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wrangle with a certain Seriphian； who asserted that he owed his
brilliant position to the reputation of his country； not to his own。
〃If I had been a Seriphian；〃 said he； 〃even I should never have been
famous； nor would you if you had been an Athenian。 Something
like this may be said of old age。 For the philosopher himself could
not find old age easy to bear in the depths of poverty； nor the fool
feel it anything but a burden though he were a millionaire。 You
may he sure； my dear Scipio and Laelius； that the arms best
adapted to old age are culture and the active exercise of the
virtues。 For if they have been maintained at every period…if one
has lived much as well as long…the harvest they produce is
wonderful； not only because they never fail us even in our last days
（though that in itself is supremely important）； but also because the
consciousness of a well…spent life and the recollection of many
virtuous actions are exceedingly delightful。
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 t