“An inclination toward the earth.” The author here assumes that γένεσις, procreation, beginning, is both in fact and etymologically, connected with νεῦσις ἐπὶ γῆν, an inclination or tendency toward the earth. It need hardly be said that his idea is pure fancy. This eruption of Vesuvius, as is well known, took place in the year 79. Decaearchea or Puteoli was one of the cities destroyed together with Herculaneum, Pompei and others. Vespasian was one of the few Roman emperors, who, up to his time, died a natural death. What is meant by a Pindaric viper is not known. Plutarch is evidently of the opinion that its young gnaw their way out of the mother’s womb instead of being born in the natural way, and the allusion to Nero’s treatment of his mother is plain. Nero’s love for music and his proficiency in the musical art are evidently held up to ridicule in this passage. APPENDIX. A list of Plutarch’s works in the order of Bernardakis’ edition. Lipsiae, 1888-96. VOLUME I. _De liberis educandis_, (On the education of children). _Quomodo adolescens poetas audire debeat_, (How a young man ought to hear poems). _De recta ratione audiendi_, (How one ought to hear lectures). _Quomodo adulator ab amico internoscatur_, (How one may distinguish a flatterer from a friend). _Quomodo quis suos in virtute sentiat profectus_, (How one may know whether he is making progress in virtue). _De capienda ex inimicis utilitate_, (How one may profit by his enemies). _De amicorum multitudine_, (On the abundance of friends). _De fortuna_, (On good and ill fortune). _De virtute et vitio_, (On virtue and vice). _Consolatio ad Apollonium_, (Consolation for Apollonius). _De tuenda sanitate præcepta_, (Precepts on the preservation of health). _Conjugalia præcepta_, (Precepts on matrimony). _Septem sapientum convivium_, (The banquet of the seven sages). _De superstitione_, (On superstition). VOLUME II. _Regum et imperatorum apophthegmata_, (Memorable sayings of kings and commanders). _Apophthegmata Laconica_, (Memorable sayings of Spartans). _Instituta Laconica_, (The ancient customs of the Lacedaemonians). _Lacænarum apophthegmata_, (Memorable sayings of Spartan women). _Mulierum virtutes_, (Heroic deeds of women). _Ætia Romana_, (A list of topics, Roman). _Ætia Græca_, (A list of topics, Greek). _Parallela Græca et Romana_, (A collection of Greek and Roman historical parallels). _De fortuna Romanorum_, (On the good fortune of the Romans). _De Alexandri magni fortuna aut virtute, oratio I et II_, (On the good fortune or valor of Alexander the Great, discourses I and II). _Bellone an pace clariores fuerint Athenienses_, (Were the Athenians more distinguished in war or in wisdom)?