In which Doris channels her inner Pliny.
A long long time ago, when the earth was still young and the sky was a sparkling blue, a young Doris roamed freely around the land. But alas she was pursued by an evil Latin Teacher who forced her to read the Letters of PlinyTheYounger.
PlinyTheYounger had views on many things, and the Evil Latin Teacher was particularly keen that Doris should read his views on Lake Como, which in the event that the young Doris could master some particularly tricky subjunctives, would actually be fascinating.
“I am pleased to find by your letter that you are engaged in building; for I may now defend my own conduct by your example. I am myself employed in the same sort of work; and since I have you, who shall deny I have reason on my side? Our situations too are not dissimilar; your buildings are carried on upon the sea-coast, mine are rising upon the side of Lake Como. There are two particularly in which, as I take most delight, so they give me most employment. One of them stands upon a rock, and overlooks the lake; the other actually touches it. Each has its own peculiar charm, recommending it to its possessor so much more on account of this very difference. The former commands a wider, the latter enjoys a nearer view of the lake. One, by a gentle curve, embraces a little bay; the other, being built upon a greater height, forms two. Here you have a strait walk extending itself along the banks of the lake; there, a spacious terrace that falls by a gentle descent towards it. The former does not feel the force of the waves; the latter breaks them; from that you see the fishing-vessels; from this you may fish yourself, and throw your line out of your room, and almost from your bed, as from off a boat. It is the beauties therefore these agreeable villas possess that tempt me to add to them those which are wanting.—But I need not assign a reason to you; who, undoubtedly, will think it a sufficient one that I follow your example. Farewell.”
Time passes and Doris manages to visit Lake Como, which is no longer quite as Pliny may have experienced it, and in fact is somewhat of a disappointment. But by now Doris is older and wiser or maybe just more cynical, and able to survive disappointments, and life moves on.
So it was a fantastical shock when Doris found that Lake Como does actually exist, at an unmarked location somewhere near the Chesapeake bay. No, I am not going to tell you where it is. It’s MY SECRET and no TikTok instaselfies people with their phones on sticks will ever be allowed anywhere near it.
As Joe observes, there are hardly any traces of early occupants here (except for huge piles of oyster shells) because there is no need to do any work at all. Reach out a hand and find fish, fruit, oysters, and all things tasty and edible. The climate is charming and nature provides shelter from the sun, wind and weather.
One day Doris may try writing hendecasyllabic verses about it. In her spare time, of course. (cf Pliny letter 4.14)