Chap. 85.] PRODIGIES OF THE EARTH. 116 



difference in the nature of the motions \ where various mo- 

 tions are experienced. It is the safest when it vibrates and 

 causes a creaking in the building, and where it swells and 

 rises upwards, and settles with an alternate motion. It is 

 also harmless when the buildings coming together butt 

 against each other in opposite directions, for the motions 

 counteract each other. A movement like the rolling of waves 

 is dangerous, or when the motion is impelled in one direction. 

 The tremors cease when the vapour bursts out^ ; but if 

 they do not soon cease, they continue for forty days ; gene- 

 rally, indeed, for a longer time : some have lasted even for 

 one or two years. 



CHAP. 85. (83.) — PRODIGIES OF THE EARTH WHICH HATE 

 OCCURRED ONCE ONLY. 



A great prodigy of the earth, which never happened more 

 than once, I have found mentioned in thebooks of the Etruscan 

 ceremonies, as having taken place in the district of Mutina, 

 during the consulship of Lucius Martins and Sextus Julius*. 

 Two mountains rushed together, falling upon each other 

 with a very loud crash, and then receding ; while in the day- 

 time flame and smoke issued from them ; a great crowd of 

 lioman knights, and families of people, and travellers on the 

 ^milian way, being spectators of it. All the farm-houses 

 were thrown down by the shock, and a great number of 

 animals that were in them were killed ; it M'as in the year 

 before the Social war ; and I am in doubt whether this event 

 or the civil conmiotions were more fatal to the territory of 

 Italy. The prodigy which happened in our owti age was no 

 less wonderful ; in the last year of the emperor Nero"*, as I 

 have related in my history of his times*, when certain fields 

 and olive grounds in the district of Marrucinum, belonging 

 to Vectius Marcellus, a Eoman knight, the steward of IS^ero, 



1 These remarks upon the different kinds of shocks are probably taken 

 from Aristotle, Meteor, ii. 8. 



" This observation is also in Aristotle, ii. 8. 



3 In the year of the city 663 ; A.c. 90. 



■* In the year of the city 821 ; a.d. 68. 



^ The continuation of Aufidius Bassus' history j our author refers 

 to it in the first book. 



i2 



