Page 10 - Pliny and Aulus Gellius Translation

C. PLINIUS CANINIO SUO S.

Pliny sends greetings to his friend Caninius

incidi in materiam veram sed simillimam fictae,

I have come across a story which is true, but very much like a ficticious one

dignamque isto laetissimo altissimo paneque poetico ingenio;

and worthy of hat very pleasing, very elevated and clearly poetic intellect of yours;

incidi autem, dum super cenam varia miracula hinc inde referunter

I came across it, moreover, while various marvellow events were being related over dinner on this side and that

magna auctori fides:

There is great reliability in the author:

tametsi quid poetae cum fide?

what have poets to do with reliability?

is tamen auctor

however, the author is such a person

cui bene vel historiam scipturus credidisses

whom you would have well believed even if you were going to write history