LETTER XIX. To Valerianus. HOW goes on your old eftate at Marfi? and how do you approve of your new purchase? Has it as many beauties in your eye now, as before you bought it? That would be extraordinary indeed! for an object in poffeffion feldom retains the fame charms it had in purfuit. As for myself, the eftate left me by my mother ufes me but ill; however, I value it for her fake, and am befides grown a good deal infenfible by a long courfe of bad treatment. Thus, frequent complaints generally end at laft in being afhamed of complaining any more. LETTER XX. To Gallus. You are furprised, it seems, that I am fo fond of my Laurentinum †, or (if you like the appellation better) my Laurens: but you will cease to wonder, when I acquaint you with the beauty of the villa, the advantages of its fituation, and the extenfive profpect of the fea-coaft. It is but feventeen miles diftant from Rome; fo that having finished my affairs in town, I can pafs my evenings here without breaking in upon the bufinefs of the day. There are two different roads to it; if you go by that of Laurentum, you maft turn off at the fourteenth mile-ftone; if by Oftia, at the eleventh. Both of them are in fome parts fandy, which make it fomething heavy and tedious if you ravel in a coach, but eafy and pleat to those who ride. The landfcape all fides is extremely diverfified, the profpect in fome places being confined by woods, in others extending over large • One of the ancient divifions of Italy, comprehending part of what is now called the farther Abruzzo. Pliny had no eftate round this feat, his whole poffeffions here being included in this houfe and gardens. It was merely a winter villa, in which he fed to spend fome of the cold months, whenever bis bufinefs admitted of his abfence from Rome; and for this reafon it is, that we find warmth is fo much confidered in the difpofition of the feveral apartments, &c. And indeed he seems to have a principal view to its advantages as a winhufe throughout the whole defcription of it. Sex Cofiel's Villas of the Ancients, and beautiful meadows, where numberless flocks of fheep and herds of cattle, which the severity of the winter has drove from the mountains, fatten in the vernal warmth of this rich pafturage. My villa without being expensive. is large enough to afford all conveniences, before it is plain, but not mean, through The porch which you enter into a portico in the form of the letter D, which includes a small but agreeable area. This affords a very commodious retreat in bad weather, not only as it is inclosed with windows, but particularly as it is fheltered by an extraordinary projection of the roof. From the middle of this portico you pafs into an from thence into a handsome hall which inward court extremely pleasant, and runs out towards the fea; fo that when there is a fouth-weft wind it is gently washed with the waves, which spend themselves at the foot of it. On every fide of this hall there are either foldingdoors or windows equally large, by which and the two fides, as it were of three difmeans you have a view from the front ferent feas; from the back part you fee the middle court, the portico, and the area; and by another view you look through the portico into the porch, from whence the profpect is terminated by the woods and mountains which are seen at a distance. On the left-hand of this hall, fomething farther from the fea, lies a large drawing-room, and beyond that a fecond of a smaller fize, which has one window to the rifing, and another to the fetting fun; this has likewise a prospect of the fea, but being at a greater distance, is lefs incommoded by it. The angle which the projection of the hall forms with this drawing-room, retains and increafes the warmth of the fun, and hither my family retreat in winter to perform their exercifes. It is fheltered from all winds except those which are generally attended with clouds, fo that nothing can render this place ufelefs, but what at the fame time deftroys the fair weather. Contiguous to this, is a room forming the fegment of a circle, the windows of which are fo placed as to receive the fun the whole day. In the walls are contrived a fort of cafes, which contain a collection of fuch authors whofe works can never be read too often. From hence you pafs into a bed-chamber through a paffage, which being boarded, and fuf pended pended as it were over a ftove which runs underneath, tempers the heat which it receives and conveys to all parts of this room. The remainder of this fide of the houfe is appropriated to the ufe of my flaves and freedmen; but, however, moft of the apartments in it are neat enough to entertain any of my friends, who are inclined to be my guests. In the oppofite wing is a room ornamented in a very elegant tafte; next to which lies another room, which, though large for a parlour, makes but a moderate dining-room; it is exceedingly warmed and enlightened not only by the direct rays of the fun, but by their reflection from the fea. Beyond this is a bed-chamber, together with its ante-chamber, the height of which renders it cool in fummer, as its being fheltered on all fides from the winds, makes it warm in winter. To this apartment another of the fame fort is joined by one common wall. From thence you enter into the grand and fpacious cooling-room * belonging to the baths †, from the op The principal ufe of this room feems to "have been defigned to prepare the bodies of thote that had been in the former room, for their go"ing into the warmer air." Caftel's Villas, P. 33. The custom of bathing in hot water was become fo habitual to the Romans in Pliny's time, that they every day practifed it before "they lay down to eat, for