LIFE AND WETTINGS OF PLITTT. XI 



leave it. On being awoke he immediately arose, and re- 

 joined Pomponianus and the others who had in the mean- 

 while been sitting up. They then consulted together whe- 

 ther it would be better to remain in the house or take their 

 chance in the open air ; as the building was now rocking to 

 and fro from the violent and repeated shocks, while the walls, 

 as though rooted up from their very foundations, seemed 

 to be at one moment carried in this direction, at another 

 in that. Having adopted the latter alternative, they were 

 now alarmed at the showers of light calcined pumice-stones 

 that were falling thick about them, a risk however to which 

 as a choice of evils they had to submit. In taking this step 

 I must remark that, while with my uncle it was reason tri- 

 umphing over reason, with the rest it was only one fear 

 getting the better of the other. Taking the precaution of 

 placing pillows on their heads, they tied them on with towels, 

 by way of protection against the falling stones and ashes. 

 It was now day in other places, though there it was still 

 night, more dark and more profound than any ordinary night; 

 torches however and various lights in some measure served 

 to dispel the gloom. It was then determined to make for 

 the shore, and to ascertain whether the sea would now admit 

 of their embarking ; it was found however to be still too 

 stormy and too boisterous to allow of their making the at- 

 tempt. Upon this my imcle lay down on a sail which had 

 been spread for him, and more than once asked for some 

 cold water, which he drank ; very soon however, they were 

 alarmed by the flames and the sulphurous smell which an- 

 nounced their approach, upon which the others at once took to 

 flight, while my uncle arose leaning upon two of the servants 

 for support. Upon making this effort, he instantly fell to 

 the ground ; the dense vapour having, I imagine, stopped the 

 respiration and suffocated him ; for his chest was naturally 

 weak and contracted, and often troubled with violent palpi- 

 tations. When day was at last restored, the third after the 

 closing one of his existence, his body was found untouched 

 and without a wound ; there was no change to be perceived 

 in the clothes, and its appearance was rather that of a per- 

 son asleep than of a corpse. In the meantime my mother 

 and myself were at Misenum — that however has nothing 

 to do with the story, as it was only your wish to know the 



