4 
PLiN y's natural history. 
[Book I 
"When the candidates for office, diiring the lieat 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 Gracchus, 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 appeal'^ 
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, 
"Qui videri volebant ambitu alienissimi, pecimiam apud sanctum aliquem 
virum 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. 
4 Horace, Epist. u. 1. 143 ; Ovid, Fast. iv. 746 and v. 121, and Ti- 
buUus, i. 1. 26 and ii. 5. 37, refer to the offermgs of milk made by the 
country people to their rural deities. 
