第9部分(第2/5 頁)

城，附近的維蘇威火山爆發，淹沒了整座城市。屋木橫樑儲存完好，能清晰地看見木紋，但它已完全炭化，輕輕一碰就化為灰燼。今天，我們去了那座火山腳下，看到火山熔岩流的物質，大概是四年前衝下山的；現在山口只冒一點兒煙。我們只能在這裡逗留幾天，說實在的，目睹這樣勝地美景的時間真是太短了。

1740年6月17日於那不勒斯

Thomas　Gray

To

Naples；

June　17；　1740。

Our　journey　hither　was　through　the　most　beautiful　part　of　the　finest　country　in　the　world；　and　every　spot　of　it　on　some　account　or　other；　famous　for　these　three　thousand　years　past。　The　season　has　hitherto　been　just　as　warm　as　one　would　wish　it；　no　unwholesome　airs；　or　violent　heats；　yet　heard　of：　The　people　call　it　a　backward　year；　and　are　in　pain　about　their　corn；　wine；　and　oil；　but　we；　who　are　neither　corn；　wine；　nor　oil；　find　it　very　agreeable。　Our　road　was　through　Velletri；　Cisterna；　Terracina；　Capua；　and　Aversa；　and　so　to　Naples。 The　minute　one　leaves　his　Holiness's　dominions；　the　face　of　things　begins　to　change　from　wide　uncultivated　plains　to　olive　groves　and　well�tilled　fields　of　corn；　intermixed　with　ranks　of　elms；　every　one　of　which　has　its　vine　twining　about　it；　and　hanging　in　festoons　between　the　rows　from　one　tree　to　another。　The　great　old　fig�trees；　the　oranges　in　full　bloom；　and　myrtles　in　every　hedge；　make　one　of　the　delightfullest　scenes　you　can　conceive；　besides　that；　the　roads　are　wide；　well�kept；　and　full　of　passengers；　a　sight　I　have　not　beheld　this　long　time。　My　wonder　still　increased　upon　entering　the　city，　which　I　think　for　number　of　people；　outdoes　both　Paris　and　London。　The　streets　are　one　continued　market；　and　thronged　with　populace　so　much　that　a　coach　can　hardly　pass。　The　mon　sort　are　a　jolly　lively　kind　of　animals；　more　industrious　than　Italians　usually　are；　they　work　till　evening；　then　take　their　lute　or　guitar　（for　they　all　play）and　walk　about　the　city；　or　upon　the　sea�shore　with　it；　to　enjoy　the　fresco。　O