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also。 In fact； old age； especially when it has enjoyed honours； has
an influence worth all the pleasures of youth put together。
18。 But throughout my discourse remember that my panegyric
applies to an old age that has been established on foundations laid
by youth。 From which may be deduced what I once said with
universal applause； that it was a wretched old age that had to
defend itself by speech。 Neither white hairs nor wrinkles can at
once claim influence in themselves： it is the honourable conduct of
earlier days that is rewarded by possessing influence at the last。
Even things generally regarded as trifling and matters of
course…being saluted； being courted； having way made for one；
people rising when one approaches； being escorted to and from the
forum； being referred to for advice…all these are marks of respect；
observed among us and in other States…always most sedulously
where the moral tone is highest。 They say that Lysander the
Spartan； whom I have mentioned before； used to remark that
Sparta was the most dignified home for old age； for that nowhere
was more respect paid to years； no…where was old age held in
higher honour。 Nay； the story is told of how when a man of
advanced years came into the theatre at Athens when the games
were going on； no place was given him anywhere in that large
assembly by his own countrymen； but when he came near the
Lacedaemonians； who as ambassadors had a fixed place assigned
to them； they rose as one man out of respect for him； and gave the
veteran a seat。 When they were greeted with rounds of applause
from the whole audience； one of them remarked：
〃The Athenians know what is right； but will not do it。〃 There are
many excellent rules in our augural college； but among the best is
one which affects our subject…that precedence in speech goes by
seniority； and augurs who are older are preferred only to those who
have held higher office； but even to those who are actually in
possession of imperium。 What then are the physical pleasures to be
compared with the reward of influence？ Those who have
employed it with distinction appear to me to have played the
drama of life to its end； and not to have broken down in the last act
like unpractised players。
But； it will be said； old men are fretful； fidgety； ill…tempered； and
disagreeable。 If you come to that； they are also avaricious。 But
these are faults of character； not of the time of life。 And； after all；
fretfulness and the other faults I mentioned admit of some
excuse…not； indeed； a complete one； but one that may possibly pass
muster： they think them…selves neglected； looked down upon；
mocked； Besides with bodily weakness every rub is a source of
pain。 Yet all these faults are softened both by good character and
good education。 Illustrations of this may be found in real life； as
also on the stage in the case of the brothers in the _Adeiphi_。 What
harshness in the one； what gracious manners in the other The fact
is that； just as it is not every wine； so it is not every life； that turns
sour from keeping； Serious gravity I approve of in old age； but； as
in other things； it must be within due limits： bitterness I can in no
case approve。 What the object of senile avarice may be I cannot
conceive。 For can there be anything more absurd than to seek more
journey money； the less there remains of the journey？
19。 There remains the fourth reason； which more than anything
else appears to torment men of my age and keep them in a
flutter…THE NEARNESS OF DEATH； which； it must be allowed；
cannot be far from an old man。 But what a poor dotard must he be
who has not learnt in the course of so long a life that death is not a
thing to be feared？ Death； that is either to be totally disregarded； if
it entirely extinguishes the soul； or is even to be desired； if it brings
him where he is to exist forever。 A third alternative； at any rate；
cannot possibly be discovered。 Why then should I be afraid if I am
destined either not to be miserable after death or even to be happy？
After all； who is such a fool as to feel certain…however young he
may be…that he will be alive in the evening？ Nay； that time of life
has many more chances of death than ours； Young men more
easily contract diseases； their illnesses are more serious； their
treatment has to be more severe。 Accordingly； only a few arrive at
old age。 If that were not so； life would be conducted better and
more wisely； for it is in old men that thought； reason； and prudence
are to be found； and if there had been no old men； States would
never have existed at all。 But I return to the subject of the
imminence of death。 What sort of charge is this against old age；
when you see that it is shared by youth？ I had reason in the case of
my excellent son…as you had； Scipio； in that of your brothers； who
were expected to attain the highest honours…to realise that death is
common to every time of life。 Yes； you will say； but a young man
expects to live long； an old man cannot expect to do so。 Well； he
is a fool to expect it。 For what can be more foolish than to regard
the uncertain as certain； the false as true？ 〃An old man has nothing
even to hope。〃 Ah； but it is just there that he is in a better position
than a young man； since what the latter only hopes he has
obtained。 The one wishes to live long； the other has lived long。
And yet； good heaven！ what is 〃long〃 in a man's life？ For grant the
utmost limit： let us expect an age like that of the King of the
Tartessi。 For there was； as I find recorded； a certain Agathonius at
Gades who reigned eighty years and lived a hundred and twenty。
But to my mind nothing seems even long in which there is any
〃last；〃 for when that arrives； then all the past has slipped away…only
that remains to which you have attained by virtue and righteous
actions。 Hours indeed； and days and months and years depart； nor
does past time ever return； nor can the future be known。 Whatever
time each is granted for life； with that he is bound to be content。
An actor； in order to earn approval； is not bound to perform the
play from beginning to end； let him only satisfy the audience in
whatever act he appears。 Nor need a wise man go on to the
concluding 〃plaudite。〃 For a short term of life is long enough for
living well and honourably。 But if you go farther； you have no
more right to grumble than farmers do because the charm of the
spring season is past and the summer and autumn have come。 For
the word 〃spring〃 in a way suggests youth； and points to the
harvest to be： the other seasons are suited for the reaping and
storing of the crops。 Now the harvest of old age is； as I have often
said； the memory and rich store of blessings laid up in easier life。
Again； all things that accord with nature are to be counted as good。
But what can be more in accordance with nature than for old men
to die？ A thing； indeed； which also beliefs young men； though
nature revolts and fights against it。 Accordingly； the death of
young men seems to me like putting out a great fire with a deluge
of water； but old men die like a fire going out because it has burnt
down of its own nature without artificial means。 Again； just as
apples when unripe are torn from trees； but when ripe and mellow
drop down； so it is violence that takes life from young men；
ripeness from old。 This ripeness is so delightful to me； that； as I
approach nearer to death； I seem as it were to be sighting land； and
to be coming to port at last after a long voyage。
20。 Again； there is no fixed borderline for old age； and you are
making a good and proper use of it as long as you can satisfy the
call of duty and disregard death。 The result of this is； that old age
is even more confident and courageous than youth。 That is the
meaning of Solon's answer to the tyrant Pisistratus。 When the latter
asked him what he relied upon in opposing him with such
boldness； he is said to have replied； 〃On my old age。〃 But that end
of life is the best； when； without the intellect or senses being
impaired； Nature herself takes to pieces her own handiwork which
she also put together。 Just as the builder of a ship or a house can
break them up more easily than any one else； so the nature that
knit together the human frame can also best unfasten it。 Moreover；
a thing freshly glued together is always difficult to pull asunder； if
old； this is easily done。
The result is that the short time of life left to them is not to be
grasped at by old men with greedy eagerness； or abandoned
without cause。 Pythagoras forbids us； without an order from our
commander； that is God； to desert life's fortress and outpost。
Solon's epitaph； indeed； is that of a wise man； in which he says that
he does not wish his death to be unaccompanied by the sorrow and
lamentations of his friends。 He wants； I suppose； to be beloved by
them。 But I rather think Ennius says better：
None grace me with their tears； nor weeping loud
Make sad my funeral rites！
He holds that a death is not a subject for mourning when it is
followed by immortality。
Again； there may possibly be some sensation of dying
and that only for a short time； especially in the case of an