4 pliny's NATUEAL HISTOET. [Book I. 



"When the candidates for office, during the heat of the 

 canvass, deposited the fine^ in the hands of Cato, that de- 

 termined opposer of bribery, rejoicing as he did in his being 

 rejected from what he considered to be foolish honours, they 

 professed to do this out of respect to his integrity; the 

 greatest glory which a man could attain. It was on this 

 occasion that Cicero uttered the noble ejaculation, " How 

 happy are you, Marcus Porcius, of whom no one dares to 

 ask what is dishonourable^!" When L. Scipio Asiaticus 

 appealed to the tribunes, among whom was Grracchus, he 

 expressed full confidence that he should obtain an acquittal, 

 even from a judge who was his enemy. Hence it follows, 

 that he who appoints his own judge must absolutely submit 

 to the decision ; this choice is therefore termed an appeaP. 



I am well aware, that, placed as you are in the highest 

 station, and gifted with the most splendid eloquence and 

 the most accomplished mind, even those who come to pay 

 their respects to you, do it with a kind of veneration : on 

 this account I ought to be careful that what is dedicated to 

 you should be worthy of you. But the country people, and, 

 indeed, some whole nations offer milk to the Gods^, and those 

 who cannot procure frankincense substitute in its place salted 

 cakes ; for the Gods are not dissatisfied when they are wor- 

 shiped by every one to the best of his ability. But my 

 temerity will appear the greater by the consideration, that 

 these volumes, which I dedicate to you, are of such inferior 

 importance. For they do not admit of the display of genius, 

 nor, indeed, is mine one of the highest order ; they admit of 

 no excursions, nor orations, nor discussions, nor of any won- 

 derful adventures, nor any variety of transactions, nor, from 

 the barrenness of the matter^ of anything particularly plea- 

 sant in the narration, or agreeable to the reader. The na- 



1 "Pecunias deponerent." Ajasson, i, 11, remarks on these words, 

 "Quivideri volebant ambitu alienissimi, pecuniam apud sanctum aliquem 

 virmn deponebant, qua scilicet multarentur, si unquam hujus criminis 

 manifest! fierent." 



2 This expression is not found in any of the works of Cicero which are 

 now extant, nor, indeed, is it certain that it was anything more than a 

 remark made in conversation. ^ « Provocatio," caUing forth. 



•» Horace, Epist. ii. 1. 143 ; Ovid, Fast. iv. 746 and v. 121, and Ti- 

 bullus, i. 1. 26 and ii. 5. 37, refer to the offerings of milk made by the 

 country people to their rural deities. 



