DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.61894#0308
278
CLASSICAL TOUR
Ch. VIII.
main of the town, though some handsome villas
shew that the beauty and coolness of the situation
deserve more attention and a better fate*. An-
tiwm, situated on the point of a little promontory,
* There is no inn at Nettuno, and we sat down to a cold
repast under the shade of a spreading ilex near the sea; in the
mean time we sent a servant to the town to procure lodgings for
the night, which was approaching. He returned very soon,
and having fortunately met Mr. Fagan, a gentleman to whom
most English travellers who were at Rome about the same
period have to acknowledge obligations, brought from him a
present of two flaggons of excellent Albano wine, and at the
same time an assurance that lodgings should be provided
for us without delay. After having enjoyed the coolness of
the evening on the beach we proceeded to the town, and
were conducted first to the shop, and then to the house of
an hospitable apothecary. The house was large, and appear-
ed in some parts totally uninhabited ; but there were two
rooms, one of which was very spacious, fitted up with to-
lerable convenience, considering the climate and the customs
of the country. Into these we were introduced. The sup-
per was served up late : it was abundant, and though cook-
ed in the Italian style, to which we were not partial, sup-
plied a very good meal to persons not absurdly fastidious.
The master and mistress of the house now made their ap-
pearance, and were prevailed upon with great difficulty to sit
down. Their behaviour was easy, unaffected, I might almost
say, graceful. They were very young, and both of expres-
sive and animated countenances; the woman was beautiful,
and united, as the younger part of the sex are supposed to do
in Antium and its vicinity, the dark eyes and air of the coun-
3
CLASSICAL TOUR
Ch. VIII.
main of the town, though some handsome villas
shew that the beauty and coolness of the situation
deserve more attention and a better fate*. An-
tiwm, situated on the point of a little promontory,
* There is no inn at Nettuno, and we sat down to a cold
repast under the shade of a spreading ilex near the sea; in the
mean time we sent a servant to the town to procure lodgings for
the night, which was approaching. He returned very soon,
and having fortunately met Mr. Fagan, a gentleman to whom
most English travellers who were at Rome about the same
period have to acknowledge obligations, brought from him a
present of two flaggons of excellent Albano wine, and at the
same time an assurance that lodgings should be provided
for us without delay. After having enjoyed the coolness of
the evening on the beach we proceeded to the town, and
were conducted first to the shop, and then to the house of
an hospitable apothecary. The house was large, and appear-
ed in some parts totally uninhabited ; but there were two
rooms, one of which was very spacious, fitted up with to-
lerable convenience, considering the climate and the customs
of the country. Into these we were introduced. The sup-
per was served up late : it was abundant, and though cook-
ed in the Italian style, to which we were not partial, sup-
plied a very good meal to persons not absurdly fastidious.
The master and mistress of the house now made their ap-
pearance, and were prevailed upon with great difficulty to sit
down. Their behaviour was easy, unaffected, I might almost
say, graceful. They were very young, and both of expres-
sive and animated countenances; the woman was beautiful,
and united, as the younger part of the sex are supposed to do
in Antium and its vicinity, the dark eyes and air of the coun-
3