36 
MEMOIR OF PLINY. 
from Spain to pay him a visit, joined us ; and ob- 
serving me sitting by my mother with a book in my 
liand, greatly censured her patience, and at the 
same time reproved me for my careless security ; ne- 
vertheless I still went on with my author. Though 
it was now morning, the light was exceedingly 
faint and languid ; the buildings all around us tot- 
tered ; and though we stood upon open ground, yet 
as the place was narrow' and confined, there was no 
remaining without great and certain danger ; we 
therefore resolved to quit the town. The people 
followed us in the utmost consteniation ; and as to a 
mind distracted with terror every suggestion seems 
more prudent than its own, they pressed in vast 
crowds about us in our W'ay out. Being got at a 
convenient distance from the buildings, we stood 
still in the midst of a most dangerous and dreadful 
scene. The chariots which we had ordered to be 
drawn out were so agitated backwards and forwards, 
though upon the most level gi'ound, that we could 
not keep them steady, even by supporting them 
with large stones. The sea appeared to roll back 
upon itself, and to be driven from its banks by the 
convulsive motion of the earth ; it is certain, at least, 
the shore was considerably enlarged, and several sea 
animals were left upon it. On the other side, a 
black and dismal cloud bursting with an igneous ser- 
pentine vapour, darted out a long train of fire, re- 
sembling flashes of lightning, but much larger. Soon 
afterwards it seemed to descend and cover the whole 
