"This treatise on Natural History, a novel work in Roman literature, which I have just completed, I have taken the liberty to dedicate to you, most gracious[2] Emperor, an appellation 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[4], a military term, which you well understand. For he, as you know, when his napkins had been changed[5], expressed himself a little harshly, from
- ↑ Lemaire informs us, in his title-page, that the two first books of the Natural History are edited by M. Alexandre, in his edition.
- ↑ "Jucundissime;" it is not easy to find an epithet in our language which will correctly express the meaning of the original, affectionate and familiar, at the same time that it is sufficiently dignified and respectful.
- ↑ Lamb's trans.; Carm. i. 4. of the original.
- ↑ "Conterraneus;" we have no word in English which 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 observation in Cigalino's dissertation on the native country of Pliny; Valpy, 8.
- ↑ "Permutatis prioribus sætabis;" Carm. xii. 14; xxv. 7; see the notes in Lamb's trans. pp. 135 & 149.
