Chap. 9.] ACCOUNT OF COUNTEIES, ETC. 195 



town of Pyr» ; and we then come to the colony of Min- 

 tumae*, which still exists, and is divided^ by the river Liris, 

 also called the Glanis. The town of Sinuessa^ is the last in 

 the portion which has been added to Latium ; it is said by 

 some that it used to be called Sinope. 



At this spot begins that blessed country Campania^, and 

 in this vale first take their nse those hills clad with vines, the 

 juice of whose grape is extolled by Fame all over the world ; 

 the happy spot where, as the ancients used to say, father 

 Liber and Ceres are ever striving for the mastery. Hence 

 the fields of Setia* and of Csecubum^ extend afar, and, next 

 to them those of Falemum^ and of Calinum*. As soon as we 

 have passed these, the hills of Massica^, of Gaurus'", and of 

 Surrentum rise to our view. Next, the level plains of Labo- 

 rium" are spread out far and wide, where every care is be- 

 stowed on cultivating crops of spelt, from which the most de- 

 licate fermenty is made. These shores are watered by warm 

 springs ^^, while the seas are distinguished beyond all others 

 for the superlative excellence of their shell and other fish. 



misB to have been built by Lamus, one of their kings. It is more pro- 

 bable however that it was founded by the Laconians, fi^jm whom it may 

 have received its name of Hormise (from the Greek opfios), as being a good 

 roadstead for shipping. 



^ Its site is occupied by the present Trajetta. In its marshes, formed 

 by the overflow of the Liris, Caius Marius was taken prisoner, concealed 

 in the sedge. 



2 The town of Mintumse stood on both banks of the river. 



3 Its ruins are probably those to be seen in the vicinity of Kocca di 

 Mondragone. It was a place of considerable commercial importance. 

 On its site Livy says there formerly stood the Greek city of Sinope. 



* " Felix ilia Campania." ^ Now Sezza. 



^ A marshy district of Latiimi, extending about eight miles along the 

 coast from Terracma to Speluncae, famous in the time of Horace for the 

 first-rate quahties of its veines. 



7 A district famous for its wines, extending from the Massican Hills 

 to the north bank of the Voltumus. 



8 According to Hardouin, the town of Calenum was on the site of the 

 present Calvi near Capua. 



^ Now called Monte Marsico, and as famous for its wine (called Mus- 

 catella) as it was in the Roman times. 



^^ Now Monte Barbaro. The wines of most of these places will be 

 found fully described by Pliny in B. xiv. 



" More fully mentioned, B. xviii. c. 29, where the 'aUcffi' or fermenty 

 made from the spelt grown here is again referred to. 



^ Of Baiie, Puteoh, and Stabise, for instance. 



o2 



