Atkins, Sarah: Relics of antiquity, exhibited in the ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum: with an account of the destruction and recovery of those celebrated cities (London: St. Harris, St. Paul's Church-Yard, 1825)

66

BALBI VILLA.

busts and bronze statues, alternately arranged.
Another covered walk, of considerable length,
led to a circular balcony, or platform, the ascent
to which was by four steps, and which overhung
the sea, about fifteen feet. The floor of the bal-
cony consisted of the very beautiful tesselated
pavement, formed of marble of the most brilliant
colours, which now serves as the floor of one of
the upper rooms of the Portici museum. From
this charming spot, the prospect over the whole
bay of Naples, including the distant Monte Cir-
cello, and the fine range of Apenines covered
with eternal snow, the fertile island of Caprasa,
and the wooded promontory of Posilipo, must
have been delightful.
Whilst speaking of this villa, I am reminded
of that of Pliny the Younger, which he describes
in an entertaining and animated manner in a letter
to his friend Gallus; and as it does not appear
irrevelant to the present subject, and may serve
as an apt illustration of the usual style of the
villas of the ancients, I shall transcribe it in the
following chapter.