Ocellus Lucanus: On the Nature of the Universe

Plin. hist. nat. in præfat. I have always believed it just to attribute the discoveries of others to their own authors with a noble frankness of mind, and for that reason I have always prefixed their names. For it is kind and full of noble modesty to acknowledge those through whom you have made progress. Nor should it be held against me as a fault that I have related the opinions and sayings of many moderns in this work, in which many monuments of the most ancient writers were being assembled. For I am one of those who admire the ancients, yet I do not, like some, despise the geniuses of our own times. Plin. li. 1. epiſt. 21.

These few things I wished to say to you by way of preface, my Reader. Now approach Ocellus if you please, in whom you should know that I have attempted to provide for every type of intellect to the best of my ability. For if you are skilled in Greek, use only the Greek text, enriched with various readings; but if you are ignorant of it, you will find a word-for-word translation placed everywhere facing it. But if this literal version, being unpleasant and shaped by too rigid rules, does not please you, you have a paraphrase explaining the author’s mind in a style that is indeed freer, but more pleasant and easier; and from there, if the hidden meanings and learned mysteries of the author occur to you, let no loss of time be incurred by you in reading the commentary. And if these things still lie hidden from you, use my labors, which I pray you may examine with all malice set aside; for these commentaries are not of such great value that they could excite Hierocl. in carm. pyth. v. 38. ἐπιφυόμενον τοῖς ὑπερβάλλ’σι φθόνον (the envy that grows upon superior things). If you are ignorant of better things, I hope these will be pleasant to you; but if the powers of a learned intellect (which will happen most easily) dictate superior things to you, I beseech you to bring them to light, so that from there greater glory may be conferred upon Ocellus, and greater utility upon the students of philosophy: and Livius in proœm. histor. while my reputation remains in obscurity, I may console myself with the nobility and greatness of those who shall overshadow my name.