which reafon, in the city, the public baths were extremely numerous; in which Vitruvius gives us to understand there "were for each fex three rooms for bathing, one et of cold water, one of warm, and one still "warmer; and there were cells of three degrees of "heat for fweating: to the forementioned mem. "bers were added others for an inting and bodily "exercites. The last thing they did before they "entered into the dining-room was to bathe; "what preceded their wathing was their exercife in the fpherifterium, prior to which it was their "custom to anoint themselves. As for their "fweating rooms, though they were doubtlefs in "all their baths, we do not find them to have "been used but upon particular occafions." Caftel's Villas of the Ancients, p. 31. The Roman magnificence feems to have particularly difplayed itself in the article of their baths. Seneca, dating one of his epiftles from a villa which once belonged to the famous Scipio Africanus, takes occafion from thence to draw a parallel between the fimplicity of the earlier ages, and the Juxury of his own times in that initance. By the idea he gives of the latter, they were works of the highest splendour and expence. The walls were compofed of Alexandrine marble, whofe veins were polished and brightened in fuch a manner as to look like a picture: the edges of the balons were fet round with a most valuable kind of ftone, found in Thafius, one of the Greek iflands, variegated pofite walls of which two round bafon project, large enough to swim in. Con tiguous to this is the perfuming-room then the fweating-room, and beyond that the furnace which conveys the heat to the baths; adjoining are two other little bathing-rooms, which are fitted up in ar elegant rather than coftly manner: an nexed to this is a warm bath of extraor dinary workmanship, wherein one may fwim, and have a profpect at the fame time of the fea. Not far from hence stands the tennis-court, which lies oper to the warmth of the afternoon fun. From thence you ascend a fort of turret, which contains two entire apartments below; a there are the fame number above, befide a dining-room which commands a very extenfive profpect of the fea and coaft together with the beautiful villas tha ftand interfperfed upon it. At the other end is a fecond turret, containing a room which faces the rifing and fetting fun Behind this is a large room for a repo fitory, next to which is a gallery of cu riofities, and underneath a fpacious din ing-room, where the roaring of the fea even in a storm, is heard but faintly it looks upon the garden and the gef tatio which furrounds the garden. The geftatio is encompaffed with a box tre hedge, and, where that is decayed, with rofemary: for the box in thofe part which are sheltered by the buildings, preferves its verdure perfectly well; bu where by an open fituation it lies expofec to the dafhing of the fea-water, though at a great distance, it entirely withers Between the garden and this geftatio run a fhady walk of vines, which is fo fof that you may walk bare-foot upon i without any injury. The garden is chiefly planted with fig and mulberry trees, t which this foil is as favourable as it i averfe to all others. In this place is : banqueting-room, which, though it ftand remote from the fea, enjoys however profpect nothing inferior to that view two apartments run round the back par of it, whofe windows look upon the en trance of the villa, and into a very plea with veins of different colours, interfperfed wit freaks of gold; the water was conveyed throug filver pipes, and fell, by feveral different defcents, i beautiful cafcades. The floors were inlaid with pre cious gems, and an intermixture of ftatues and co lonades, contributed to throw an air of eleganc and grandeur upon the whole. Vid. Sen. Ep. 86. Sec p. 106, note §. fan fant kitchen-garden. From hence an inclofed portico extends itself, which by its grandeur you might take for a public cne; it has a range of windows on each de, but on that which looks towards the in, they are double the number of those ret the garden, When the weather is fir and ferene, these are all thrown open; but if it blows, thofe on the fide the wind fit are that, while the others remain unched without any inconvenience. Before this portico lies a terrace perfumed with violets, and warmed by the reflection of the fun from the portico, which as it retains the rays, fo it keeps off the north-eaft wind; and it is as warm on this fide, as it is cool on the oppofite; in the fame manner it is a defence against the fouth-weft; and thus, in fhort, by means of its feveral fides, breaks the force of the winds from what point foever they blow. These are some of the winter advantages of this agreeable fituation, which however are ftill more confiderable e fummer; for at that season it throws a ade upon the terrace during all the formoon, as it defends the geftatio, and that part of the garden which lies contiguous to it, from the afternoon fun, and cats a greater or lefs fhade, as the day ether encreases or decreases; but the portico itfelf is then cooleft when the fun moft fcorching, that is, when its rays fall directly upon the roof. To thefe advantages I muft not forget to add, that by letting open the windows, the western breezes have a free draught, and by that means the inclofed air is prevented from tagnating. On the upper end of the terrace and portico ftands a detached building in the garden, which I call my favourite; and in truth I am extremely and of it, as I erected it myself. It contains a very warm winter room, one ide of which looks upon the terrace, the ether has a view of the fea, and both lie expofed to the fun. Through the foldg-doors you fee the