Pliny Natural History, Vol. I (Loeb Latin-English)

it was their highest claim. From this comes that famous sigh of M. Cicero: "O happy M. Porcius [Cato], from whom no one dares to ask for something underhand!" When L. Scipio Asiaticus appealed to the tribunes, among whom was Gracchus, he testified to this: that he could be proven innocent even to an unfriendly judge. To such an extent does everyone make a supreme judge of his own case in whomever he chooses—which is why this is called an appeal. You, indeed, placed on the highest pinnacle of humanity, endowed with supreme eloquence and supreme learning, are, I know, approached with religious awe even by those coming to pay their respects; therefore, care is taken that what is said to you is worthy of you. Yet, country folk and many nations offer to the gods only milk and salted meal when they do not have incense, and it was never considered a fault to worship the gods in whatever manner one was able.

My own presumption has included this as well: that I have dedicated to you these volumes of lighter work. For they are not capable of displaying wit, which in any case was quite moderate in me, nor do they admit of digressions, speeches, dialogues, or marvelous accidents or various events—matters pleasant to relate or appealing to readers. A barren subject is described: the nature of things, that is, life. And this is done in its most humble department, and using either rustic terms or foreign—indeed, barbarian—words that must be introduced with a preface of apology. Furthermore, the path is not a beaten track of authorship, nor one through which the mind is eager to travel; there is no one among us who has attempted the same.