That which is come to pass, and did discern
From his survivors I could nothing learn.
This long discourse was but to let you see
That his long life could not uneasy be.
Few like the Fabii or the Scipios are
Takers of cities, conquerors in war:
Yet others to like happy Age arrive,
Who modest, quiet, and with virtue live.
Thus Plato writing his philosophy,
With honour after ninety years did die.
Th' Athenian story writ at ninety-four-
By Isocrates, who yet liv'd five years more;
His master Gorgias at the hundredth year
And seventh not his studies did forbear?
And, ask'd why he no sooner left the stage?
Said he saw nothing to accuse old Age.
None but the foolish who their lives abuse,
Age of their own mistakes and crimes accuse.
All commonwealths (as by records is seen)
As by Age preserv'd, by youth destroy'd, have been,
When the tragedian Nævius did demand,
Why did your commonwealth no longer stand?
'Twas answer'd that their senators were new,
Foolish and young, and such as nothing knew,
Nature to youth hot rashness dóth dispense, 105
But with cold prudence Age doth recompense.
But Age, 'tis said, will memory decay;
So (if it be not exercis’d) it may;
Or if by Nature it be dull and slow.
Themistocles (when ag'd) the names did know 110
Of all th' Athenians; and none grow so old
Not to remember where they hid their gold.
From Age such art of memory we learn,
To forget nothing which is our conceru:
Their interest no priest nor sorcerer
Forgets, nor lawyer nor philosopher :
No understanding memory can want
Where wisdom studious industry doth plant.
Nor does it only in the active live,
But in the quiet and contemplative.
When Sophocles (who plays when aged wrote)
Was by his sons before the judges brought,
Because he paid the Muses such respect,
His fortune, wife, and children to neglect ;
Almost condemn'd he mov'd the judges thus, 125
< Hear, but instead of me, my Oedipus.'
The judges hearing with applause, at th' end
Freed him, and said, 'No fool such lines had penn'd.'
What poets and what orators can I
Recount, what princes in philosophy,
Whose constant studies with their Age did strive;
Nor did they those, tho' those did them, survive.
Old husbandinen I at Sabinum know,
Who for another year dig, plough, and sow;
For never any man was yet so old
But hop'd his life one winter more might hold.
Cæcilius vainly said, 'Each day we spend
'Discovers something which must needs offend.'
But sometimes Age may pleasant things behold,
And nothing that offends. He should have told 140
This not to Age, but youth, who oft'ner see
What not alone offends, but hurts, than we.
That I in him which he in Age condemn'd,
That us it renders odious and contemn'd.
He knew not virtue if he thought this truth; 145
For youth delights in Age, and Age in youth.
What to the old can greater pleasure be
Than hopeful and ingenious youth to see,
When they with rev'rence follow where we lead,
And in straight paths by our directions tread! 150
And ev❜n my conversation here I see
As well receiv'd by you as your's by me.
'Tis disingenuous to accuse our Age
Of idleness, who all our pow'rs engage
In the same studies, the same course to hold, 155
Nor think our reason for new arts too old..
Solon, the sage, his progress never ceas'd,
But still his learning with his days increas'd;
And I with the same greediness did seek,
As water when I thirst, to swallow Greek;
Which I did only learn that I might know
Those great examples which I follow now :
And I have heard that Socrates the wise
Learn'd on the lute for his last exercise.
Tho' many of the Ancients did the same,
To improve knowledge was my only aim.
Now into our second grievance I must break, "That loss of strength makes understanding weak."
I grieve no more my youthful strength to want,
Than, young, that of a bull or elephant;
Then with that force content which Nature gave, 5
Nor am I now displeas'd with what I have.
When the young wrestlers at their sport grew
Old Milo wept to see his naked arm, [warm,
And cry'd 'twas dead. Trifler! thine heart and
And all that's in them, (not thy arm,) are dead: This folly ev'ry looker on derides,
To glory only in thy arms and sides.
Our gallant ancestors let fall no tears,
Their strength decreasing by increasing years;
But they advanc'd in wisdom ev'ry hour,
And made the commonwealth advance in pow's.
But orators may grieve, for in their sides,
Rather than heads, their faculty abides;
Yet I have heard old voices loud and clear,
And still my own sometimes the Senate hear.
When th' old with smooth and gentle voices
plead,
They by the car their well-pleas'd audience lead; Which if I had not strength enough to do,
I could (my Lælius and my Scipio!)
What's to be done or not be done instruct,
And to the maxims of good life conduct.
Cneius and Publius Scipio, and (that man
Of men) your grandsire, the great African,
Were joyful when the flow'r of noble blood
Crowded their dwellings, and attending stood, 30
Like oracles their counsels to receive, How in their progress they should act and live. And they whose high examples youth obeys, Are not despised tho' their strength decays; And those decays (to speak the naked truth, 35 Tho' the defects of Age) were crimes of youth. Intemp'rate youth (by sad experience found) Ends in an Age imperfect and unsound. Cyrus, tho' ag'd, (if Xenophon say true,) Lucius Metellus, (whom when young I knew,) 40 Who held (after his second consulate) Twenty-two years the high pontificate; Neither of these, in body or in mind, Before their death the least decay did find. I speak not of myself, tho' none deny To Age to praise their youth the liberty; Such an unwasted strength I cannot boast, Yet now my years are eighty-four almost: And tho' from what it was my strength is far, Both in the first and second Punic war, Nor at Thermopylæ, under Glabrio, Nor when I Consul into Spain did go; But yet I feel no weakness, nor hath length Of winters quite enervated my strength; And I my guest, my client, or my friend, Still in the courts of justice can defend : Neither must I that proverb's truth allow, "Who would be ancient must be early so." I would be youthful still, and find no need To appear old till I was so indeed :
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