xxii PREFACE. 



they erected, which were famed for their exquisite finish and 

 their architectural and constructive beauty; the one people 

 were, in fact, a nation possessed of superlative artistic 

 faculties, whilst the other was a nation of warriors and 

 builders. Although the Romans have also left behind them 

 much that was architecturally beautiful, yet what they did 

 in the way of public works, although, as a rule, great, 

 stupendous, massive, and overwhelming, was yet frequently 

 deficient in architectural beauty. 



Had these two nations prospered at the same time, fore- 

 gathered, and been consolidated under one government, each 

 might have benefited by the prevailing taste of the other. 

 Some of the Romans did, however, evince a strong inclina- 

 tion to follow the example of the Greeks, as is evident by the 

 construction of their domestic buildings, particularly in 

 Pompeii ; but the sterner citizens of Rome regarded it as a 

 matter for reproach when any Roman imitated the example 

 of fastidious Greece, and affected Grecian tastes and habits. 

 Appius Claudius, the constructor of the Appian Way, was 

 chosen Censor in 312 B.C. After holding his office for 

 eighteen months it was expected that he would relinquish 

 it as ordered by the ^milian law, but this he was unwilling to 

 do as he was engaged in some great national works ; these 

 works still remain famous as the Appian Way and the 

 Appian Aqueduct. The Via Appia, or Appian Way or 

 road, is well known even to many who have not visited 

 Rome, by the amusing description given by Horace of his 

 journey upon it. It led from Rome to Capua, passing 

 through the Pontine Marshes to Tarracina, and then skirted 

 the seaward side of the Volscian Hills, by the pass of 

 Lautulas, and went on past Fundi, Formiae, and Sinuessa to 

 Capua. There had been a track before in this direction, but 

 Appius improved it and made it fit for military purposes. 

 It was at first only 120 miles long, afterwards it led to 

 Naples and the southern extremity of Italy. 



Horace, on the journey he describes, took fourteen days 

 to travel 378 Roman miles ; that he might have travelled 



