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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 much attached to him as if he had been my contemporary。
For that great man 5 serious dignity was tempered by courteous
manners； nor had old age made any change in his character。 True；
he was not exactly an old man when my devotion to him began； yet
he was nevertheless well on in life； for his first consulship fell in
the year after my birth。 When quite a stripling I went with him in
his fourth consulship as a soldier in the ranks； on the expedition
against Capua； and in the fifth year after that against Tarentum。
Four years after that I was elected Quaestor； holding office in the
consulship of Tuditanus and Cethegus； in which year； indeed； he as
a very old man spoke in favour of the Cincian law 〃on gifts and
fees。〃
Now this man conducted wars with all the spirit of youth when he
was far advanced in life； and by his persistence gradually wearied
out Hannibal； when rioting in all the confidence of youth。 How
brilliant are those lines of my friend Ennius on him！
For us； down beaten by the storms of fate；
One man by wise delays restored the State。
Praise or dispraise moved not his constant mood；
True to his purpose； to his country's good！
Down ever…lengthening avenues of fame
Thus shines and shall shine still his glorious name。
Again what vigilance； what profound skill did he show in the
capture of Tarentum！ It was indeed in my hearing that he made
the famous retort to Salinator； who had retreated into the citadel
after losing the town： 〃It was owing to me； Quintus Fabius； that
you retook Tarentum。〃 Quite so；〃 he replied with a laugh； 〃for had
you not lost it； I should never have recovered it。〃 Nor was he less
eminent in civil life than in war。 In his second consulship； though
his colleague would not move in the matter； he resisted as long as
he could the proposal of the tribune C。 Flaminius to divide the
territory of the Picenians and Gauls in free allotments in defiance
of a resolution of the Senate。 Again； though he was an augur； he
ventured to say that whatever was done in the interests of the State
was done with the best possible auspices； that any laws proposed
against its interest were proposed against the auspices。 I was
cognisant of much that was admirable in that great man； but
nothing struck me with greater astonishment than the way in which
he bore the death of his son…a man of brilliant character and who
had been consul。 His funeral speech over him is in wide
circulation； and when we read it； is there any philosopher of whom
we do not think meanly？ Nor in truth was he only great in the light
of day and in the sight of his fellow…citizens； he was still more
eminent in private and at home。 What a wealth of conversation！
What weighty maxims！ What a wide acquaintance with ancient
history！ What an accurate knowledge of the science of augury！ For
a Roman； too； he had a great tincture of letters。 He had a tenacious
memory for military history of every sort； whether of Roman or
foreign wars。 And I used at that time to enjoy his conversation with
a passionate eagerness； as though I already divined； what actually
turned out to be the case； that when he died there would be no one
to teach me anything。
5。 What then is the purpose of such a long disquisition on
Maximus？ It is because you now see that an old age like his cannot
conscientiously be called unhappy。 Yet it is after all true that
everybody cannot be a Scipio or a Maximus； with stormings of
cities； with battles by land and sea； with wars in which they
themselves commanded； and with triumphs to recall。 Besides this
there is a quiet； pure； and cultivated life which produces a calm
and gentle old age； such as we have been told Plato's was； who
died at his writing…desk in his eighty…first year； or like that of
Isocrates； who says that he wrote the book called The Panegyric in
his ninety…fourth year； and who lived for five years afterwards；
while his master Gorgias of Leontini completed a hundred and
seven years without ever relaxing his diligence or giving up work。
When some one asked him why he consented to remain so long
alive…〃 I have no fault；〃 said he； 〃to find with old age。〃 That was a
noble answer； and worthy of a scholar。 For fools impute their own
frailties and guilt to old age； contrary to the practice of Enniu9；
whom I mentioned just now。 In the lines…
Like some brave steed that oft before
The Olympic wreath of victory bore；
Now by the weight of years oppressed；
Forgets the race； and takes his rest…
he compares his own old age to that of a high…spirited and
successfal race…horse。 And him indeed you may very well
remember。 For the present consuls Titus Flamininus and Manius
Acilius were elected in the nineteenth year after his death； and his
death occurred in the consulship of Caepio and Philippus； the
latter consul for the second time： in which year I； then sixty…six
years old； spoke in favour of the Voconian law in a voice that was
still strong and with lungs still sound； while be； though seventy
years old； supported two burdens considered the heaviest of
all…poverty and old age…in such a way as to be all but fond of them。
The fact is that when I come to think it over； I find that there are
four reasons for old age being thought unhappy：
First； that it withdraws us from active employments； second； that it
enfeebles the body； third； that it deprives us of nearly all physical
pleasures； fourth； that it is the next step to death。 Of each of these
reasons； if you will allow me； let us examine the force and justice
separately。
6。 OLD AGE WITHDRAWS US FROM ACTIVE
EMPLOYMENTS。 From which of them？ Do you mean from thosc
carried on by youth and bodily strength？ Are there then no old
men's employments to be after all conducted by the intellect； even
when bodies are weak？ So then Q。 Maximus did nothing； nor L。
Aemilius…our father； Scipio； and my excellent son's father…in…law！
So with other old men…the Fabricii； the Guru and Coruncanii…when
they were supporting the State by their advice and influence； they
were doing nothing！ To old age Appius Claudius had the
additional disadvantage of being blind； yet it was he who； when
the Senate was inclining towards a peace with Pyrrhus and was for
making a treaty； did not hesitate to say what Ennius has embalmed
in the verses：
Whither have swerved the souls so firm of yore？
Is sense grown senseless？ Can feet stand no more？
And so on in a tone of the most passionate vehemence。 You know
the poem； and the speech of Appius himself is extant。 Now； he
delivered it seventeen years after his second consulship； there
having been an interval of ten years between the two consulships；
and he having been censor before his previous consulship。 This
will show you that at the time of the war with Pyrrhus he was a
very old man。 Yet this is the story handed down to us。
There is therefore nothing in the arguments of those who say that
old age takes no part in public business。 They are like men who
would say that a steersman docs nothing in sailing a ship； because；
while some of the crew are climbing the masts； others hurrying up
and down the gangways； others pumping out the bilge water； he
sits quietly in the stern holding the tiller。 He does not do what
young men do； nevertheless he does what is much more important
and better。 The great affairs of life are not performed by physical
strength； or activity； or nimbleness of body； but by deliberation；
character； expression of opinion。 Of these old age is not only not
deprived； but； as a rule； has them in a greater degree。 Unless by
any chance I； who as a soldier in the ranks； as military tribune； as
legate； and as consul have been employed in various kinds of war；
now appear to you to be idle because not actively engaged in war。
But I enjoin upon the Senate what is to be done； and how。
Carthage has long been harbouring evil designs； and I accordingly
proclaim war against her in good time。 I shall never cease to
entertain fears about her till I bear of her having been levelled with
the ground。 The glory of doing that I pray that the immortal gods
may reserve for you； Scipio； so that you may complete the task
begun by your grand…father； now dead more than thirty…two years
ago； though all years to come will keep that great man's memory
green。 He died in the year before my censorship； nine years after
my consulship； having been returned consul for the second time in
my own consulship。 If then he had lived to his hundredth year；
would he have regretted having lived to be old？ For he would of
course not have been practising rapid marches； nor dashing on a
foe； nor hurling spears from a distance； nor using swords at close
quarters…but only counsel； reason； and senatorial eloquence。 And if
those qualities had not resided in us _seniors_； our ancestors
would never have called their supreme council a Senate。 At
Sparta； indeed； those who hold the highest magistracies are in
accordance with the fact actually called 〃elders。〃 But if you will
take the trouble to read or listen to foreign history； you will fi