The philosophie, commonlie called, the morals vvritten by the learned philosopher Plutarch of Chæronea. Translated out of Greeke into English, and conferred with the Latine translations and the French, by Philemon Holland of Coventrie, Doctor in Physicke. VVhereunto are annexed the summaries necessary to be read before every treatise

WHETHER AN AGED MAN OUGHT TO MA∣NAGE [ 10] PUBLICKE AFFAIRES.

The Summarie.

THe title of this discour se discover eth sufficiently the intention of the Author: but, for that they who manage affaires of State, and namely men in yeeres, fall oftentimes into one of these two extremities as touching their duetie, namely, that they be either too slacke and remisse, or else more stiffe and severe than they ought; these precepts of [ 20] Plutarch, a man well conversed in high places and offices, and who (as we may gather by his words) was well striken in age when he wrote this Treatise, ought to be diligently read, conside∣red and practised by men of authoritie. And albeit this booke containeth some advertisements in that behalfe, which sort not wholy with the order of government put in practise in these our daies: yet so it is, that the fundamentall reasons are so well laid, that any politician or States-man building therupon, may assure himselfe that he shall raise & edifie some good piece of worke. Now he beginneth with the resutation of one common objection of certaine men, who enjoine & command elder folke to sit still and remaine quiet, and he prooveth the contrarie, namely, that then it is meet that they should put themselves foorth more than ever before; but he addeth this correction and caveat withall, that they have beene a long time alreadie broken (as it were) to the world, and beaten in publike affaires, to [ 30] the end that they be not taxed and noted for their slender carriage or light vanitie, nor proove the cause of some great mischiefe, medling as they do in that which they had not wel comprehended before. After this he proposeth and laieth abroad the examples of men well qualified, who have given good proofe of their sufficiencte in old age: whereupon he inferreth, that those be the persons indeed unto whom government doth appertaine, and that to go about for to make such idle now in their latter daies, were as absurde and as much injurie offeredunto them, as to confine a prudent Prince and wise King to some house in the countrey: and this he inforceth and verifieth by eloquent compcrisons, and by the example of Pompeius. Which done he setteth downe the causes which ought to put forward, and moove a man well stept in yeeres to the government of a common-weale, confuting those who are of the contrarie opinion, and prooving that elderly persons are more fit therefore than yoonger, be∣cause [ 40] of the experience and aut boritte that age doth affoord them, as also in regardof many other rea∣sons: then he returneth the objection upon them, and sheweth that yoong folke are unmeet for pub∣like charges, unlesse they have beene the disciples of the aged, or be directed and guided by them: he resuteth those also who esteeme that such a vocation resembleth some particular trafficke or negotia∣tion: and when he hath so done, he taketh in hand againe his principall point, detecting and laying open the folly of those who would bereave old men of all administration of publike matters: and then he exhorteth them to take heart and shunne idlenesse (which he doth diffame wonderfully) and setteth before their eles their duetie, which he also considereth inparticular: then he adviseth them not to take so much upon them; not to accept any charge unworthie, or not beseeming that gravitie which time and age hath given them, but tooccupie and busie themselves with that which is honora∣ble [ 50] and of great consequence; to endevour and strive for to serve their countrey, and above all in mat∣ters of importance; to use good discretion as well in the refusall as the acceptation of dignities and of∣ffices, carying themselves with such dexterity among yoong men that they may induct & set them into the way of vertue. And for a conclusion, he teacheth all persons who deale in State affaires what resolu∣tion they should put on and carry thither; that they have an assured testimonie in themselves; that they be affectionat ser vitour of the common-weale.

WHETHER AN AGED MAN ought to manage publike affaires.

WE are not ignorant ô Euphanes that you are woont highly to praise the poet Pindarus, and how you have oftentimes in your mouth these words of his, as being in your conceit well placed and pithily spoken to the point,

When games of price and combats once are set, [ 10] Who shrinketh back and doth pretend some let, In darknesse hides and deepe obscuritie His fame of vertue and activitie.

But forasmuch as men ordinarily alledge many causes and preten∣ses, for to colour and cover their sloth & want of courage to undertake the businesse and affaires of State, & among others, as the very last, and as one would say, that which is of the sacred line & race, they tender unto us old age, & suppose they have found now one sufficient argument to dull or turne backe the edge, and to coole the heat of seeking honor thereby, in bearing us in hand & saying: That there is a certein convenient & meet end limited, not only to the revoluti∣on of yeeres, proper for combats and games of proofe, but also for publike affaires and dealings [ 20] in State. I thought it would not be impertinent nor besides the purpose, if I should send and communicate unto you a discourse which sometimes I made privately for mine owne use, as touching the government of common-weale managed by men of yeeres; to the end that nei∣ther of us twaine should abandon that long pilgrimage in this world which we have continued in travelling together, even to this present day, nor reject that civill life of ours, which hither to we have led in swaying of the common-weale, no more than a man would cast off an old com∣panion of his owne age, or change an ancient familiar friend, for another with whom he hath had no acquaintance, & who hath not time sufficient to converse & be made familiar with him But let us in Gods name remaine firme & constant in that course of life which we have choson from the beginning, & make the end of life & of well living all one and the same, if we will not [ 30] (for that small while which we have to live) discredit, & diffame that longer time which we have alreadie led, as if it had bin spent foolishly and in vaine, without any good & laudable intention. For tyrannicall dominiō, is not a faire monument to be enterred in, as one said somtime to De∣nys the tyrant: for unto him this monarchicall & absolute sovereigntie gotten & held by so un∣just & wicked meanes, the longer that it had continued before it failed, the greater & more per∣fect calamitie it would have brought; according as Diogenes afterwards seeing the said Dionysius his son become a poore privat man, & deposed frō the princely & tyrannicall dignity which he had: O Dionysius (quoth he) how unworthy art thou of this estate, & how unfitting is it for thee! for thou oughtest not to live here in liberty, & without any feare or doubt of any thing with us, but remaine there stil as thy father did, immured up & confined (as it were) within a fortresse all [ 40] thy life time, untill extreme old age came. But in truth, a popular government which is just and lawfull, wherein a man hath beene conversant and shewed himselfe alwaies no lesse profitable to the common-wealth, in obeying than in commaunding, is a faire sepulcher for him, to be bu∣ried honorably therein, and to bestow in his death the glorie of his life: for this is the last thing (as Simonides said) that descendeth and goeth under the earth; unlesse we speake of them whose honour, bountie and vertue dieth first, and in whom the zeale of performing their duetie doth faile and cease before that the covetous desire of things necessarie to this life giveth over: as if the divine parts of our soule, & those which direct our actions were more fraile, & died sooner than the sensual & corporal; which neither were honestie to say, nor good to beleeve, no more than to give credit unto those who affirme that in getting and gaining onely, we are never wea∣ry: [ 50] but rather we are to bring that saying of Thucydides to a better purpose, & not to beleeve him who was of minde that not ambition alone and desire of glorie, aged in a man but also (and that much rather) sociality or willingnes to live & converse with company, & civility or affection to policy & managing of publik affaires; a thing that doth persevere & cōtinue alwaies to the very end, even in ants and bees: for never was it knowen that a bee with age became a drone; as some there be who would have those who all their life time were employed in the State, after the vi∣gor & strength of their age is past to sit stil & keepe the house, doing nothing els but eat & feed

