Natural History

...would have brought back a triumph: those who hunt for fame for themselves through the disparagement of the knowledge of others were prepared to do so. What is that to you in my volume? I know what has been written. If they were to bring these things into the open, there would be many who would read them with benefit. But those who are void of praise are the ones who seek them most. I pass over their speechmaking without concern. Nor did Plancus speak without wit when Asinius Pollio said that he was preparing speeches against him, which he would publish after Plancus’s death so that he could not respond. He said that only ghosts fight with the dead. By this remark, he repelled them so effectively that among the learned, nothing is judged more shameless. Therefore, be secure even against the detractors original: "ligatores", whom Cato elegantly compared to both vices and their binders original: "uitiis & ligatoribus". For what else do they do but bind, or seek out a quarrel? We shall perform the remainder of our proposal. Because, however, I had to spare your time for the public good, I have appended to this letter what each book contains. I have taken the greatest care so that you do not have to read them through. Through this, you are superior to others in not having to read them all. But as each person desires something, let them seek it, and know in what place to find it. Valerius Soranus a Roman poet and scholar did this before me in our literature, in the books which he wrote as epoptēidon a guide for the initiated. Farewell.

HEREIN ARE THE CONTENTS OF EACH BOOK.

Books
World
Thus far
Third.
Africa.
Asia.
World.
To the rest
Of animals.
Follows
Remaining.
Of animals
Thus far
External.
Olive.
Fruit-bearing
Nature.
Follows.
Stars.
Greatest.
In gardens.
Complete.
Finished.
Lest forest.
It itself.
Feels.
Grows.
It had been said
Nature
Magical.
Of aquatic creatures.
Wind.
Metals.
Next
Of metals
Of stones.
So that nothing.

First, the preface of the work. To the Emperor Vespasian.
Also the names of the authors: from whom those things which he pursues were gathered.
Touching upon the topics of individual things in thirty-six books.
Second, concerning the world, the elements, and the stars.
Third, the first and second gulfs of Europe.
Fourth, the third gulf of Europe.
Fifth, Africa is described.
Sixth, a description of Asia is contained.
Seventh, concerning man and things invented by man.
Eighth, the kinds of terrestrial animals.
Ninth, aquatic creatures.
Tenth, the kinds of birds.
Eleventh, insect animals.
Twelfth, plants that are sources of scent.
Thirteenth, plants of foreign trees.
Fourteenth, plants of the vine.
Fifteenth, plants of the vine.
Sixteenth, plants of forest trees.
Seventh, plants of cultivated trees.
Eighteenth, the nature of crops and cereals, and the pursuits of the farmer.
Nineteenth, flax, rope, and garden plants.
Twentieth, what is suitable for food and medicine from cultivated plants.
Twenty-first, flowers and garlands.
Twenty-second, crowns and medicines from herbs.
Twenty-third, medicines from wine and urban trees.
Twenty-fourth, medicines from forest trees.
Twenty-fifth, medicines from herbs growing spontaneously.
Twenty-sixth, new diseases and the medicines of certain herbs for diseases.
Twenty-seventh, other certain herbs and medicines.
Twenty-eighth, medicines from humans and large animals.
Twenty-ninth, concerning authors of medicine and medicines from the remaining animals.
Thirtieth, magic: and certain medicines for specific limbs.
Thirty-first, medicines from aquatic creatures.
Thirty-second, remaining items from aquatic creatures.
Thirty-third, metals of gold and silver.
Thirty-fourth, metals of copper and lead: and the bronze-worker.
Thirty-fifth, painting, colors, and painters.
Thirty-sixth, marbles and stones.
Thirty-seventh, gems.