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enclosed in sheaths； as being still immature。 When it has emerged
from them it produces an ear of corn arranged in order； and is
defended against the pecking of the smaller birds by a regular
palisade of spikes。
Need I mention the starting； planting； and growth of vines？ I can
never have too much of this pleasure…to let you into the secret of
what gives my old age repose and amusement。 For I say nothing
here of the natural force which all things propagated from the
earth possess…the earth which from that tiny grain in a fig； or the
grape…stone in a grape； or the most minute seeds of the other
cereals and plants； produces such huge trunks and boughs。
Mallet…shoots； slips； cuttings； quicksets； layers…are they not enough
to fill anyone with delight and astonishment？ The vine by nature is
apt to fall； and unless supported drops down to the earth； yet in
order to keep itself upright it embraces whatever it reaches with its
tendrils as though they were hands。 Then as it creeps on；
spreading itself in intricate and wild profusion； the dresser's art
prunes it with the knife and prevents it growing a forest of shoots
and expanding to excess in every direction。 Accordingly at the
beginning of spring in the shoots which have been left there
protrudes at each of the joints what is termed an
From this the grape emerges and shows itself； which； swollen by
the juice of the earth and the heat of the sun； is at first very bitter
to the taste； but afterwards grows sweet as it matures； and being
covered with tendrils is never without a moderate warmth； and yet
is able to ward off the fiery heat of the sun。 Can anything be richer
in product or more beautiful to contemplate？ It is not its utility
only； as I said before； that charms me； but the method of its
cultivation and the natural process of its growth： the rows of
uprights； the cross…pieces for the tops of the plants； the tying up of
the vines and their propagation by layers； the pruning； to which I
have already referred； of some shoots； the setting of others。 I need
hardly mention irrigation； or trenching and digging the soil； which
much increase its fertility。 As to the advantages of manuring I have
spoken in my book on agriculture。 The learned Hesiod did not say
a single word on this subject； though he was writing on the
cultivation of the soil； yet Homer； who in my opinion was many
generations earlier； represents Laertes as softening his regret for
his son by cultivating and manuring his farm。 Nor is it only in
cornfields and meadows and vineyards and plantations that a
farmer's life is made cheerful。 There are the garden and the
orchard； the feeding of sheep； the swarms of bees； endless varieties
of flowers。 Nor is it only planting out that charms： there is also
grafting…surely the most ingenious invention ever made by
husbandmen。
i6。 I might continue my list of the delights of country life； but
even what I have said I think is somewhat over long。 However； you
must pardon me； for farming is a very favourite hobby of mine；
and old age is naturally rather garrulous…for I would not be thought
to acquit it of all faults。
Well； it was in a life of this sort that Manius Curius； after
celebrating triumphs over the Samnites； the Sabines； and Pyrrhus；
spent his last days。 When I look at his villa…for it is not far from
my own…I never can enough admire the man's own frugality or the
spirit of the age。 As Curius was sitting at his hearth the Samnites；
who brought him a large sum of gold； were repulsed by him； for it
was not； lie said； a fine thing in his eyes to possess gold； but to rule
those who possessed it。 Could such a high spirit fail to make old
age pleasant？
But to return to farmers…not to wander from my own metier。 Tn
those days there were senators； _i。 e_。 old men； on their farms。 For
L。 Quinctius Cincinnatus was actually at the plough when word
was brought him that he had been named Dictator。 It was by his
order as Dictator； by the way； that C。 Servilius Ahala； the Master
of the Horse； seized and put to death Spurius Maelius when
attempting to obtain royal power。 Curius as well as other old men
used to receive their summonses to attend the Senate in their
farm…houses； from which circumstance the summoners were called
_viatores_ or 〃travellers。〃 Was these men's old age an object of
pity who found their pleasure in the cultivation of the land？ In my
opinion； scarcely any life can be more blessed； not alone from its
utility （for agriculture is beneficial to the whole human race）； but
also as much from the mere pleasure of the thing； to which I have