as if they were mued up, suffering their active vertue, through ease and idlenesse to be quen∣ched & marred, even like as iron is eaten and consumed with rust & canker, for want of occupy∣ing. For Cato said verie wisely: That since old age had of it self miseries ynough of the one, they ought not to adde moreover thereunto the shame that proceedeth from vice, for to mend the matter. Now among many vices that be, there is not one that more shameth and defameth an old man than restivenesse, sloth, delicacie and voluptuousnesse: namely when he is seene to come downe from the hall and courts of Justice, or out of the counsell chamber and such pub∣like places, for to goe and keepe himselfe close in a corner of his house like a woman, or to re∣tire into some farme in the countrey to oversee onely his mowers, reapers, and harvest-folke, of whom it may be well said, as we reade in Sophocles: [ 10]

What is become of wise Oedipus, In riddles a-reeding who was so famous?

For to begin to meddle in affaires of State in olde age, and not before (as it is reported that one Epimenides laied him downe to sleepe when he was very yoong, and wakened an olde man fiftie yeeres after) and ere he have shaken off and laied aside so long repose and rest that hath stucke so close unto him by use and custome, to goe and put himselfe all at once upon a sudden into such travels and laborious negotiations, being nothing trained nor inured therein, not framed nor exercised thereto in any measure, without conversing at all beforehand with men experi∣enced in matters of Estate, nor having practised worldly affaires, might peradventure give good occasion to one that were disposed to reproove and finde fault, for to say that which the [ 20] prophetesse Pythias answered once to one who consulted with the oracle of Apollo about the like case:

For government and rule of citie state, Who ever thou be, thou commest too late: An houre this is undecent and past date, Thus for to knocke at Court or Pallace-gate,

like an unmanerly guest, who commeth to a feast; or a rude traveller, who seeketh for lodging when it is darke night; for even so thou wouldest remoove not to a place, nor to a region, but to a life whereof thou hast no proofe and triall. As for this sentence and verse of Simonides,

The city can instruct a man. [ 30]

true it is, if it be meant of them who have sufficient time to be taught and to learne any science which is not gotten but hardly and with much ado after great studie, long travell, continuall ex∣ercise and practise; provided also, that it meet with a nature painfull and laborious, patient and able to undergo all adversities of fortune. These reasons a man may seeme very well and to the purpose to alledge against those who begin when they be well stricken in yeeres to deale in pub∣like affaires of the State. And yet we see the contrary, how men of great wisedome and judge∣ment divert children and yoong men from the government of common-weale, who also have the testimonie of the lawes on their side, by ordinance whereof, at Athens the publicke Crier or Bedle calleth and summoneth to the pulpit or place of audience, not such as yoong Alcibiades or Pytheas, for to stand up first and speake before the assemblie of the people, but those that be [ 40] above fiftie yeeres of age; and such they exhort both to make orations, and also to deliver their minds, and counsell what is most expedient to be done. * 1.1

And Cato being accused when he was fourescore yeeres olde and upward, in pleading of his own cause, thus answered for himselfe: It is an harder matter my masters (quoth he) for a man to render an account of his life, and to justifie the same before other men, than those with whom he hath lived. And no man there is, but he will confesse that the acts which Caesar Augustus atchieved a little before his death in defaiting Antonius, were much more roiall and profitable to the weale-publicke, than any others that ever hee performed all his life-time before: and himselfe in restraining and reforming secretly by good customes and ordinances, the dissolute riots of yoong men, and namely, when they mutined, said no more but thus unto them: Listen [ 50] yoong men, and heare an olde man speake, whom olde men gave eare unto when he was but yoong. The government also of Pericles was at the height and of greatest power and authoritie in his olde age, at what time as he perswaded the Athenians to enter upon the Peloponesiacke warre: but when they would needs in all haste and out of season, set forward with their power to encounter with threescore thousand men all armed and well appointed, who forraied and wa∣sted their territorie, he withstood them and hindered their dessigned enterprise, and that in ma∣ner by holding sure the armour of the people out of their hands, and (as one would say) by kee∣ping

