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)

pliny’s villa.

77

fancy myself a hundred miles from my own house;
I particularly enjoy it, too, at the feast of the Sa-
turnalia,* when, by the established licence of that
season of joy, every other part of my villa re-
sounds with the mirth and festivity of my domes-
tics ; for there I neither interrupt their diversions,
nor they my studies.
Among the pleasures and conveniences of this
situation, there is one disadvantage—that is, the
want of a running stream: but this defect is in a
great measure supplied by wells, or I should rather
call them springs, for they rise very near the sur-
face. Indeed the quality of this coast is some-
what remarkable; for in whatever part you dig,
on first turning up the ground, you are sure to
meet a spring of pure water, free from any
thing of a saline nature, though so near the sea.
The neighbouring forests afford an abundant sup-
ply of fuel; and every thing requisite, either for
use or luxury, may be had from Ostia: though,
indeed, the next village, which is but a very short
distance from us, would furnish an ample supply
4
• A feast held in honour of Saturn, which commenced on the
19th of December, and lasted about a week. It was a time of
general rejoicing; particularly among the slaves, who had at this
season the privilege of treating their masters with great freedom.
H 3