c.plinii.ii.naturalis.historia.praefatio.i
libros naturalis historiae, novicium camenis quiritium tuorum opus, natos apud me proxima fetura licentiore epistula narrare constitui tibi, iucundissime imperator; sit enim haec tui praefatio, verissima, dum maximi consenescit in patre. namque tu solebas nugas esse aliquid meas putare, ut obiter emolliam catullum conterraneum meum (agnoscis et hoc castrense verbum): ille enim, ut scis, permutatis prioribus syllabis duriusculum se fecit quam volebat existimari a ueraniolis suis et fabullis.
| Reordered Text | Translation |
|---|---|
| constitui narrare tibi, iucundissime imperator, licentiore epistula libros historiae naturalis, novicium opus camenis tuorum quiritium, natos apud me proxima fetura | I’ve decided to dedicate to you, most gracious Emperor, in a more adequate manner (?), the books of natural history, a new work for the muses of your people, which I have just completed. |
| sit enim haec tui praefatio, verissima, dum maximi consenescit in patre. | this appellation is very true for you, while that of great is more appropriate to your father. |
| namque tu solebas nugas esse aliquid meas putare, ut obiter emolliam catullum conterraneum meum (agnoscis et hoc castrense verbum): | for you used to consider the little things what I wrote, as I will be kind to Catullus, my fellow-countryman (you also know this military term): |
| ille enim, ut scis, permutatis prioribus syllabis duriusculum se fecit quam volebat existimari a ueraniolis suis et fabullis. | because he, as you know, made himself a bit harsh by exchanging the preceding syllables, as he want to be held in esteem by his Veranius and Fabius. |
Source & link to vocabulary:
http://www.perseus.tufts.edu