the gates of the citie fast locked and sealed up. But as touching that which Xenophon hath written of Agesilaus, it is worthy to be delivered word for word, as he setteth it downe in these tearmes: What youth (quoth he) was ever so gallant, but his age surpassed it? what man was there ever in the flower and very best of all his time, more dread and terrible to his enemies, than Agesilaus was in the very latter end of his daies? whose death at any time was more joyfull to enemies than that of Agesilaus, although he was very olde when he died? what was he that emboldened allies and confederates, making them assured and confident, if Agesilaus did not, notwithstanding he was now at the very pits brincke, and had in maner one foot already in his grave? what yoong man was ever more missed among his friends, and lamented more bitterly when he was dead, than Agesilaus, how olde so ever he was when he departed this life? The long [ 10] time that these noble personages lived, was no impediment unto them in atchieving such no∣ble and honourable services; but we in these daies play the delicate wantons in government of cities, where there is neither tyrannie to suppresse, nor warre to conduct, nor siege to be raised; and being secured from troubles of warre, we sit still with one hand in another, being roubled onely with civill debates among citizens, and some emulations, which for the most part are voided and brought to an end by vertue of the lawes and justice onely with words. Wee for∣beare (I say) and draw backe from dealing in these publicke affaires for feare, confessing our selves herein to be more cowardly and false-hearted (I will not say) than the ancient captaines and governours of the people in olde time, but even worse than Poets, Sophisters and Plaiers in Tragedies and Comedies of those daies. If it be true, as it is, that Simonides in his olde age wan [ 20] the prize for enditing ditties and setting songs in quires and dances, according to the epigram made of him, which testifieth no lesse in the last verses thereof, running in this maner:

Fourescore yeeres olde was Simonides The Poet, and sonne of Treoprepes, Whom for his carrols and musicall vaine, The prize he won and honour did gaine.

It is reported also of Sophocles, that when he was accused judicially for dotage by his owne chil∣dren, who laied to his charge that he was become a childe againe, unfitting for governing his house, and had need therefore of a guardian; being convented before the judges, he rehearsed in open court the entrance of the chorus, belonging to the Tragedie of his, entituled Oedipus in [ 30] Colono, which beginneth in this wise:

Wel-come stranger at thy entrie, To villages best of this countrie, Renowmed for good steeds in fight, The tribe of faire Colonus hight; Where nightingale doth oft resort, Her dolefull moanes for to report: Amid greene bowers which she doth haunt, Her sundrie notes and laies to chaunt, With voice so shrill as in no ground, [ 40] Elswhere her songs so much resound, &c.

And for that this canticle or sonet wonderfully pleased the judges and the rest of the company, they all arose from the bench, went out of the Court, and accompanied him home to his house with great acclamations for joy, and clapping of hands in his honour, as they would have done in their departure from the Theater where the Tragedie had bene lively acted indeed. Also it is confessed for certeine, that an epigram also was made of Sophocles, to this effect:

When Sophocles this sonnet wrote To grace and honour Herodote, His daies of life by just account, To fiftie five yeeres did amount. [ 50]

Philemon and Alexis, both comicall Poets, chanced to be arrested and surprised with death even as they plaied their Comedie upon the stage for the prize, and were about to be crowned with garlands for the victorie. As for Paulus [or Polus] the actour of Tragedies, Eratosthenes and Philochorus do report, That when he was threescore yeeres olde and ten, he acted eight Tra∣gedies within the space of foure daies, a little before his death. Is it not then a right great shame, that olde men who have made profession either to speake unto the people from the tri∣bunall seat, or to sit upon the bench for to minister justice, should shew lesse generositie and

magnanimitie than those who play their parts upon a scaffold or stage? and namely, in giving over those sacred games and combats indeed, to cast off the person of a politician and man of honour, and to put on another (I wot not what) in stead thereof: for I assure you, to lay downe the roiall dignitie of a king, for to take up the personage of an husbandman, were very base and mechanicall: and considering that Demosthenes said how the sacred galley Paralus was unwor∣thily and shamefully misused, when it was put and emploied to bring home for Meidias, wood and timber, slates and tiles, fed muttons or such like fatlings: if a man of honour and estate should at any time give up and resigne his dignitie of superintendencie over the publicke feasts of Boeotarchie, or government over Boeotia, of presidentship in that great counsell or assemblie of estates called Amphyctiones, and then afterwards be seene occupied in measuring and selling [ 10] meale, or the refuse & cakes either of grapes and olives after they be pressed, or to weigh fleeces of wooll, or to make merchandise of their felles; were not this as much altogether, as (according to the olde proverbe) to put on the age of an olde horse without constraint of any person? Moreover, to go to any base and vile occupation or handicraft, or to trafficke in merchandise, after one hath borne office of government in the common-weale, were all one as to turne a gentlewoman well descended, or a sober matron, out of all her faire and decent apparell, for to give her an apron onely and a single peticoat to cover her shame, and so to set her for to keepe in some taverne or victualling house; for even so, all the dignitie, majestie and continuance of vertue politike is quite lost, when it is debased to any such vile ministeries and trades, smelling onely of luere and gaine. But in case (which is the onely point remaining behinde) they call [ 20] this a sweet and healthfull life, and the true enjoying and use of goods, to be given over to deli∣cacies and pleasures, and doe invite and exhort a politician or man of State, in aging therein, and spending his olde yeeres so, to waste and consume by little and little to nothing: I wot not well unto which of these two pictures, dishonest and shamefull both twaine, this life of his were better to be likened; whether to that of the mariners, who would solemnize the feast of Venus all their life time, being not yet arrived with their ship into the haven or harbour, but leaving it still under saile in the open sea; or to the painted table of Hercules, whom some painters merily and in sport, but not seemely and with reverence, depaint how he was in the roiall Palace and Court of the Lydian queene Omphale, in a yelow coat like a wench, making winde with a fanne, and setting his minde with other Lydian damosels and waiting-maids, to broid his haire and [ 30] tricke up himselfe: even so we despoiling a man of estate of his lions skin, that is to say, of his magnanimous courage and a minde to be alwaies profiting the common-wealth, and setting him to take his ease at the table, will make him good cheere continually, and delight his eares with pleasant songs, with sound of flutes and other musicall instruments; being nothing at all ashamed to heare that speech which sometime Pompeius Magnus gave unto Lucullus, who (af∣ter his warres and conducts of armies, giving over all regiment of State, wholly was addicted to banes and stouphes, to feasting, to wantonnesse and company with women in the day time, to all dissolute life and superfluous delights, even so much, as to build sumptuous edifices, besee∣ming rather men of yoonger yeeres) reproved Pompeius for his ambition and desire of govern∣ment above that which became his age; for Pompetus answered unto him, and said: It is more [ 40] unseasonable for an aged man to live loosely and in superfluitie, than to governe and beare rule. Againe, the same Pompey being one day fallen sicke, when his Physician had prescribed him a blacke-bird for to eat, which was at that time out of season, and could not be had in the market for any money, and one made answere that Lucullus had good store of them, for he kept and fed them in mue all the yeere long; hee would neither send to him for one, nor receive any from him, saying withall: What? unlesse Lucullus be a belly-god and glutton, can not Pompey tell how to recover and live? For say that nature seeketh by all meanes possible to take her pleasure and delight, yet surely she disableth the bodie of old folke, and denieth it the fruition of all plea∣sures, unlesse it be in some few necessities of this life;

