Eustace, John Cretwode: A classical tour through Italy An. MDCCCII (Vol. 3): 3. ed., rev. and enl (London: J. Mawman, 1815)

12 CLASSICAL TOUR Ch. L
most pleasing scenes of this Emperor’s life, and
well calculated to close a career once so active,
with tranquillity, took place in the bay of
Puteoli*
The spirit of the republic seems to have ex-
pired with Augustus: under his successor Rome
was destined to taste the bitters of despotism,
and during the following reigns, to drain the
cup to the dregs. Then Baits became the re-
ceptacle of profligacy and effeminacy^, of lust
and cruelty, as far beyond the bounds of nature
as the power of the imperial monsters was above
human control. The beauties of nature were
tarnished by the foulness of vice, and the vir-
tuous man turned away from scenes which he
could not behold without disgust and horror.
Silius, Martial, Statius, courted the Muse in
vain on that shore which had inspired the strains
of Virgil. They attempted to celebrate the
beauties of Baits; but the subject was de-
graded ; and their lines forced and inharmoni-
ous, neither delight the ear nor win the under-

* Suetonius, Aug. 98.

t Diversorium vitiorum esse cseperunt. Seneca, Ep. lv.