按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
nd of still…water； not much larger than a cold…bath。 I do believe in my conscience that half a dozen English frigates would have been able to defeat both the contending fleets at the famous battle of Actium； which has been so much celebrated in the annals of antiquity； as an event that decided the fate of empire。
It would employ me a whole month to describe the thermae or baths； the vast ruins of which are still to be seen within the walls of Rome； like the remains of so many separate citadels。 The thermae Dioclesianae might be termed an august academy for the use and instruction of the Roman people。 The pinacotheca of this building was a complete musaeum of all the curiosities of art and nature； and there were public schools for all the sciences。 If I may judge by my eye； however； the thermae Antonianae built by Caracalla； were still more extensive and magnificent； they contained cells sufficient for two thousand three hundred persons to bathe at one time； without being seen by one another。 They were adorned with all the charms of painting； architecture； and sculpture。 The pipes for convoying the water were of silver。 Many of the lavacra were of precious marble； illuminated by lamps of chrystal。 Among the statues； were found the famous Toro； and Hercole Farnese。
Bathing was certainly necessary to health and cleanliness in a hot country like Italy； especially before the use of linen was known： but these purposes would have been much better answered by plunging into the Tyber； than by using the warm bath in the thermae； which became altogether a point of luxury borrowed from the effeminate Asiatics； and tended to debilitate the fibres already too much relaxed by the heat of the climate。 True it is； they had baths of cool water for the summer： but in general they used it milk…warm； and often perfumed： they likewise indulged in vapour…baths； in order to enjoy a pleasing relaxation； which they likewise improved with odoriferous ointments。
The thermae consisted of a great variety of parts and conveniences； the natationes； or swimming places； the portici； where people amused themselves in walking； conversing； and disputing together； as Cicero says； In porticibus deambulantes disputabant； the basilicae； where the bathers assembled； before they entered； and after they came out of the bath； the atria； or ample courts； adorned with noble colonnades of Numidian marble and oriental granite； the ephibia； where the young men inured themselves to wrestling and other exercises； the frigidaria； or places kept cool by a constant draught of air； promoted by the disposition and number of the windows； the calidaria； where the water was warmed for the baths； the platanones； or delightful groves of sycamore； the stadia； for the performances of the athletae； the exedrae； or resting…places； provided with seats for those that were weary； the palestrae； where every one chose that exercise which pleased him best； the gymnasia； where poets； orators； and philosophers recited their works； and harangued for diversion； the eleotesia； where the fragrant oils and ointments were kept for the use of the bathers； and the conisteria； where the wrestlers were smeared with sand before they engaged。 Of the thermae in Rome； some were mercenary； and some opened gratis。 Marcus Agrippa； when he was edile； opened one hundred and seventy private baths； for the use of the people。 In the public baths； where money was taken； each person paid a quadrans； about the value of our halfpenny； as Juvenal observes；
Caedere Sylvano porcum； quadrante lavari。
The victim Pig to God Sylvanus slay； And for the public Bath a farthing pay。
But after the hour of bathing was past； it sometimes cost a great deal more； according to Martial；
Balnea post decimam； lasso centumque petuntur Quadrantes
The bathing hour is past； the waiter tir'd； An hundred Farthings now will be requir'd。
Though there was no distinction in the places between the first patrician and the lowest plebeian； yet the nobility used their own silver and gold plate； for washing； eating； and drinking in the bath； together with towels of the finest linen。 They likewise made use of the instrument called strigil； which was a kind of flesh…brush； a custom to which Persius alludes in this line；
I puer； et strigiles Crispini ad balnea defer。
Here； Boy； this Brush to Crispin's Bagnio bear。
The common people contented themselves with sponges。 The bathing time was from noon till the evening； when the Romans ate their principal meal。 Notice was given by a bell； or some such instrument； when the baths were opened； as we learn from Juvenal；
Redde Pilam； sonat Aes thermarum； ludere pergis？ Virgine vis sola lotus abdire domum。
Leave off； the Bath Bell ringswhat； still play on？ Perhaps the maid in private rubs you down。
There were separate places for the two sexes； and indeed there were baths opened for the use of women only； at the expence of Agrippina； the mother of Nero； and some other matrons of the first quality。 The use of bathing was become so habitual to the constitutions of the Romans； that Galen； in his book De Sanitate tuenda； mentions a certain philosopher； who； if he intermitted but one day in his bathing； was certainly attacked with a fever。 In order to preserve decorum in the baths； a set of laws and regulations were published； and the thermae were put under the inspection of a censor； who was generally one of the first senators in Rome。 Agrippa left his gardens and baths； which stood near the pantheon； to the Roman people： among the statues that adorned them was that of a youth naked； as going into the bath； so elegantly formed by the hand of Lysippus； that Tiberius； being struck with the beauty of it； ordered it to be transferred into his own palace： but the populace raised such a clamour against him； that he was fain to have it reconveyed to its former place。 These noble baths were restored by Adrian； as we read in Spartian； but at present no part of them remains。
With respect to the present state of the old aqueducts； I can give you very little satisfaction。 I only saw the ruins of that which conveyed the aqua Claudia； near the Porta Maggiore； and the Piazza of the Lateran。 You know there were fourteen of those antient aqueducts； some of which brought water to Rome from the distance of forty miles。 The channels of them were large enough to admit a man armed on horseback； and therefore when Rome was besieged by the Goths； who had cut off the water； Belisarius fortified them with works to prevent the enemy from entering the city by those conveyances。 After that period； I suppose the antient aqueducts continued dry； and were suffered to run to ruins。 Without all doubt； the Romans were greatly obliged to those benefactors； who raised such stupendous works for the benefit； as well as the embellishment of their city： but it might have been supplied with the same water through pipes at one hundredth part of the expence； and in that case the enemy would not have found it such an easy matter to cut it off。 Those popes who have provided the modern city so plentifully with excellent water； are