For why? not Venus onely is [ 50] Offended with old folke ywis.

as Eurypides the Poet saith, but also their appetite to eate and drinke is for the most part dull and overthrowen with mosse, and as one would say toothlesse, in such sort as they do but mum∣ble, touch their victuals a little aloft, and hardly and with much adoo enter and pierce inwardly into the same. In which regard they ought to be furnished and provided of pleasures of the mind, not such as are base, illiberall, and vile as Simonides saide unto those who reproched him for his avarice: for being bereft of all other fleshly and corporall pleasures by reason of his

yeeres, he entertained one still which fed and maintained his old age, and that was the delight which he tooke in getting money & gathering good: but the life politike of those who manage affaires, hath many pleasures, and those right great and honest, in which onely or principally it should seeme that the gods themselves take joy and contentment; and these be they that pro∣ceed from beneficence, or doing good unto many, and the glorie of some worthie and noble act. For if the painter Nicias pleased his owne mind so well in his workemanship, and was so affectionate to the operation of his art, that oftentimes he forgat himselfe, and would aske his servants whether he had washed, and whether he had dined or no: If Archimedes also was so bent & intentive unto the table before him, in which he drew his figures geometricall, that his servitours were faine to plucke him from it by force, for to wash and annoint him, and yet in the [ 10] meane time that they were annointing of him, he would be drawing and describing of new fi∣gures upon his owne bodie: If Canus likewise the plaier of the fluit (a man whom you know well enough) was woont to say: That men wist not how much more mirth he made unto himselfe in his playing, than he did unto those that heard him sound; and that they that came to heare his musicke, ought rather to receive a reward of him, than beslow any money upon him. Do wee not conceive and imagine in our selves, what great pleasures vertues do yeeld unto those who effect any commendable action tending to the good of their countrey, & turning to the profit of the common-weale? they tickle not, they itch not, neither do they after a stroking manner give contentment, as do these sweete motions, and gentle prickes of the flesh; for such bring with them a certaine impatient itch, an unconstant tickling mingled with a furious hear and in∣flammation; [ 20] but those pleasures which come from notable and praise-woorthie deeds, such as they be, whereof the ordinarie workman and author is he, who governeth a common-weale aright, and as it appertaineth unto him for to doe, lift up and raise the soule to a greatnesse and haughtinesse of courage accompained with joy, not with gilded plumes (as Euripides saith) but with celestiall wings (as Plato was woont to say) And that the truth hereof may the better ap∣peere; call to remembrance your selfe, that which oftentimes you have heard concerning Epa∣minondas, who being asked upon a time what was the greatest pleasure that ever he felt in all his life? answered thus: Marie even this (quoth he) that it was my fortune to win the field at the battell of Leuctres, my father and mother both being yet living. And Sylla, the first time that he came to Rome after he had cleered Italy from civill and domesticall warres, could not sleepe one [ 30] winke, nor lay his eies together a whole night, for exceeding great joy and contentment wherewith his spirit was ravished, as if it had beene with a mightie and violent wind: and thus much he wrote of himselfe in his owne Commentaries. I can therefore hold well with Xeno∣phon in that hee saith: That there is no sound or speech more delectable to a mans eare, than the hearing of his owne praises; and even so it must bee confessed: That there is no spectacle no sight, no report and memoriall, no cogitation, nor thought in the world, that bringeth so great pleasure & delectation to the mind, as doth the contemplation and beholding of those good and laudable deeds, which a man hath performed whiles he was employed in the admini∣stration of State and in bearing offices, as being conspicuous, eminent, and publike places to be seene afarre off. True it is moreover, that the amiable grace and favour thereby gotten, accom∣panying [ 40] alwaies vertuous acts and bearing witnesse therto; the commendation also of the peo∣ple who strive a vie and contend who can give out greatest praise and speake most good (the ve∣rie guide which leadeth the way of just and due benevolence) doth adde a glosse and lustre (as it were) unto the joy proceeding from vertue, for to polish and beautifie the same. Neither ought a man by negligence to suffer for to fade and wither in old age, the glorie of his good deeds, like unto a cornet or garland of greene leaves which was woon at some games of prize; but evermore to bring foorth some fresh and new demerites, to stir up and awaken (as a man would say) the grace of the old deeds precedent, and thereby to make the same both greater, and also more permanent and durable. For like as the carpenters and shipwrights who had the charge to maintaine the ship called the Gallion of Delos evermore made supply of new pieces of [ 50] timber, as anie of the olde began to decaie, keeping it in continuall reparation by putting in one ribbe and planke for another, and so preserved it alwaies entire and whole, as it was the verie first daie when it was built; even so a man is to doe by his reputation and credit. And no harder matter is it for to maintaine glorie once up and on foote, than to keepe a fire continually flaming which is once kindled, by putting eftsoones fresh fewell under (bee it never so little) for to feede the same: but if they bee once out and throughly quenched indeede, then it is no small matter to set either the one or the other a burning

