paved with marble, and all round it are two raised Sofas of marble, one above another. There were four fountains of cold water in this room, falling first into marble basons, and then running on the floor in little channels made for that purpose, which carried the ftreams into the next room, fomething less than this, with the fame fort of marble fofas, but fo hot with steams of fulphur, proceeding from the baths joining to it, 'twas impoffible to ftay there with one's clothes on. The two other domes were the hot baths, one of which had cocks of cold water turning into it, to temper it to what degree of warmth the bathers pleased to have. I was in my travelling habit, which is a riding dress, and certainly appeared very extraordinary to them. Yet there was not one of them that fhewed the leaft furprize or impertinent curiofity, but received me with all the obliging civility poffible. I know no European court, where the ladies would have behaved themselves in so polite a manner to fuch a stranger. I be lieve, upon the whole, there were two hundred women, women, and yet none of those disdainful smiles, and fatirical whispers, that never fail in our affemblies, when any body appears that is not dreffed exactly in the fashion. They repeated over and over to me: "UZELLE, PEK U ZELLE," which is nothing but "charming, very charming."--The firft fofas were covered with cushions and rich carpets, on which fat the ladies; and on the second, their flaves behind them, but without any diftinction of rank by their drefs, all being in the state of nature, that is, in plain English, stark naked, without any beauty or defect concealed. Yet there was not the leaft wanton fmile or immodeft gefture among them. They walked and moved with the fame majestic grace, which Milton defcribes our General Mother with. There were many amongst them, as exactly proportioned as ever any goddess was drawn by the pencil of a Guido or Titian,-and moft of their skins fhiningly white, only adorned by their beautiful hair, divided into many treffes, hanging on their shoulders, braided either with pearl pearl or ribbon, perfectly representing the figures of the graces. I was here convinced of the truth of a reflection I have often made, that if it were the fafhion to go naked, the face would be hardly obferved. I perceived that the ladies of the moft delicate skins and finest shapes, had the greatest share of my admiration, though their faces were fometimes lefs beautiful than those of their companions. To tell you the truth, I had wickedness enough to wish secretly, that Mr. Gervais could have been there invifible. I fancy it would have very much improved his art, to see so many fine women naked in different poftures, fome in converfation, fome working, others drinking coffee or fherbert, and many negligently lying on their cushions, while their flaves (generally pretty girls of feventeen or eighteen) were employed in braiding their hair in feveral pretty fancies. In fhort, 'tis the woman's coffee-house, where all the news of the town is told, fcandal invented, &c. They They generally take this diverfion once a week, and stay there at least four or five hours, without getting cold by immediate coming out of the hot-bath into the cold room, which was very surprising to me. The lady that seemed the most confiderable among them, entreated me to fit by her, and would fain have undreffed me for the bath. I excufed myself with some difficulty. They being, however, all so earnest in perfuading me, I was at last forced to open my shirt, and fhew them my stays, which satisfied them very well; for, I faw, they believed I was locked up in that machine, and that it was not in my own power to open it, which contrivance they attributed to my hufband. I was charmed with their civility and beauty, and should have been very glad to pass more time with them; but Mr. W refolving to pursue his journey next morning early, I was in hafte to fee the ruins of Juftinian's church, which did not afford me fo agreeable a prospect as I had left, being little more than a heap of ftones. |
