Pliny's Panegyrick upon the Emperor Trajan

‘WAS welland wiſely ordain’d, 8 moſt Reverend Fathers, by our Anceſtors, that not only all great Actions, but Orations ſhould commence with Invocation; Becauſe Men can never prudently nor proſperouſs ly undertake any thing but by the Advice, Aſſiſtance, and Adoration of the Immortal Goas - a Cuſtom by none fitter to be obſerv’d than by a Conſul, when by Decree of the Senate, and Authority of the Commonwealth, he is appointed to return ublick Thanks to the beſt of Princes. What greater or more valuable Bleſſing could Heaven have ſhower*d down upon us, than a chaſt and pious Emperor, moſt reſembling the Gods themſelves? More» over, were it not determined age” the Governors of the World were appointed by meer Chance, or by the eſpecial Providence of the Gods,it would yet be manifeſt that our Prince reignd by the Divine Appointment. Nor was he choſen by any private or ſudden Accident, but by the Gods apparently amidſt their Temples and their Altars within the ſelf-ſame Place [the Capitol] where the Divine Power reſides as manifeſtly as amongſt the Stars. Wherefore, as both Duty and Piety require, I implore thee, O Great and Mighty Jupiter, by whom the Roman Empire was at the beginning founded, and hath been hitherto maintaind, that thou would’ſt vouchſafe me an Oration worthy of a Conſul, of the Senate, and of the Imperial Majeſty; that Truth and Freedom may appear in all Ifay, and that I may be as far from Flattery as the Occaſion is it ſelf remote.