againe. And like as Lampas the rich merchant, and shipmaster, being demaunded how he got his goods: Marie (quoth he) my greatest wealth I gained soone and with ease, but my smaller estate with exceeding much paine and slowly; even so it is no easie matter at the beginning to acquire reputation, or to win credit and authoritie in the managing of civill affaires, but to aug∣ment it after the foundation is laid, or to preserve and uphold the same, when it is once come to greatnes, is not so hard, for every litle thing, & the smallest meanes wil do it. And so we see that a friend when he is onece had, requireth not many great pleasures & offices of kindnesse & friend∣ship for to be kept and continued a friend stil, but petie tokens & smal signes of curtesie, passing continually from time to time betweene, are sufficient to preserve mutuall love and amity, Sem∣blablie, the good will and affection of the people, their trust & confidence which they have con∣ceived [ 10] towards a man, although he be not able evermore to give largesses among them, al∣though he doe not alwaies defend and mainteine their causes, nor sit continually in place of magistracie and office, yet neverthelesse it holdeth still, if he doe but shew himselfe onely to ca∣rie a good heart unto them, & not to cease for to take paines & care for the common good, nor refuse any service in that behalfe: for even the very expeditions and voiages in warre, have not alwaies battailes araunged, nor fields fought and bloudie skirmishes, ne yet besieging and be∣leaguing of cities; but they afford betweene whiles, festivall sacrifices, parlies & enterviewes, some leasure also and time of rest, to follow games, disports, and pastimes. How then commeth it, that an old man should be afraid to meddle in State affaires, as if it were a charge unsupporta∣ble, full of infinite and innumerable travels, without any comfort and consolation at all? consi∣dering [ 20] that there be allowed at times, varietie of plaies and games, goodly sights and shewes, solemne precessions, and stately pompes, publike doles and largesses, daunces, musicke and seasts, and ever and anon the honorable service and worship of one god or other, which are able to unknit the frownes and unbend the browes, to dispatch and dissipate the cloudy cares and au∣steritie of the judges in court hall, and of senatours also in counsell chamber, yeelding unto them much more pleasure & contentment in proportion to their travels and paines belonging to their place. As for the greatest mischief which is most to be feared in such administrations of the common-weale, to wit, envy, it setleth & taketh least hold upon old age of any other; for like as Heraclitus was wont to say: That dogs do baie & barke at those whom they know not; even so envie assaileth him who beginneth to governe, just at the dore as it were, and the entrie of [ 30] the tribunall and throne of estate, seeking to impeach his accesse and passage thither; but after it is accustomed and acquainted once with the glorie of a man, and when it hath beene nouri∣shed and fed therewith, it is not so troublesome and churlish, but becommeth more kinde and gentle; and this is the reason that some have likened envie unto a smoke, which at the first when the fire beginneth to kindle, ariseth grosse and thicke, but after that it burneth light and cleere, vanisheth away and is gone. In all other preeminences and superiorities, men are wont ordina∣rily to debate and quarrell, namely, about vertue, nobilitie of bloud and honour, as being of opi∣nion, that the more they yeeld unto others, the more they doe abridge from themselves; but the prerogative or precedence of time, which properly is called Presbeion, as if a man would say; the Honor of age, or Time-right, is voide of all jealousie and emulation, and there is no man [ 40] but will willingly yeeld it to his companion; neither is there any kinde of honour whereunto so well sorteth this qualitie, namely to grace him more who giveth the honour, than the party who is honoured, as to the prerogative which is given to old men. Moreover, all men doe not hope nor expect to have credit one time or other by their riches, by their eloquence or wisedome; whereas you shall not see so much as one of those that rule in common-wealth, to despaire of comming one day to that authoritie and reverence which old age bringeth men unto. He there∣fore who after he hath wrestled long against envie, retireth in the end from the administration of the common-weale, at what time as it is well appeased and at the point to be extinguished or laid along, should doe like unto that pilot who in a tempest having winde and waves contra∣rie, spreadeth saile and roweth in great danger, but afterwards when the weather is faire, and a [ 50] gentle gale of forewinde serveth, doth goe about to strike saile and ride at anchor in the pleasant sunne-shine; he should I say in so doing, abandon together with his publike affaires, the socie∣tie, felowship, alliance and intelligences which he had with his good friends; for the more time that he had, the more friends by good reason he ought to have gotten, for to stand with him and take his part, whom he neither cannot all at once leade foorth with him, like as a master of carols his whole quire of singing men; nor meete it is and reason that he should leave and for∣sake them all: but as it is not an easie peece of worke to stocke up by the root olde trees, no more

is it a thing soone done to extirpe a long government in the common-weale, as having manie great rootes, and those enterlaced & enwrapped one within another, by reason of sundrie and weightie affaires, the which no doubt must needs worke more trouble and vexation to those that retire and depart from it, than to those that tarrie still by it; and say there remained yet be∣hind for old men some reliques of envie, emulation, and contention, which grew in the time of their government; it were farre better to extinguish and quench the same by power and autho∣ritie, than to turne both side and backe unto them, all naked and disarmed: for envious persons and evill willers never doe assaile them so much with despight, who make head againe and stand their ground, as they doe by contempt those who yeeld backe and retire: and to this accordeth well that which in times past that great Epaminondas said unto the Thebans. For when the Arca∣dians [ 10] had made offer unto them, yea and requested them to enter in their cities, during the winter season, and there to lodge and abide under covert; he would not permit them so to doe, nor to accept of their courtesie: For now (quoth he) all while that they behold you exercising and wrestling in your armour, they have you in great admiration, as valiant and hardy men; but if they should see you once by the fire side punning and stamping beanes, they would take you to be no better then themselves; even so I would make my application, and inferre heere∣upon; that it is a venerable and goodly sight to behold a grave and ancient personage speaking to the people, dispatching affaires of State, and generally to be honored of every man; but he who all the day long stirres not out of his warme bed, or if he be up, sitteth still in some corner of a gallerie, prating and talking vainely, or else reaching, hawking, spitting, or wiping his nose [ 20] that drops for cold; such an one I say, is exposed to contempt. Homer verily himselfe hath taught us this lesson, if we will marke and give good eare to that which he hath written. For old Nestor being at the warre before Troie, was had in honour and reputation; whereas contrari∣wise Peleus and Laertes who taried behinde at home were set little by and despised. For the ha∣bitude of wisedome doth not continue the same, nor is any thing like it selfe, in those who give themselves to ease, and doe not practise the same; but through idlenesse and negligence it di∣minisheth, and is dissolved by little and little, as having need alwaies of some exercise of the cogitation and thought which may waken the spirit, cleere the discourse of reason, and lighten the operative part of the minde to the dealing in affaires,

Like as both iron and brasse is bright and cleere, [ 30] All while mans hand the same doth use and weare: Where as the house wherein none dwels at all, In tract of time must needs decay and fall.

