XIPE AND WEITINGS OF PLIKX. 
xi 
leave it. On being awoke lie 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 uncle 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 
jand 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 
jand myself were at Misenum — that however has nothing 
to do with the story, as it was only your wish to know the 