already alluded； and from the rich abundance and supply of all
things necessary for the food of man and for the worship of the
gods above。 So； as these are objects of desire to certain people； let
us make our peace with pleasure。 For the good and hard…working
farmer's wine…cellar and oil…store； as well as his larder； are always
well filled； and his whole farm…house is richly furnished。 It
abounds in pigs； goats； lambs； fowls； milk； cheese； and。 honey。
Then there is the garden； which the farmers themselves call their 〃
second flitch。〃 A zest and flavour is added to all these by hunting
and fowling in spare hours。 Need I mention the greenery of
meadows； the rows of trees； the beauty of vineyard and
olive…grove？ I 'will put it briefly： nothing can either furnish
necessaries more richly； or present a fairer spectacle； than
well…cultivated land。 And to the enjoyment of that； old age does
not merely present no hindrance…it actually invites and allures to it。
For where else can it better warm itself； either by basking in the
sun or by sitting by the fire； or at the proper time cool itself more
wholesomely by the help of shade or water？ Let the young keep
their arms then to themselves； their horses； spears； their foils and
ball； their swimming baths and running path。 To us old men let
them； out of the many forms of sport； leave dice and counters； but
even that as they choose； since old age can be quite happy without
them。
17。 Xenophon's books are very useful for many purposes。 Pray go
on reading them with attention； as you have ever done。 In what
ample terms is agriculture lauded by him in the book about
husbanding one's property； which is called _Oceonomicus_！ But to
show you that he thought nothing so worthy of a prince as the taste
for cultivating the soil； I will translate what Socrates says to
Critobulus in that book：
〃When that most gallant Lacedaemonian Lysander came to visit
the Persian prince Cyrus at Sardis； so eminent for his character and
the glory of his rule； bringing him presents from his allies； he
treated Lysander in all ways with courteous familiarity and
kindness； and； among other things； took him to see a certain park
carefully planted。 Lysander expressed admiration of the height of
the trees and the exact arrangement of their rows in the quincunx；
the careful cultivation of the soil； its freedom from weeds； and the
sweetness of the odours exhaled from the flowers； and went on to
say that what he admired was not the industry only； but also the
skill of the man by whom this had been planned and laid out。
Cyrus replied： 'Well； it was I who planned the whole thing these
rows are my doing； the laying out is all mine； many of the trees
were even planted by own hand。' Then Lysander； looking at his
purple robe； the brilliance of his person； and his adornment Persian
fashion with gold and many jewels； said： 'People are quite right；
Cyrus； to call you happy； since the advantages of high fortune have
been joined to an excellence like yours。'〃
This kind of good fortune； then； it is in the power of old men to
enjoy； nor is age any bar to our maintaining pursuits of every other
kind； and especially of agriculture； to the very extreme verge of
old age。 For instance； we have it on record that M。 Valerius
Corvus kept it up to his hundredth year； living on his land and
cultivating it after his active career was over； though between his
first and sixth consulships there was an interval of six and forty
years。 So that he had an official career lasting the number of years
which our ancestors defined as coming between birth and the
beginning of old age。 Moreover； that last period of his old age was
more blessed than that of his middle life； inasmuch as he had
greater influence and less labour。 For the crowning grace of old
age is influence。
How great was that of L。 Caecilius Metellus！ How great that of
Atilius Calatinus； over whom the famous epitaph was placed；
〃Very many classes agree in deeming this to have been the very
first man of the nation〃！ The line cut on his tomb is well known。 It
is natural； then； that a man should have had influence； in whose
praise the verdict of history is unanimous。 Again； in recent times；
what a great man was Publius Crassus； Pontifex Maximus； and his
successor in the same office； M。 Lepidus！ I need scarcely mention
Paulus or Africanus； or； as I did before； Maximus。 It was not only
their senatorial utterances that had weight： their least gesture had it
also。 In fact； old age； especially when it has enjoyed honours； has
an influence worth all the plea