Neither is the infirmitie and feeblenesse of the bodie so great an hinderance unto the govern∣ment of State, in those who above the strength of their age seeme either to mount into the tri∣bunall, or to the bench, or to the generals pavilion and place of audience within the campe, as otherwise their yeeres bring good with them, to wit, considerate circumspection & staied wise∣dom: as also not to be troubled or driven to a non plus in the managing of any busines, or to com∣mit an absurditie & error, partly for want of experience, in part upon vaine-glorie, & so to draw the multitude therewith and doe mischiefe to the common-wealth all at once; like unto a sea [ 40] tossed with windes; but to treat and negotiat gently, mildly, and with a setled judgement, with those who come unto them for advice, or have any affaires or to doe with them. And heereup∣on it is, that cities after they have susteined some great shake or adverse calamitie, or when they have beene affrighted, desire streight waies to be ruled by auncient men, and those well experi∣enced; in which cases they have many times drawen perforce an old man out of his house in the countrey, for to governe them, who thought or desired nothing lesse; they have compelled him to lay his hand upon the helme, for to set all streight and upright againe in securitie, rejecting in the meane while greene headed generals of armies, eloquent oratours also, who knew well enough how to speake aloud, and to pronounce long clauses and periods with one breath, and never fetching their winde; yea and beleeve me brave warriors and woorthie captaines indeede, [ 50] who had beene able and sufficient to have affronted their enimies, and fought valiantly in the field. Like as upon a time at Athens, the oratours there shewing before Timotheus and Iphi∣crates, who were farre stept in yeeres, one named Chares the sonne of Theochares, who was a lustie yoong man, in the flowre of his age, and mightie of bodie, stripped out of his apparell, desired that, hee who was to be captaine generall of the Athenians, were such an one as he for yeeres and for person: God forbid (quoth Timotheus) but rather I could wish the generals var∣let to be such an one, who is to carie after him his bed and the furniture thereto belonging. As

for the commander and leader of an armie, he ought to be a man that knoweth how to see in∣to the State, both before and behinde, and who will not suffer his counsels and resolutions for the weale publike, to be troubled and disordered by any passion whatsoever: for Sophocles when he was now become aged: I am well appaid (quoth he) that I am now escaped from wanton love and the delights of Venus; as being delivered from the subjection of a furious lord and raging master. But in the administration of the common-wealth, a man is not to avoid and flie one sort of masters, to wit, the love of boies and wenches, but many others which be more outragious than it, and namely emulation and a contentious spirit, desire of vaine-glory, and a longing to be alwaies and in every thing the first and the greatest; a vice that engendreth most of any other, envie, jealousies, conspiracies, and factions; of which old age doth let slacke some, [ 10] and dull their edge, others it cooleth and extinguisheth cleane, neither diminisheth and impai∣reth it the inclination and affection to well doing so much, as it represseth and cutteth off the passions which are too violent and over-hot, to the end that it may applie unto the care and stu∣die about affaires, the discourse of reason, sober, staied, and well setled: howbeit in very truth, and in the judgement of the readers, let this speech of the poet

Lie still poore weretch, and keepe thy bed Stirre not from thence, and have no dred.

be alledged and spoken for to disswade and distract him, who would with his grisled beard and graie head begin now to be yoong and plaie the youth, as also to taxe and reproove an old grand-sire, who after long repose in his house, out of which he hath not stirred, no more than [ 20] in the time of a languishing disease, will needs start up now on a sudden, and all at once bestirre his old bones to be a captaine forsooth in all haste, to leade an armie, or els to take upon him the charge of governing a citie. But he that would call away and reclaime one, who hath beene trained and employed all the daies of his life in polit ike affaires, and throughly beaten to the world, and the administration of the common-weale, not suffering him to runne forward in that course of life untill he have atteined the goale, nor untill he have gained the prize of his victory, but will seeme to turne him out of his long journey for to take another way; he (I say) is altoge∣ther senselesse and unreasonable, and nothing resembleth the man we speake of. Like as he who to divert an old man being set out like a youth, with a chaplet of fresh flowers on his head, per∣fumed with sweet odors, and already to be married, would alledge those verses which in a Tra∣gaedie [ 30] were sometime said unto Philoctetes,

What maiden yoong, what fresh and lustie bride Will marry thee, to lie close by thy side? Alas, poore man for pitie, at this age Thus for to venture upon marriage?

were nothing absurd nor out of the way, and beside the purpose; for even old folke themselves when they are disposed to be merrie, have manie such jests as these passe currant among them:

I marrie old, how faire I am bested? Well wot I, for my neighbour I do wed.