oppofite chamber, and from the window is a profpect of the inclofed portico. On that fide next the fa, and oppofite to the middle wall, bands a little elegant retired closet, which, by means of glafs doors and a curtain, is eather laid into the adjoining room, or se Thefe inclofed porticos differed no other*way from our prefent galleries, than that they tad pillars in them; the ufe of this room was for walking." Cafiel's Villas, P: 441 parated from it. It contains a couch and two chairs: as you lie upon this couch, from the feet you have a profpect of the fea; if you look behind you fee the neighbouring villas: and from the head you have a view of the woods: thefe three views may be seen either diftinctly + from fo many different windows in the room, or blended together in one confufed profpect. Adjoining to this, is a bed-chamber, which neither the voice of the fervants, the murmur of the fea, nor even the roaring of a tempeft can reach, nor lightning nor the day itself can penetrate it, unless you open the windows. This profound tranquillity is occafioned by a paffage, which divides the wall of this chamber from that of the garden, and thus by means of that void intervening space every noife is drowned. Annexed to this is a fmall ftove-room, which by opening a little window warms the bed-chamber to the degree of heat required. Beyond this lies a chamber and ante-chamber, which enjoys the fun, though obliquely indeed, from the time it rifes till the afternoon. When I retire to this garden-apartment I fancy myself a hundred miles from my own houfe, and take particular pleasure in it at the feaft of the Saturnalia ‡, when, by the licence of that season of joy, every other part of my villa refounds with the mirth of my domeftics: thus I neither interrupt their diverfions, nor they my ftudies. Among the pleafures and conveniences of this fituation there is one disadvantage, and that is the want of a running ftream; but this defect is in a great measure fupplied by wells, or rather I fhould call them fprings, for they rife very near the furface. And indeed the quality of this coaft is pretty remarkable; for in what part foever you dig, you meet, upon the first turning up of the ground, with a fpring of pure water, not in the leaft falt, though fo near the fea. The neighbouring forefts afford an abundant fupply of "It must have been from the middle of the "room that he could fee all these profpects fepa"rate and distinct, which upon a nearer approach to any particular window must have appeared "intermingled." Caftel's Villas, p. 48. A feast held in honour of the god Saturn, which began on the 19th of December, and continued, as fome fay, for feven days. It was a time of general rejoicing; particularly among the flaves, who had at this feafon the privilege of treating their mafters with great freedom. fuel; as every other convenience of life may be had from Oftia: to a moderate man, indeed, even the next village (between which and my houfe there is or ly one villa) would furnish all the common neceffaries of life. In that little place there are no less than three public baths; which is a great convenience if it happens that my friends come in unexpectedly, or make too short a stay to allow time for preparing my own. The whole coaft is beautifully diverfified by the joining or detached villas that are fpread upon it, which, whether you view them from the fea or the fhore, have a much more agreeable effect than if it was crowded with towns. It is sometimes, after a long calm, good travelling upon the coaft, though in general, by the ftorms driving the waves upon it, it is rough and uneven. I cannot boast that our fea produces any very extraordinary fish; however, it fupplies us with exceeding fine foals and prawns: but as to provifions of other kinds, my villa pretends to excel even inland countries, particularly in milk, for thither the cattle come from the meadows in great numbers in purfuit of fhade and water. Tell me now, have I not just caufe to bestow my time and my affection upon this delightful retreat? Surely you are unreafonably attached to the pleasures of the town, if you have no inclination to take a view of it; as I much with you had, that to fo many charms with which my favourite villa abounds, it might have the very confiderable addition of your prefence to recommend it. Farewel. WHAT can be more agreeable to me than the office you have enjoined me, of chuting a proper tutor for your nephews? It gives me an opportunity of revifiting the fcene of my education, and of turning back again to the most pleafing part of my life. I take my feat, as formerly, among the young lads, and have the pleasure to experience the refpect my character in eloquence meets with from them. I lately came in upon them while they were warmly declaiming before a a very full audience of perfons of the first rank; the moment I appeared, they were filent. I mention this for their honour, rather than my own; and to let you fee the just hopes you may conceive of placing your nephews here to their advantage. I purpose to hear all the feveral profeffors; and when I have done so, I fhall write you fuch an account of them as will enable you (as far as a letter can) to judge of their respective abilities. The faithful execution of this important commiffion is what I owe to the friendfhip that fubfifts between us, and to the memory of your brother. Nothing certainly is more your concern, than that his children (I would have faid yours, but that I know you now look upon them even with more tenderness than your own) may be found worthy of such a father, and fuch an uncle; and I fhould have claimed a part in that care, though you had not required it of