PLINY THE ELDER. 79 



ing from Vesuvius in many places, so as to illumi- 

 nate the night with their dazzling glare. He con- 

 sulted with his friends whether it were better to 

 remain in the house or to flee to the open fields ; 

 for the buildings were shaken by frequent and 

 violent shocks, so as to reel backwards and for- 

 wards, and in the open air they were not less in 

 danger from the cinders. However, they chose to 

 go forth, as the hazardous alternative, covering their 

 heads with pillows, to protect them from the stones. 

 It was now morning, but the country was enveloped 

 by thick darkness. He proceeded towards the shore 

 by the light of torches, but the sea was still so much 

 agitated that he could not embark; and, seating 

 himself on a sail which was spread for him, he asked 

 for some water, of which he drank a little. The ap- 

 proach of flames, preceded by the smell of sulphur, 

 put his companions to flight, excepting two slaves, 

 who assisted him to rise, when he seems to have im- 

 mediately fallen, suffbcated by the vapours and ashes. 

 On the following day, his body was found in the same 

 place without marks of external violence, and resem- 

 bling a person asleep rather than one who had suf- 

 fered death. This event took place on the 24th Au- 

 gust, in the seventy-ninth year of the Christian era, 

 and a few months after the demise of Vespasian. 



As in the case of almost every writer of eminence, 

 so in that of Pliny, we find panegyrists, whose ad- 

 miration leads them to lavish the most extrava- 

 gant praise, and calumniators, who seem resolved 

 to leave nothing to be admired. It is astonishing, 

 says one, that in every department he is equally 

 great. Elevation of ideas, and grandeur of style, 

 give additional exaltation to his profound erudi- 



