PLINY THE ELDER. 99 



cient for our purpose to indicate the general nature 

 of the work, and to point out a few of the subjects 

 discussed. It affords a magazine of curious informa- 

 tion on most subjects connected with natural his- 

 tory and the arts ; but it is obvious that this in- 

 formation could not be useful to the student unless 

 he were furnished with a correct commentary. Pliny's 

 volumes have been translated into various modern 

 languages, and there is an English version by Dr 

 Philemon Holland, published at London in 1601. 

 This performance, although generally accurate, fails 

 in the nomenclature of the plants and animals ; so 

 that a good translation is a desideratum at the 

 present day, which, however, is not likely to be soon 

 supplied, — an extensive acquaintance with Greek 

 and Roman literature, and a critical knowledge of 

 the various branches of natural history, being essen- 

 tially requisite in him who should undertake it. 



Although Pliny cannot be depended upon as a 

 naturalist, his writings are important as a source of 

 pure Latinity. His style is generally simple, some- 

 times harsh, usually laconic, although when he en- 

 ters upon philosophical reflections it becomes ani- 

 mated, energetic, and copious. His morality is more 

 pure than we could have expected, considering his 

 doubts respecting the existence of a Deity, his dis- 

 belief in the immortality of the human soul, and the 

 absence of those motives by which mankind are 

 commonly influenced. He never ceases to censure 

 vice of every kind ; and as to the examples of cruelty, 

 luxury, and effeminacy, which he has occasion to re- 

 late, his remarks are not less accordant with reason 

 than with the soundest principles of Christian ethics. 



The first editions of Pliny appeared at Venice in 



