Page:Life in the Old World - Vol. II.djvu/460

470 towards Pomponianus.” Pomponianus was then at Stabia, separated from him only by a little bay, formed by the winding of the shore. In this quarter, though the danger was distant, still it was in full view, and when it seemed approaching, Pomponianus had his goods put on board some vessels, and resolved to go off with them when the wind changed. My uncle, carried thither by a favoring gale, and finding him in great terror, embraced and encouraged him, and in order to allay his fears by his own calmness of mind, asked to be shown to the bath. After bathing, he sat down to supper cheerfully, at least with the appearance of his ordinary cheerfulness. In the mean time, large and high eruptions of fire glared from Vesuvius in several places, the brightness of which was heightened by the gloom of night. My uncle, to calm their fears, told them that what they saw burning were only villages abandoned by the peasants, and which had thus become the prey of the flames. He then lay down to rest, and slept very soundly, and, as he was a large and stout man, the sound of his snoring was faint l y audible as far as the antechamber. But the court that led to his apartment was now so choked up with ashes and pumice-stones, that had he stayed longer in his room, the passage from it would have been entirely obstructed. As soon as he was awakened, he went out and joined Pomponianus and the rest, who had sat up all night. They debated whether they should stay in the house or walk in the open field; for the building was repeatedly shaken by violent earthquakes, and seemed to rock from side to side, as if shaken to the foundation. Abroad, the fall of the