But he that would perswade a man alreadie married, to leave his wife with whom he hath lived so [ 40] long in wedlocke, and dwelt together in one house without quarrels and complaints, supposing that because he is now growen in yeeres with her, he should forsake her, and live either a single life apart by himselfe, or else keepe a lemon or concubine in stead of his lawfull wedded wife, in my conceit were a verie absurd sot in the highest degree; even so, it standeth to good reason, for to deale with an old man who having one foot already in his grave, or with one Clidon who had beene an husbandman all his life time; or with on Lampon the merchant venturer, who hath done nothing all his daies, but used shipping & trafficke beyond sea; or with some of these Phi∣losophers out of Epicurus his orchard, who love a life to sit still and doe nothing, to admonish and disswade them from approching unto the publike affaires of the people, and to counsell them to hold them still to their former accustomed course of life, farre from troubles and busie [ 50] dealings in common-weale: marie, he that tooke such an one as Phocion, Cato or Pericles by the hand, and said: My friend of Athens or Rome, whoever you are, now that you be arrived to wi∣thered olde age, make a divorce with the common weale, quit from this day forward all publike administration, all cares and affaires, aswell of counsell as of warre; abandon both the tribunall seat in the citie and also the praetorie or pavilion of State in the campe, retire your selfe into an house in the countrey, and live the rest of your life there with one maid-servant to attend upon you; follow your husbandrie, or els imploy your selfe in your private housholde, to take ac∣counts

and reckonings of your receivers and factours; surely he should perswade him to un∣just things, and exact of a States-man and politician that which neither pleaseth nor yet besee∣meth him. How then? will some man say unto me, never heard we the olde souldiour, how he speaketh thus in the Comedie?

My hoarie haires from warfare set me free, That from henceforth enroll'd I shall not be.

Yes forsooth good sir, it is very true; for requisit it is, and fit, that the squires and servitours of Mars should be in the flower and full strength of their age, as those who make profession of warre and the painfull services belonging thereto, whose gray haires, although the head piece and morion do hide and cover, yet inwardly their limmes are heavie and decaied by yeeres, and [ 10] their strength is not to their good will, nor their hand answerable to their heart. But of the mi∣nisters of Jupiter surnamed Counseller, Oratour, and Patron of cities, we require not the works of feet nor of hands, but of counsel, forecast & eloquence; and yet not such eloquence I meane, as should make a stirre, or raise a noise, out-crie and shout among the people, but that which is full of ripe understanding, of considerate wisedome, and of good directions and plots well and surely laied. In which persons, the white head and gray beard (which some laugh and make good game at) the crow-foot about the eies, the furrowes in the forehead, the rivels and wrinc∣kles in the face besides appearing, beare witnesse of long experience, and adde unto them a re∣putation and authoritie, which helpe much to perswade and to draw the minds of the hearers unto their will and purpose. For to speake truely, youth is made (as it were) to follow and obey, [ 20] but age to guide and command: and that citie or State is preserved, wherein the sage counsels of the elders and the martiall prowesse of the yonger, beare sway together. And for this cause highly and woonderfully are these verses following praised in Homer, and namely in the first place:

Then to begin, a goodly sort of ancient captaines bold Assembled he in Nestors ship, a counsell there to hold.

upon the same reason also, that counsel of the wisest and principall men assistant unto the kings of Lacedaemon, for the better government of the State, the oracle of Apollo Pythius first called [ 30] 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 i. Elders: and Lycurgus afterwards directly and plainly tearmed 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 i. Old men; and even at this very day, the counsell of Estate in Rome is named a Senate, that is to say, an as∣sembly of ancient persons. And like as the law and custome, time out of minde, hath allowed unto Kings and Princes the diademe, that is to say, a roiall band or frontlet, the crowne also to stand upon their heads, as honourable mots & ensignes of their regall dignitie and sovereigne authoritie; even so hath nature given unto olde men the white head and hoarie beard as ho∣nourable tokens of their right to command, and of their preeminence above others. And for mine owne part, I verily thinke that this nowne in Greeke, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 which signifieth a prize or re∣ward of honour, as also the verbe 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 which is as much to say, as to honour, continue still in use, as respective to the honour due unto olde men (who in Greeke are called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉) not [ 40] for that they bathe in hot waters, or sleepe in softer beds; but because in cities well and wisely governed, they be ranged with kings for their prudence, the proper and perfect goodnesse whereof, as of some tree which yeeldeth winter fruit which is not ripe before the latter end of the yeere, nature bringeth forth late and hardly in olde age: and therefore there was not one of those martiall and brave couragious captaines of the Greeks, who found fault with that great king of kings Agamemnon for making such a praier as this unto the gods:

That of the Grecian host which stood of many woorthie men, Such counsellers as Nestor was, they would vouchsafe him ten. [ 50]

but they all agreed with him, and by their silence confessed, That not onely in policie and civill government, but also in warre, olde age carrieth a mightie great stroke: for according as the ancient proverbe beareth witnesse:

One head that knowes full wisely for to reed, Out goesten hands, and maketh better speed.

One advice likewise, and sentence grounded upon reason, and delivered with perswasive grace, effecteth the greatest and bravest exploits in a whole State. Well, say that olde age hath many

difficulties and discommodities attending upon it, yet is not the same therefore to be rejected: for the absolute rule of a king, being the greatest and most perfect estate of all governments in the world, hath exceeding many cares, travels and troubles; insomuch, as it is written of king Seleucus that he would often-times say, if the people wist how laborious and painfull it were to reade and write onely so many letters as he did, they would not deine to take up his diademe, if they found it throwen in their very way as they goe. And Philip being at the point to pitch his campe in a faire ground, when he was advertised that the place would not affoord forage for his labouring beasts: O Hercules (quoth he) what a life is this of ours, that we must live (forsooth) and care to serve the necessitie of our asses? Why, then belike it were high time to perswade a king when he is aged, for to lay downe his diademe, to cast off his robes of purple, to clad him∣selfe [ 10] in simple array, to take a crooked staffe in hand, and so to go and live in the countrey, for feare lest if he with his gray haires raigned stil, he should seeme to do many superfluous and impertinent things, and to direct matters out of season? Now if it were unseemely and a meere indignitie, to deale with Agesilaus, with Numa and Darius, all kings and monarchs, after this sort; unmeet likewise it is, that we should remove and displace Solon out of the counsell of Are∣opagus, or depose Cato from his place in the Romane Senate, because of their olde age. Why should we then goe about to perswade such an one as Pericles to give over and resigne his go∣vernment in a popular State? for over & besides, there were no sense at all, that if one have leapt and mounted into the tribunall seat or chaire of estate in his yoong yeeres, and afterwards dis∣charged upon the people & common-wealth those his violent passions of ambition and other [ 20] furious fits, when ripe age is now come, which is woont to bring with it discretion and much wisdome gathered by experience, to abandon and put away (as it were) his lawfull wife, the go∣vernment which hee hath so long time abused. The foxe in Aesops fables would not suffer the urchin to take off the tiques that were setled upon her bodie: For if (quoth she) thou take away these that be already full, there will come other hungry ones in their place; and even so, if a State rejected evermore from administration of the common-wealth those governours that begin once to be olde, it must needs be quickly full of a sort of yoong rulers, that be hungrie and thirstie both after glory, but altogether void of politike wit and reason to governe: for how can it otherwise be? and where should they get knowledge, if they have not bene disciples to learne, nor spectatours to follow and imitate some ancient magistrate that manageth state af∣faires? [ 30] The Cards at sea which shew the feat of sailing and ruling ships, can not make good sea-men or skilfull pilots, if they have not beene themselves many times at the stearne in the poope, to see the maner of it, and the conflicts against the waves, the winds, the blacke stormes and darke tempests,

