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private business； in it too a means of spending my leisure with
unalloyed delight。 Never； to the best of my knowledge； did I
offend him even in the most trivial point； never did I hear a word
from him I could have wished unsaid。 We had one house； one
table； one style of living； and not only were we together on foreign
service； but in our tours also and country sojourns。 Why speak of
our eagerness to be ever gaining some knowledge； to be ever
learning something； on which we spent all our leisure hours far
from the gaze of the world？ If the recollection and memory of
these things had perished with the man； I could not possibly have
endured the regret for one so closely united with me in life and
affection。 But these things have not perished； they are rather fed
and strengthened by reflexion and memory。 Even supposing me to
have been entirely bereft of them； still my time of life of itself
brings me no small consolation： for I cannot have much longer
now to bear this regret； and everything that is brief ought to be
endurable； however severe。
This is all I had to say on friendship。 One piece of advice on
parting。 Make up your minds to this。 Virtue （without which
friendship is impossible） is first； but next to it； and to it alone； the
greatest of all things is Friendship。
On Old Age
by Marcus Tullius Cicero translated by E。 S。 Shuckburgh
1。 And should my service； Titus； ease the weight
Of care that wrings your heart； and draw the sting
Which rankles there； what guerdon shall there he？
FOR I may address you； Atticus； in the lines in which Flamininus
was addressed by the man；
who； poor in wealth； was rich in honour's gold；
though I am well assured that you are not； as Flamininus was；
kept on the rack of care by night and day。
For I know how well ordered and equable your mind is； and am
fully aware that it was not a surname alone which you brought
home with you from Athens； hut its culture and good sense。 And
yet I have an idea that you are at times stirred to the heart by the
same circumstances as myself。 To console you for these is a more
serious matter； and must be put off to another time。 For the present
I have resolved to dedicate to you an essay on Old Age。 For from
the burden of impending or at least advancing age； common to us
both； I would do something to relieve us both though as to yourself
I am fully aware that you support and will support it； as you do
everything else； with calmness and philosophy。 But directly I
resolved to write on old age； you at once occurred to me as
deserving a gift of which both of us might take advantage。 To
myself； indeed； the composition of this book has been so
delightful； that it has not only wiped away all the disagreeables of
old age； but has even made it luxurious and delightful too。 Never；
therefore； can philosophy be praised as highly as it deserves
considering that its faithful disciple is able to spend every period
of his life with unruffled feelings。 However； on other subjects I
have spoken at large； and shall often speak again：
this hook which I herewith send you is on Old Age。 I have put the
whole discourse not； as Alisto of Cos did； in the mouth of
Tithonus…for a mere fable would have lacked conviction…but in that
of Marcus Cato when he was an old man； to give my essay greater
weight。 I represent Laelius and Scipio at his house expressing
surprise at his carrying his years so lightly； and Cato answering
them。 If he shall seem to shew somewhat more learning in this
discourse than he generally did in his own books； put it down to
the Greek literature of which it is known that he became an eager
student in his old age。 But what need of more？ Cato's own words
will at once explain all I feel about old age。
M。 Cato。 Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus （the younger）。 Gaius
Laelius。
2。 _Scipio_。 Many a time have I in conversation with my friend
Gaius Laelius here expressed my admiration； Marcus Cato； of the
eminent； nay perfect； wisdom displayed by you indeed at all
points； but above everything because I have noticed that old age
never seemed a burden to you； while to most old men it is so
hateful that they declare themselves under a weight heavier than
Aetna。
_Cato_。 Your admiration is easily excited； it seems； my dear
Scipio and Laelius。 Men； of course； who have no resources in
themselves for securing a good and happy life find every age
burdensome。 But those who look for all happiness from within
can never think anything had which nature makes inevitable。 In
that category before anything else comes old age） to which all
wish to attain； and at which all grumble when attained。 Such is
Folly's inconsistency and unreasonableness！ They say that it is
stealing upon them faster than they expected。 In the first place；
who compelled them to hug an illusion？ For in what respect did
old age steal upon manhood faster than manhood upon childhood？
In the next place； in what way would old age have been less
disagreeable to them if they were in their eight…hundredth year
than in their eightieth？ For their past； however long； when once it
was past； would have no consolation for a stupid old age。
Wherefore； if it is your wont to admire my wisdom…and I would
that it were worthy of your good opinion and of my own surname
of Sapiens…it really consists in the fact that I follow Nature； the
best of guides； as I would a god； and am loyal to her commands。 It
is not likely； if she has written the rest of the play well； that she
has been careless about the last act like some idle poet。 But after
all some 〃last〃 was inevitable； just as to the berries of a tree and
the fruits of the earth there comes in the fulness of time a period of
decay and fall。 A wise man will not make a grievance of this。 To
rebel against nature…is not that to fight like the giants with the
gods？
_Laelius_。 And yet； Cato； you will do us a very great favour （I
venture to speak for Scipio as for myself） if…since we all hope； or
at least wish； to become old men…you would allow us to learn from
you in good time before it arrives； by what methods we may most
easily acquire the strength to support the burden of advancing age。
_Cato_。 I will do so without doubt； Laelius； especially if； as you
say； it will be agreeable to you both。
_Laelius_ We do wish very much； Cato； if it is no trouble to you；
to be allowed to see the nature of the bourne which you have
reached after completing a long journey； as it were； upon which we
too are bound to embark。
3。 _Cato_。 I will do the best I can； Laelius。 It has often been my
fortune to bear the complaints of my contemporaries…like will to
like； you know； according to the old proverb…complaints to which
men like C。 Salinator and Sp。 Albinus； who were of consular rank
and about my time； used to give vent。 They were； first； that they
had lost the pleasures of the senses； without which they did not
regard life as life at all； and； secondly； that they were neglected by
those from whom they had been used to receive attentions。 Such
men appear to me to lay the blame on the wrong thing。 For if it
had been the fault of old age； then these same misfortunes would
have befallen me and all other men of advanced years。 But I have
known many of them who never said a word of complaint against
old age； for they were only too glad to be freed from the bondage
of passion； and were not at all looked down upon by their friends。
The fact is that the blame for all complaints of that kind is to be
charged to character； not to a particular time of life。 For old men
who are reasonable and neither cross…grained nor churlish find old
age tolerable enough： whereas unreason and churlishness cause
uneasiness at every time of life。
_Laelius_ It is as you say； Cato。 But perhaps some one may
suggest that it is your large means； wealth； and high position that
make you think old age tolerable： whereas such good fortune only
falls to few。
_Cato_。 There is something in that； Laelius； but by no means all。
For instance； the story is told of the answer of Themistocles in a
wrangle with a certain Seriphian； who asserted that he owed his
brilliant position to the reputation of his country； not to his own。
〃If I had been a Seriphian；〃 said he； 〃even I should never have been
famous； nor would you if you had been an Athenian。 Something
like this may be said of old age。 For the philosopher himself could
not find old age easy to bear in the depths of poverty； nor the fool
feel it anything but a burden though he were a millionaire。 You
may he sure； my dear Scipio and Laelius； that the arms best
adapted to old age are culture and the active exercise of the
virtues。 For if they have been maintained at every period…if one
has lived much as well as long…the harvest they produce is
wonderful； not only because they never fail us even in our last days
（though that in itself is supremely important）； but also because the
consciousness of a well…spent life and the recollection of many
virtuous actions are exceedingly delightful。
4。 Take the case of Q。 Fabius Maximus； the man； I mean； who
recovered Tarentum。 When I was a young man and he an old one；
I was as muc