We then ascended the slope
of ground leading towards cape Misensus, to visit the Cento Camarelle and
Piscina mirabile, both vast edifices under ground, serving as cellars or
appendages to a Palace that stood on this spot.
We then visited the lake
called the Mare Morto or Styx; and then went round to the other side of
it, to visit those beautiful coteaux planted in vines and their summits
crowned with groves which have obtained the name of the Elysian fields.
This Styx and these Elysian fields look like any other lake and coteaux
and are entirely indebted to the lyre of Maro for their celebrity.
From thence we went to the extremity of cape Misenus and embarked in our
boat (which we had sent on there to wait for us) to return to Puzzuoli by
crossing the bay at once. In this bay and near cape Misenus a Roman fleet
was usually stationed and Pliny's uncle, I believe, commanded one there at
the time of the first eruption of Vesuvius which cost him his life.
There is a singular phenomenon in this bay of a mountain that in one of the
later eruptions and earthquakes was formed in twenty-four hours near the
seashore and was named Monte Nuovo.
The small salt water lake called Lacus Lucrinus is also on this bay. It
appears to me to be an artificial lake, made probably by the opulent Romans
who resided at Baiae to hold their mullets and other sea fish which they
wished to fatten.
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