even gives opinions on civil law." The fact is, that he was a very distinguished lawyer, some of whose legal wisdom is still preserved in the Pandects of Justinian. Possibly, in a fit of absence, while his mind was wandering to scenes more congenial and familiar, he was startled by hearing his name, and made the ludicrous reply which Pliny has preserved. Or if Passennus was one of the poets who had occupied with their readings nearly every day in April, one of the busiest months, it must be remembered, for lawyers,— and Javolenus had been dragged from court to attend them, his "I don't bid you" may have been the expression of a pent-up annoyance, which no feelings of friendship could restrain. However this may be, we can very well imagine that, as Pliny says, the interruption threw something of a damp on the proceedings; and we can appreciate the wisdom of his advice, that "those who mean to read in public should not only be sane themselves, but also bring sane friends to hear them." Pliny's own practice in this matter he himself describes in a letter which shows both good sense and good feeling.* He had been writing, it seems, some poems of a lighter kind. "I chose," he continues, "for producing these, the most seasonable time and place. To accustom them in good time to be heard by listeners that are taking their ease, and at the dinner-table, I collected my friends in the month of July, when the law courts have least to do, and put writing-desks before their chairs. It so happened that on the morning of the day I was called away to an unexpected case in court. Epist. viii. 21.

*

This gave me opportunity for some words of preface. I begged my friends not to think that it showed me wanting in respect to what I had in hand if, when meaning to read, though it was only to friends and to a small audience (another word for friends), I did not abstain from the business of the forum. I added, that even in writing I followed this order-put my friendship before my pleasures, my business before my amusements, and wrote firstly for my friends, secondly for myself. My book contained a variety of compositions and metres. 'Tis thus that I am accustomed, trusting but little to my talent, to avoid the risk of being wearisome. My reading lasted two days. The approval of my audience made this necessary; and yet, while some readers pass over part of their volume, and make a merit of passing it over, I pass over nothing, and tell my hearers as much. I read everything, because I want to correct everything,—a thing which those who read extracts only cannot do. The other plan, you may say, is more modest, and possibly more respectful. Well, but this is more honest and more affectionate. Genuine affection is so confident of affection in return, as not to be afraid of wearying a friend. Besides, what benefit do one's companions confer if they assemble only for the sake of pleasing themselves? It is very like indolence, when a man would sooner hear his friend read a book already good, than help to make it good. Doubtless, in your general affection for me, you will want to read as soon as possible this book, which is still fermenting.' You shall read it, but after it has passed through my hands again. This was my reason for reading it aloud."

CHAPTER VIII.

COMUM, PLINY'S BIRTHPLACE HIS LIVELY INTEREST

IN ITS WELFARE.

CoмUм, as has been said, was in all probability the birthplace of both the elder and the younger Pliny. There is much of direct and indirect evidence to connect them with the place. Tradition is distinctly in favour of it. The numerous allusions which are made to it in the letters, and the fact that our friend had several little villas on the margin of the Lake of Como, seem to point to the same conclusion.

Comum was in that northern part of Italy which was known to the Romans as Cisalpine Gaul. It was at the extremity of one of the two southern branches of the Lake of Como, about 28 miles to the north of Milan. It passed out of the hands of the Gauls into the possession of the Romans in B.C. 196, when a great victory, won by the famous Marcellus, the conqueror of Syracuse, over the united strength of the Gauls, carried the Roman territory as far as the foot of the Alps, and made Como and Milan Roman towns. Julius Cæsar added five thousand new colonists to the pop

ulation of the place, and from that time it became one of the most prosperous towns of the north of Italy. It had several natural advantages. Its beautiful and attractive situation at the foot of the Alps, and on the shores of a lovely lake, was greatly in its favour: it also lay very conveniently in the way of a much-frequented route across the Rhætian Alps. The elder Pliny speaks of its iron-foundries as being the most famous in Italy. Thus it happily combined the various elements which make up the prosperity of a provincial town.

Pliny often in his letters alludes to the picturesque Lake of Como, and seems to have taken peculiar delight in its scenery. He calls it once or twice

our Larius," the name by which Virgil mentions it. One may fairly infer that he would hardly have spoken of it in this manner, had not he and his family been long and closely connected with the neighbourhood. Many a rich Roman had his villa on its banks, which, as they rose in a somewhat steep ascent from the water, were clothed with olive-woods, vine

yards, and chestnut-groves. The lower slopes presented to the eye an abundance of rural wealth, and the quiet beauty which is always its accompaniment ; above, at no great distance, were all the wildness and grandeur of mountain scenery.

There are some pleasing touches in the following letter, written, as it would appear, to a fellow-townsman of Pliny, who is encouraged to use so delightful a retreat as Comum as a stimulus to literary work:

PLINY TO CANINIUS RUFUS.*

"How is our dear darling Comum looking? Tell me about that lovely villa, about the colonnade where it is always spring, about the shady plane-tree walk, about the green and flowery banks of that little stream, and of the charming lake below, which serves at once the purpose of use and beauty. What have you to tell me about the carriage-drive, as firm as it is soft, and the sunny bath-room, and your dining-rooms, both for a large and a select circle of friends, and your various chambers of rest and repose by day or night? Do these delightful attractions share you by turns, or are you, as usual, called away from them by the pressure of important business engagements connected with your property? If all these delights have you to themselves, you are indeed most fortunate; if not, you are like most other people. Why not leave (for it is high time) these wretched degrading cares to others, and give yourself up in the deep repose of such a snug retreat to reading and study? Make these your business and your recreation, your labour and your rest, the subjects of your waking and even of your sleeping thoughts. Work at something and produce something which will be yours for ever. All your other possessions will pass from one master to another; this alone, when once yours, will be yours for ever. I know the temper and the genius which I am seeking to stimulate. Only strive to think yourself what the * Epist. i. 3.