Natural History

FROM THE BOOKS OF THE TIMES OF EUSEBIUS OF CAESAREA.

Pliny the Younger of Novum Comum modern Como, Italy is considered a distinguished orator and historian. Many works of his genius exist. He died while visiting Vesuvius.

THE FIRST BOOK OF THE NATURAL HISTORY OF GAIUS PLINIUS SECUNDUS.

GAIUS PLINIUS SECUNDUS OF NOVUM COMUM TO HIS TITUS VESPASIANUS, GREETINGS.

PREFACE.

I have decided to present these books of natural history, a new work composed in a playful style, to you, most pleasant Emperor, in this recent publication of mine. Let this preface to you be very true, as it matures greatly in the father. For you were accustomed to think that my trifles were something: so that I might attempt to throw against you my countryman Catullus. This military term is also recognized: for he, as you know, by changing his times and syllables, made himself a bit harder than he wished to be considered by your household servants and attendants. At the same time, so that my impudence might be made known, which you recently complained in another of our letters was not happening, that I might go forth into certain acts. And let all know how equally you live with the Imperial, Triumphal, and Censorian law, and how you go forth as Consul and participant in the Tribunician power. And what you have done more noble than these, while you perform that equally for your father and the equestrian order as prefect of his praetorian guard, and all these things for the Republic. And for us, indeed, what were you like in the military mess? And the amplitude of fortune changed nothing in you, except that you could be of as much help as you wished. Therefore, while everything lies open to others in your veneration, only boldness remains for us to cultivate you more familiarly. You will therefore attribute this to yourself, and you will forgive me for my fault. I have brazened my face, yet I have not succeeded. Since you enter upon a huge path by another way. And you lengthen and remove the burdens of genius. The power of Tribunician eloquence flashes in no one ever more truly spoken. How you praise with the mouth of your father, you thunder! How you love with that of your brother! How you are in poetry! O great fruitfulness of spirit. How you also devised how you might imitate your brother. But who could assess these things fearlessly, about to undergo the judgment of your genius, provoked by a preface? For the condition of those publishing and those dedicating specifically to you is not the same. Then I could say: why do you read these things, Emperor? They were written for the lowly crowd: farmers, crowds of laborers, finally, the studious at their leisure. Why do you make yourself the judge? When I was composing this work, you were not in this register. I knew you to be greater than that I should think you would descend to this. Furthermore, there is a certain public and scholarly rejection. Marcus Tullius Cicero used it, placed outside every contest of genius. And why should we be surprised that he defends himself through an advocate? I do not want the most learned of all, Persius, to read this. I want Laelius Decimus. But if Lucillius, who first founded this, thought he had to talk about the nose of the style. If Cicero had to borrow a preface when he wrote about the Republic: how much more so should we, defended by some judge? But I have now removed these defenses for myself by the dedication. It matters a great deal whether someone forces a judge or chooses one. And it matters much between an invited guest and one who is offered. When, among that candidate and enemy of Cato, and rejoicing in refusals as if they were useless honors, candidates were depositing money during the burning elections: they showed that they did this for innocence, which was the highest thing in human affairs. Thence that noble sigh of M. Cicero: "O you happy M. Portius, from whom no one dares to ask an improper thing." When he was calling upon the tribunes, L. Scipio Asiaticus, among whom was Gracchus, testified to this: that he could be approved even by a hostile judge. Thus, everyone makes a judge of his own case whomever he chooses. Hence, a calling is named. I know that you, placed on the highest pinnacle of the human race and endowed with the highest eloquence and highest learning, are approached religiously by those who greet you. And therefore, a great care, beyond the others, arises: that the things which are said to you may be worthy. But even farmers and many peoples supplicate the gods with milk, and sacrifice only soft salt, for they do not have frankincense. Nor was it a fault for anyone to worship the gods in whatever way he could. This also has been added to my rashness: that I have dedicated these little books of lighter work to you. For they are not capable of genius, which was otherwise very mediocre in me. Nor do they admit of excesses, or speeches, or discourses, or wonderful happenings, or various outcomes, which are not otherwise pleasant to speak of and alluring to readers. For it is life that is narrated: a sterile material of things. And this in its crudest part, as of most things: or with rustic words, or foreign, indeed barbarian, to be placed with the preface of honor. Furthermore, it is a path not trodden by authors: nor one which expects the mind to wander. No one among us, indeed, who has attempted it. No one among the Greeks who has treated all those things alone, will you find. We seek the pleasures of a great part of studies. But those things which are said to be treated by others are pressed by the dark shadows of things of immense subtlety. Now all things must be touched upon which the Greeks call encyclopedias a circular education/comprehensive knowledge, and yet they are made unknown or uncertain to geniuses. Others, however, are so lost by many that they have been brought to disgust. A difficult matter, old