me. I am fenfible, in chufing a preceptor, I shall draw upon me the difpleasure of all the reft of that profeffion: but when the intereft of these young men is concerned, I efteem it my duty to hazard the dif pleasure, or even enmity of any man, with as much refolution as a parent would for his own children. Farewel. LETTER XXII. To Cercalis. YOU advife me to read my late speech before an affembly of my friends. I fhall do fo, fince it is agreeable to your opinion, though I have many fcruples about it. Compofitions of this kind lose, I well know, all their fire and force, and even almost their very name, by a plain recital. It is the folemnity of the tribunal, the concourfe of one's friends, the expectation of the fuccefs, the emulation between the feveral orators concerned, the different parties formed among it the audience in their favour; in a word, it is the air, the motion *, the attitude of the fpeaker, with all the correfponding geftures of his body, which confpire to give a fpirit and grace to what he delivers. Hence thofe who fit when they plead, * Some of the Roman orators were as much too vehement in their action, as thofe of our own country are too calm and fpiritlefs. In the vio. lence of their clocution they not only uied all the warmth of gefture, but actually walked backwards and forwards. though though they have moft of the other advantages I juft now mentioned, yet, from that fingle circumstance, weaken and deprefs the whole force of their eloquence. The eyes and hands of the reader, those important inftruments of graceful elocution, being engaged, it is no wonder the hearer grows languid, while he has none of thofe awakening charms to excite and engage his attention. To these general confiderations. I muft add this particular difadvantageous circumftance, which attends the fpeech in queftion, that it is chiefly of the argumentative kind; and it is natural for an author to fufpect, that what he wrote with labour will not be read with pleasure. For who is there fo unprejudiced as not to prefer the flowing and florid oration, to one in this close and anornamented style? It is very unreasonable there should be any difference; however, it is certain the judges generally expect one manner of pleading, and the audience another; whereas in truth an auditor ought to be affected only with thofe things which would strike him, were he in the place of the judge. Neverthelefs, it is poffible the objections which he against this piece may be got over, in confideration of the novelty it has to recommend it; the novelty I mean with refpect to us, for the Greek orators have a method, though upon a different occafon, not altogether unlike what I made ale of. They, when they would throw out a law, as contrary to fome former one unrepealed, argue by comparing thofe laws together; fo I, on the contrary, endeavoured to thew that the crime, which I was infifting upon as falling within the intent and meaning of the law relating to public extortions, was agreeable not only to that, but likewife to other laws of the fame nature. Those who are not converfant in the laws of their country, can have no tafte for reafonings of this kind; but those who are, ought to be fo much the more pleased with them. I fhall endeavour, therefore, if you perfift in my reciting it, to collect a judicious audience. But before you determine this point, I intreat you thoroughly to weigh the difficulties I have laid before you, and then decide as reafon fhall direct; for it is reason that must justify you: obedience to your commands will be a fufficient apology for me. Farewel. I LETTER XXIII. To Calvifus. NEVER spent my time more agreeably, I think, than I did lately with Spurinna. I am so much pleased with the uninterrupted regularity of his way of life, that if ever I fhould arrive at old age, there is no man whom I would fooner chufe for my model. I look upon order in human actions, especially at that advanced period, with the fame fort of pleasure as I behold the fettled course of the heavenly bodies. In youth, indeed, there is a certain irregularity and agitation by no means unbecoming; but in age, when business is unfeasonable, and ambition indecent, | all fhould be calm and uniform. This rule Spurinna religiously pursues throughout his whole conduct. Even in thofe tranfactions which one might call minute and inconfiderable, did they not occur every day, he obferves a certain periodical feafon and method. The first part of the morning he devotes to ftudy; at eight he dreffes and walks about three miles, in which he enjoys at once contemplation and exercise. At his return, if he has any friends with him in his houfe, he enters upon fome polite and ufeful topic of converfation; if he is alone, fomebody reads to him; and sometimes too when he is not, if it is agreeable to his company. When this is over he repofes himself, and then again either takes up a book, or falls into fome difcourfe even more entertaining and inftructive. He afterwards takes the air in his chariot, either with his wife (who is a lady of uncommon merit) or with fome friend: a happiness which lately was mine!-How agreeable, how noble is the enjoyment of him in that hour of privacy! You would fancy you were hearing fome worthy of ancient times, inflaming your breast with the most heroic examples, and inftructing your mind with the most exalted precepts; which yet he delivers with fo modest an air, that there is not the least appearance of dictating in his converfation. When he has thus taken a tour of about feven miles, he gets out of his chariot and walks a mile more, after which he returns home, and either reposes himself, or retires to his ftudy. He has an excellent tafte |