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Gaul as consul； he had yielded to the entreaties of his paramour at
a dinner…party to behead a man who happened to be in prison
condemned on a capital charge。 When his brother Titus was
Censor； who preceded me； he escaped； but I and Flaccus could not
countenance an act of such criminal and abandoned lust； especially
as； besides the personal dishonour； it brought disgrace on the
Government。
13。 I have often been told by men older than myself； who said that
they had heard it as boys from old men； that Gaius Fabricius was in
the habit of expressing astonishment at having heard； when envoy
at the headquarters of king Pyrrhus； from the Thessalian Cineas；
that there was a man of Athens who professed to be a
〃philosopher；〃 and affirmed that everything we did was to be
referred to pleasure。 When he told this to Manius Curius and
Publius Decius； they used to remark that they wished that the
Samnites and Pyrrhus himself would hold the same opinion。 It
would be much easier to conquer them； if they had once given
themselves over to sensual indulgences。 Manius Curius had been
intimate with P。 Decius； who four years before the former's
consulship had devoted himself to death for the Republic。 Both
Fabricius and Coruncanius knew him also； and from the
experience of their own lives； as well as from the action of P。
Decius； they were of opinion that there did exist something
intrinsically noble and great； which was sought for its own sake；
and at which all the best men aimed； to the contempt and neglect
of pleasure。 Why then do I spend so many words on the subject of
pleasure？ Why； because； far from being a charge against old age；
that it does not much feel the want of any pleasures； it is its highest
praise。
But； you will say； it is deprived of the pleasures of the table； the
heaped up board； the rapid passing of the wine…cup。 Well； then； it
is also free from headache； disordered digestion； broken sleep。 But
if we must grant pleasure something； since we do not find it easy
to resist its charms；…for Plato； with happy inspiration； calls
pleasure 〃vice's bait；〃 because of course men are caught by it as
fish by a hook；…yet； although old age has to abstain from
extravagant banquets； it is still capable of enjoying modest
festivities。 As a boy I often used to see Gaius Duilius the son of
Marcus； then an old mali； returning from a dinner…party。 He
thoroughly enjoyed the frequent use of torch and flute…player；
distinctions which he had assumed though unprecedented in the
case of a private person。 It was the privilege of his glory。 But why
mention others？ I will come back to my own case。 To begin with； I
have always remained a member of a 〃club 〃…clubs； you know；
were established in my quaestorship on the reception of the Magna
Mater from Ida。 So I used to dine at their feast with the members
of my club…on the whole with moderation； though there was a
certain warmth of temperament natural to my time of life； but as
that advances there is a daily decrease of all excitement。 Nor was
I； in fact； ever wont to measure my enjoyment even of these
banquets by the physical pleasures they gave more than by the
gathering and conversation of friends。 For it was a good idea of our
ancestors to style the presence of guests at a dinner…table…seeing
that it implied a community of enjoyment…a _convivium_； 〃a living
together。〃 It is a better term than the Greek words which mean 〃a
drinking together；〃 or； 〃an eating together。〃 For they would seem
to give the preference to what is really the least important part of
it。
14。 For myself； owing to the pleasure I take in conversation； I
enjoy even banquets that begin early in the afternoon； and not only
in company with my contemporaries…of whom very few
survive…but also with men of your age and with yourselves。 I am
thankful to old age； which has increased my avidity for
conversation； while it has removed that for eating and drinking。
But if anyone does enjoy these…not to seem to have proclaimed war
against all pleasure without exception； which is perhaps a feeling
inspired by nature…I fail to perceive even in these very pleasures
that old age is entirely without the power of appreciation。 For
myself； I take delight even in the old…fashioned appointment of
master of the feast； and in the arrangement of the conversation；
which according to ancestral custom is begun from the last place
on the left…hand couch when the wine is brought in； as also in the
cups which； as in Xenophon's banquet； are small and filled by
driblets； and in the contrivance for cooling in summer； and for
