Renormalization connection between the eight-vertex model and the gaussian model

A generalized version of the Villain model is defined which contains the eight-vertex model as a special case. A renormalization pattern is formulated in terms of this Villain model by which critical line(s) in the eight-vertex model are connected with the Gaussian fixed line. Gaussian equivalents are found for various operators along the Baxter line. The relation between the present results and those recently obtained by Kadanoff and Brown is discussed.