Eustace, John Cretwode: A classical tour through Italy An. MDCCCII (Vol. 4): 3. ed., rev. and enl (London: J. Mawman, 1815)

Ch. II.

THROUGH ITALY.

41

ments and feelings on every occasion where
friendship, merit, virtue, and patriotism, are in-
terested. It is true, that the picture is drawn
by Pliny himself, and both it and the transcript
confessedly intended for the public; but the in-
timacy of such men as Tacitus, Suetonius, and
Quintilian, and the countenance of an Emperor
like Trajan, who knew so well how to appre-
ciate merit, are sufficient guarantees that the
author’s life and writings were not at variance.
One reflection however occurs not a little dero-
gatory to the real substantial virtue of Pliny,
and that is, that its motive was, or to speak more
tenderly, seems to have been vanity;* a mean
principle that makes virtue the handmaid of self-
love, and instead of the noble object of ambition,
degrades her into its tool and instrument. But.
Christianity alone can correct this depravity;
and we can only deplore the misfortune of Pliny,
who never opened his eyes to its heavenly light,
We may collect from Pliny that Comum was
in his time a rich and flourishing city, adorned
with temples, statues, porticos, and pillared gates,
and encircled with large and splendid villas;
that it was governed by decurions, inhabited by

* ix. 3S