

 apprized of the appearance of a cloud of the most 

 extraordinary form and size. It resembled a pine- 

 tree, having an excessively elongated trunk, from 

 which some branches shot forth at the top, and 

 appeared sometimes white, sometimes dark and 

 spotted, according as the smoke was more or less 

 mixed with earth and cinders. Anxious to disco- 

 ver the cause of this singular appearance, he or- 

 dered a light vessel to be got ready, and was pro- 

 ceeding onboard, when he met the mariners belong- 

 ing to the galleys stationed at Retina, who had just 

 escaped from the danger. They conjured him not to 

 advance and expose his life to imminent peril ; but 

 he ordered the fleet immediately to put to sea, for 

 the purpose of rendering aid to such as might re- 

 quire it ; and so devoid of fear was he, that he noted 

 all the variations and forms which the cloud assumed. 

 By this time the vessels were covered with ashes, 

 which every moment became hotter and more dense, 

 while fragments of white pumice and stones black- 

 ened and split with the heat threatened the lives of 

 the men. They were likewise in great danger of 

 being left aground by a sudden retreat of the sea. 

 He stopped for a moment to consider whether he 

 should return ; but to the pilot who urged to this 

 expedient, he replied, " Fortune helps the brave 

 — steer to Pomponianus." That officer was at Sta- 

 biae, and being in sight of the danger, which, al- 

 though still distant, seemed always coming nearer, 

 had put his baggage on board, and was waiting a 

 more favourable wind to carry him out. Pliny 

 finding him alarmed, endeavoured to recall his 

 firmness. In the mean time the flames were burst- 



