按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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 old man：
after death； indeed； sensation is either what one would desire； or it
disappears altogether。 But to disregard death is a lesson which
must be studied from our youth up； for unless that is learnt； no one
can have a quiet mind。 For die we certainly must； and that too
without being certain whether it may not be this very day。 As
death； therefore； is hanging over our head every hour； how can a
man ever be unshaken in soul if he fears it？
But on this theme I don't think I need much enlarge： when I
remember what Lucius Brutus did； who was killed while defending
his country； or the two Decii； who spurred their horses to a gallop
and met a voluntary death； or M。 Atilius Regulus； who left his
home to confront a death of torture； rather than break the word
which lie had pledged to the enemy； or the two Scipios； who
determined to block the Carthaginian advance even with their own
bodies； or your grandfather Lucius Paulus； who paid with his life
for the rashness of his colleague in the disgrace at Cannae； or M。
Marcellus； whose death not even the most bloodthirsty of enemies
would allow to go without the honour of burial。 It is enough to
recall that our legions （as I have recorded in my _Origins_） have
often marched with cheerful and lofty spirit to ground from which
they believed that they would never return。 That； therefore； which
young men…not only uninstructed； but absolutely ignorant…treat as
of no account； shall men who are neither young nor ignorant shrink
from in terror？ As a general truth； as it seems to me； it is weariness
of all pursuits that creates weariness of life。 There are certain
pursuits adapted to childhood： do young men miss them？ There are
others suited to early manhood： does that settled time of life called
〃middle age〃 ask for them？ There are others； again； suited to that
age； but not looked for in old age。 There are； finally； some which
belong to Old age。 Therefore； as the pursuits of the earlier ages
have their time for disappearing； so also have those of old age。
And when that takes place； a satiety of life brings on the ripe time
for death。
21。 For I do not see why I should not venture to tell you my
personal opinion as to death； of which I seem to myself to have a
clearer vision in proportion as I am nearer to it。 I believe； Scipio
and Laelius； that your fathers…those illustrious men and my dearest
friends…are still alive； and that too with a life which alone deserves
the name。 For as long as we are imprisoned in this framework of
the body； we perform a certain function and laborious work
assigned us by fate。 The soul； in fact； is of heavenly origin； forced
down from its home in the highest； and； so to speak； buried in
earth； a place quite opposed to its divine nature and its
immortality。 But I suppose the immortal gods to have sown souls
broadcast in human bodies； that there might be some to survey the
world； and while contemplating the order of the heavenly bodies to
imitate it in the unvarying regularity of their life。 Nor is it only
reason and arguments that have brought me to this belief； but the
great fame and authority of the most distinguished philosophers。 I
used to be told that Pythagoras and the Pythagoreans…almost
natives of our country； who in old times had been called the Italian
school of philosophers…never doubted that we had souls drafted
from the universal Divine intelligence。 I used be…sides to have
pointed out to me the discourse delivered by Socrates on the last
day of his life upon the immortality of the soul…Socrates who was
pronounced by the oracle at Delphi to be the wisest of men。 I need
say no more。 I have convinced myself； and T hold…in view of the
rapid movement of the soul； its vivid memory of the past and its
prophetic knowledge of the future； its many accomplishments； its
vast range of knowledge； its numerous discoveries
…that a nature embracing such varied gifts cannot itself be mortal。
And since the soul is always in motion and yet has no external
source of motion； for it is self…moved； I conclude that it will also
have no end to its motion； because it is not likely ever to abandon
itself。 Again； since the nature of the soul is not composite； nor has
in it any admixture that is not homogeneous an（l similar； I
conclude that it is indivisible； and； if indivisible； that it cannot
perish。 It is again a strong proof of men knowing most things
before birth； that when mere children they grasp innumerable facts
with such speed as to show that they are not then taking them in
for the first time； but remembering and recalling them。 This is
roughly Plato's argument。
22。 Once more in Xenophon we have the elder Cyrus on his
deathbed speaking as follows：…
〃Do not suppose； my dearest sons； that when I have left you I shall
be nowhere and no one。 Even when I was with you； you did not see
my soul； but knew that it was in this body of mine from what I did。
Believe then that it is still the same； even though you see it not。
The honours paid to illustrious men had not continued to exist
after their death； had the souls of these very men not done
something to make us retain our recollection of them beyond the
ordinary time。 For myself； I never could be persuaded that souls
while in mortal bodies were alive； and died directly they left them；
nor； in fact； that the soul only lost all intelligence when it left the
unintelligent body。 I believe rather that when； by being liberated
from all corporeal admixture； it has begun to be pure and
undefiled； it is then that it becomes wise。 And again； when man's
natural frame is resolved into its elements by death； it is clearly
seen whither each of the other elements departs： for they all go to
the place from which they came： but the soul alone is invisible
alike when present and when departing。 Once more； you see that
nothing is so like death as sleep。 And yet it is in sleepers that souls
most clearly reveal their divine nature； for they foresee many
events when they are allowed to escape and are left free。 This
shows what they are likely to be when they have completely freed
themselves from the fetters of the body。 Wherefore； if these things
are so； obey me as a god。 But if my soul is to perish with my body；
nevertheless do you from awe of the gods； who guard and govern
this fair universe； preserve my memory by the loyalty and piety of
your lives。〃
23。
Such are the words of the dying Cyrus。 I will now； with your good
leave； look at home。 No one； my dear Scipio； shall ever persuade
me that your father Paulus and your two grandfathers Paulus and
Africanus； or the father of Africanus； or his uncle； or many other
illustrious men not necessary to mention； would have attempted
such lofty deeds as to be remaindered by posterity； had they not
seen in their minds that future ages concerned them。 Do you
suppose…to take an old man's privilege of a little self…praise…that I
should have been likely to undertake such heavy labours by day
and night； at home and abroad； if I had been destined to have the
same limit to my glory as to my life？ Had it not been much better
to pass an age of ease and repose without any labour or exertion？
But my soul； I know not how； refusing to be kept down； ever fixed
its eyes upon future ages； as though from a conviction that it would
begin to live only when it had left the body。 But had it not been the
case that souls were immortal； it would not have been the souls of
all the best men that made the greatest efforts after an immortality
of fame。
Again； is there not the fact that the wisest man ever dies with the
greatest cheerfulness； the most unwise with the least？ Don't you
think that the soul which has the clearer and longer sight sees that
it is starting for better things； while the soul whose vision is
dimmer does not see it？ For my part； I am transported with the
desire to see your fathers； who were the object of my reverence
and affection。 Nor is it only those whom I knew that I long to see；
it is those also of whom I have been told and have read； whom I
have myself recorded in my history。 When I am setting out for that；
there is certainly no one who will find it easy to draw me back； or
boil me up again like second Pelios。 Nay； if some god should
grant me to renew my childhood from my present age and once
more to be crying in my cradle； I would firmly refuse； nor should I
in truth be willing； after having； as it were； run the full course； to
be recalled from the winning…crease to the barriers。 For what
blessing has life to offer？ Should we not rather say what labour？
But granting that it has； at any rate it has after all a limit either to
enjoyment or to existence。 I don't wish to depreciate life； as many
men and good philosophers have often done； nor do I regret having
lived； for I have done so in a way that lets me think that I was not
born in vain。 But I quit life as I would
ON OLD AGE
77
an inn； not as I would a home。 For nature has given us a place of
entertainment； not of residence。
Oh glorious day when I shall