NATUEAL HISTORY OP PLINY, 



BOOK 1} 



DEDICATION. 



C, PLIIS^IUS SECUNDUS TO HIS TEIEND TITTJS YESPASIAN". 



This treatise on Natural History, a novel work in Homan 

 literature, which I have just completed, I have taken the 

 liberty to dedicate to you, most gracious^ Emperor, an appel- 

 lation peculiarly suitable to you, while, on account of his 

 age, that of great is more appropriate to your Father ; — 



" For still thou ne'er wouldst quite despise 

 The trifles that I write 3 ; " 



if I may be allowed to shelter myself under the example of 

 Catullus, my fellow-countryman'*, a military term, which you 

 well understand. For he, as you know, when his napkins 

 Lad been changed \ expressed himself a little harshly, from 



^ Lemaire informs us, in his title-page, that the two first books of the 

 Natui'al EQstory are edited by M. Alexandi-e, in his edition. 



2 " Jucundissinae ;" it is not easy to find an epithet in our language 

 •wliich will correctly express the meaning of the original, affectionate and 

 lamihar, at the same time that it is sufiiciently dignified and respectful. 



8 Lamb's trans. ; Cann. i. 4. of the origmal. 



* " ConteiTaneus ; " we have no word in Enghsh wliich expresses the 

 idea intended by the original, and which is, at the same time, a military 

 term. There is indeed some reason to doubt, whether the word now 

 inserted in the text was the one employed by the author : see the remarks 

 of M. Alexandre, in Lem. i. 3 ; also an obseiwation in Cigalino's disser- 

 tation on the native country of Pliny ; Valpy, 8. 



^ " Permutatis prioribus ssetabis;" Carm. xii. 14; xxv. 7; see the 

 notes in Lamb's trans, pp. 135 & 149. 



VOL. I. n B 



