also with the worship of the gods; so that, s have a desire for these things, we may again pu on good terms with pleasure. For the wine-c good and diligent master is always well stored casks, the pantry also, the whole farm-house supplied; it abounds in pigs, kids, lambs, he cheese, honey. Then, too, the countrymen th call the garden a second dessert. And then wha greater relish to these things is that kind of leisu fowling and hunting. Why should I speak of th ness of meadows, or the rows of trees, or the h appearance of vineyards and olive grounds? Le the matter short. Nothing can be either more ric or more elegant in appearance than ground we to the enjoyment of which old age is so far fro an obstacle, that it is even an invitation and allu For where can that age be better warmed either b ing in the sun or by the fire, or again be more hea refreshed by shades or waters? Let the young, th keep to themselves their arms, horses, spears, clu nis-ball, swimmings and races: to us old men le leave out of many amusements the tali and tesser even in that matter it may be as they please, sir age can be happy without these amusements.

XVII. For many purposes the books of Xenoph very useful; which read, I pray you, with diligen you are doing. At what length is agriculture prais him in that book, which treats of the managem private property, and which is styled "Economic

1 Tessero had six sides marked 1, 2, 3, etc., like our dice. The t four sides longwise, the ends not being regarded. The lowest throw the ace, was called canis; the highest (senio or sice), was called Ven dice-box, Fritillus.

2 Economicus. A dialogue of Xenophon, in which he treats of th

agement of a farm horses, etc.

And that you may understand that nothing to him appears so kingly as the pursuit of agriculture, Socrates in that book converses with Critobulus, [and remarks] that Cyrus the younger,1 king of the Persians, pre-eminent in talent and the glory of his empire, when Lysander2 the Lacedæmonian, a man of the highest valor, had come to him at Sardis, and had brought to him presents from the allies, both in other respects was courteous and kind toward Lysander, and in particular showed to him an inclosed piece of ground planted with great care. And that when Lysander admired both the tallness of the trees and the lines arranged in a quincunx, and the ground well cultivated and clear, and the sweetness of the perfumes which were breathed from the flowers, he said that he admired not only the diligence, but also the skilfulness of the man by whom these grounds had been planned and measured out; and that Cyrus answered him, "Well, it was I who planned all these grounds; mine are the rows, mine the laying out; many also of these trees were planted by my own hand.” That then Lysander, beholding his purple robe and the elegance of his person, and his Persian dress adorned with much gold and many jewels, said, "O Cyrus, they truly report you as happy, since excellence is combined with your fortune!" This lot then old men may enjoy; nor does age hinder us from retaining the pursuit both of other things, and especially of cultivating the land, even to the last period of old age. In the case of Marcus Valerius Corvus, we have heard that he continued to live to his hundredth year, while when his (active) life had been spent, he lived in the country and tilled the land: 1 Cyrus the younger. He attempted to dethrone his brother Artaxerxes, and was killed at the battle of Cynaxa, B.C. 401.

2 Lysander defeated the Athenian fleet at the battle of Ægos Potomos, B C. 405, and put an end to the Peloponnesian war.

between whose first and sixth consulship fo intervened. Thus, as long a period of life a tors considered to reach to the beginning of so long was the career of his honors: and the life was happier on this account than the mid it had more of authority and less of toil. No is the crown of old age. How great was Cæcilius Metellus! how great in Atilius Cal whom was that singular inscription-" Ma agree that he was the leading man of the peo a well-known epitaph, inscribed on his tomb. fore was justly dignified, about whose praises of all men was concurrent. How great a ma seen in Publius Crassus, late pontifex maxi great a man subsequently in Marcus Lepidu with the same sacerdotal office! Why should Paulus or Africanus? or, as I have already d Maximus? men not only in whose expressed but even in whose acquiescence authority res age, especially an honored old age, has so gre ity, that this is of more value than all the pl youth.

XVIII. But in my whole discourse remem am praising that old age which is established on ations of youth: from which this is effected wh asserted with the great approbation of all pres wretched was the old age which had to defend speaking. Neither gray hairs nor wrinkles can catch respect; but the former part of life honora reaps the fruits of authority at the close. For t observances, which seem light and common, are honor-to be saluted, to be sought after, to rece edence to have persons risino un to vou

to he

CHAP. XVIII

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on the way, to be escorted home, to be consulted; point which, both among us and in other states, in proportion as they are the most excellent in their morals, are the most scrupulously observed. They say that Lysander the Lacedæmovian, whom I mentioned a little above, was accustomed to remark, that Lacedæmon was the mos honorable abode for old age; for nowhere is so much conceded to that time of life, nowhere is old age mor respected. Nay, further, it is recorded that when a Athens, during the games, a certain elderly person had entered the theatre, a place was nowhere offered him in that large assembly by his own townsmen; but when h had approached the Lacedæmonians, who, as they wer embassadors, had taken their seats together in a particula place, they all rose up and invited the old man to a seat and when reiterated applause had been bestowed upor them by the whole assembly, one of them remarked tha the Athenians knew what was right, but were unwilling to do it. There are many excellent rules in our college,1 bu this of which I am treating especially, that in proportion as each man has the advantage in age, so he takes prece dence in giving his opinion; and older augurs are pre ferred not only to those who are higher in office, but ever to such as are in actual command. What pleasures, then of the body can be compared with the privileges of au thority? which they who have nobly employed seem to me to have consummated the drama of life, and not lik inexpert performers to have broken down in the last act Still old men are peevish, and fretful, and passionate, and unmanageable—nay, if we seek for such, also covetous but these are the faults of their characters, not of thei

1 In nostro collegio. The College of Augurs is here meant, which Cicer calls "amplissimi sacerdotii collegium."

old age. And yet that peevishness and the I have mentioned have some excuse, no tory indeed, but such as may be admitted that they are neglected, despised, made a j in a weak state of body every offense is which defects, however, are extenuated by tions and qualities; and this may be disco in real life, but on the stage, from the two are represented in the Brothers; how muc the one, and how much gentleness in the ot the fact for as it is not every wine, so it is no life, that grows sour from old age. I appro in old age, but this in a moderate degred thing else; harshness by no means. What old man can propose to itself I can not conce any thing be more absurd than, in proporti our journey remains, to seek a greater sup visions?

XIX. A fourth reason remains, which see all to distress and render anxious our time of li the near approach of death, which certainly far distant from old age. O wretched old man long a time of life hath not seen that death is be despised! Which either ought altogether garded with indifference, if it entirely annil mind, or ought even to be desired, if it leads it

1 Adelphi. A play of Terence: Demea and Micio are the two old men alluded to here.

2"Nothing is more despicable or more miserable, than the passionate man. When the vigor of youth fails him, and his pall with frequent repetition, his occasional rage sinks by decay into peevishness that peevishness, for want of novelty and comes habitual; the world falls off from around him, and he is lef expresses it, 'porúdov biλov Kηp,' to devour his own heart in