warming hy the winter sun or winter fire。 These things I keep up
even among my Sabine countrymen； and every day have a full
dinner…party of neighbours； which we prolong as far into the night
as we can with varied conversation。
But you may urge…there is not the same tingling sensation of
pleasure in old men。 No doubt； but neither do they miss it so
much。 For nothing gives you uneasiness which you do not miss。
That was a fine answer of Sophocles to a man who asked him；
when in extreme old age； whether he was still a lover。 〃Heaven
forbid！〃 he replied； 〃I was only too glad to escape from that； as
though from a boorish and insane master。〃 To men indeed who
are keen after such things it may possibly appear disagreeable and
uncomfortable to be without them； but to jaded appetites it is
pleasanter to lack than to enjoy。 However； he cannot be said to
lack who does not want： my contention is that not to want is the
pleasanter thing。
But even granting that youth enjoys these pleasures with more
zest； in the first place； they are insignificant things to enjoy； as I
have said； and it＇ the second place； such as age is not entirely
without； if it does not possess them in profusion。 Just as a man
gets greater pleasure from Ambivius Turpio if seated in the front
row at the theatre than if he was in the last； yet； after all； the man
in the last row does get pleasure； so youth； because it looks at
pleasures at closer quarters； perhaps enjoys itself more； yet even
old age； looking at them from a distance； does enjoy itself well
enough。 Why； what blessings are these…that the soul； having
served its time； so to speak； in the campaigns of desire and
ambition； rivalry and hatred； and all the passions； should live in its
own thoughts； and； as the expression goes； should dwell apart！
Indeed； if it has in store any of what I may call the food of study
and philosophy； nothing can be pleasanter than an old age of
leisure。 We were witnesses to C。 Gallus…a friend of your father's；
Scipio…intent to the day of his death on mapping out the sky and
land。 How often did the light surprise him while still working out
a problem begun during the night！ How often did night find him
busy on what he had begun at dawn！ How he delighted in
predicting for us solar and lunar eclipses long before they
occurred！ Or again in studies of a lighter nature； though still
requiring keenness of intellect； what pleasure Naevius took in his
_Punic War_！ Plautus in his _Truculentus_ and _Pseudolus_！ I
even saw Livius Andronicus； who； having produced a play six
years before I was born…in the consulship of Cento and
Tuditanus…lived till I had become a young man。 Why speak of
Publius Licinius Crassus's devotion to pontifical and civil law； or
of the Publius Scipio of the present time； who within these last few
days has been created Pontifex Maximus？ And yet I have seen all
whom I have mentioned ardent in these pursuits when old men。
Then there is Marcus Cethegus； whom Ennius justly called
〃Persuasion's Marrow 〃…with what enthusiasm did we see him
exert himself in oratory even when quite old！ What pleasures are
there 'n feasts； games； or mistresses comparable to pleasures such
as these？ And they are all tastes； too； connected with learning；
which in men of sense and good education grow with their growth。
It is indeed an honourable sentiment which Solon expresses in a
verse which I have quoted before…that he grew old learning many a
fresh lesson every day。 Than that intellectual pleasure none
certainly can be greater。
15。 I come now to the pleasures of the farmer； in which ＇ take
amazing delight。 These are not hindered by any extent of old age；
and seem to me to approach nearest to' the ideal wise man's life。
For he has to deal with the earth； which never refuses its
obedience； nor ever returns what it has received without usury；
sometimes； indeed； with less； but generally with greater interest。
For my part； however。 it is not merely the thing produced； but the
earth's own force and natural productiveness that delight me。 For
received in its bosom the seed scattered broadcast upon it；
softened and broken up； she first keeps it concealed therein （hence
the harrowing which accomplishes this gets its name from a word
meaning 〃to hide〃）； next； when it has been warmed by her heat
and close pressure； she splits it open and draws from it the
greenery of the blade。 This； supported by the fibres of the root；
little by little grows up； and held upright by its jointed stalk is
enclosed in sheaths； as being still immature。 When it has emerged
from them it p