What time in great perplexitie, The mariner doth wish to see Castor and Pollux, twins full bright, Presaging safetie with their light.

How then possibly can a yoong man governe and direct a citie well, perswade the people a∣right, & deliver wise counsel in the Senate, having but read one little booke treating of pollicy, [ 40] or haply written an exercise or declamation in the Schoole Lyceum touching that argument? unlesse besides, he have stood close unto the reines, or hard by the helme many a time, & by marking both citie rulers and martiall captaines, how they have but beene put to their trial, and according to the sundry experiences and accidents of fortunes, enclining now to the one side and then to the other, after many dangers and great affaires, have gotten sufficient know∣ledge and instruction before hand? I can not see how it can be: but if there were no other thing at all besides; yet surely an ancient man is to manage still the affaires of State, and it were but to traine and teach the yoonger, that be to come up after him: for like as they who teach children musick, or to reade, do themselves Sol, fa, & sing the note, they finger & strike the key or string, they reade & spell the letters before them, & all to shew how they should do; even so the anci∣ent [ 50] politician doth frame and direct a yoong man, not onely by reading unto him, by discour∣sing and advertising him without foorth; but also in the very managing and administration of affaires, fashioning, forming and casting him (as it were) lively in a mold, as well by operation and example, as by words and precepts. For he that is schooled and exercised herein, not in the schooles of the Sophisters that can speake in number & measure, as in the wrestling hall where the body is annointed with a cōposition of oyle & waxe together, against exercises performed without any danger at all: but (as it were) at the verie publike games indeed, in the view of the

whole world, such as the Olympicks and Pythicks were: he (I say) followeth the tracts and foot∣steps of his master and teacher, as saith Simonides:

As suckling foale, that keepes just pace, And runnes with dam in everie place.

Thus did Aristides under Calisthenes, Cimon under Aristides, Phocion under Chabrias Cato under Fabius Maximus, Pompeius under Sylla, and Polybius under Philopaemen. For all these perso∣nages when they were yoong, drew neere and joined themselves with others that were ancient, and having taken root close by them, grew up together with them in their actions and admi∣nistrations, whereby they got experience and were inured to the managing of the State with honour and reputation. Aeschines the Academique Philosopher, when certaine envious sophi∣sters [ 10] of his time charged him and said: That he made a semblance and shew, that he had beene the disciple and hearer of Carneades, whereas he never was. I say unto you (quoth he) that I heard the man, when as his speech abandoning the bruit applause and tumultuous noise of the people, by reason of his old age was shut up close and housed (as it were) for to do good more familiarly in private conference. And even so it is with the government of an aged person, when as not onely his words, but also his deeds be farre remote from affected pompe in out∣ward shewes, and all vaine glorie. Much like as is reported of the blacke Storke, called Ibis, who by that time that she is become old, hath exhaled and breathed foorth all that strong and stin∣king savour which she had, and beginneth to yeeld a sweet and arromaticall smel; even so, there is no counsell nor opinion in old men, vaine, turbulent, or inconstant, but all grave, quiet, and [ 20] setled. And therefore in any wise (as I said before) if it were but for yoong mens sake onely and no more; elder persons are to weld the affaires of State: to the end that as Plato speaking of wine mingled with water, said that it was to make the furious god wise, by chastising him with another that was sober and temperate: the staid wisedome of old age tempered with youth, swel∣ling and boiling before the people, and transported with the greedy desire of honour, and with ambition, might cut off that which is furious, raging and over violent.

But over and besides all that hath beene said before, they who thinke, that to be employed in the managing of publike affaires, is all one as to saile for trafficke, or to go foorth to warre in some expedition, are much deceived: for both navigation & also war, men undertake for a cer∣taine end, and no sooner have they attained thereto but they cease: but the managing of State [ 30] affaires is not a commission or office pretending or intending any profit and commoditie for the scope that it shooteth at; but it is the life and profession of a living creature, which is gentle, tame, civill, and sociable, borne to live so long as it pleaseth nature, civilly, honestly, and for the publike good of humane societie. This is the reason, that of a man it should be said, that he still is occupied in such affaires of common-weale, and not that he hath beene so employed: like as to be true, and not to have beene true; to be just and not to have beene just; to love his countrey and citizens, and not to have loved them, is his dutie and profession. For even nature her selfe directeth us hereto, and singeth this lesson in our eares (I speake to those who are not altoge∣ther corrupted and marred with sloth and idlenesse)

Thy father thee, a man hath once begat: [ 40] To profit men alwaies, in this or that.

Againe:

Let us not cease nor any end finde To do all good unto mankinde.

As touching them who pretend and alledge for excuse, feeblenesse or impotencie, they do ac∣cuse sicknesse & the maimed indisposition of the bodie rather than age. For you shall see many yoong men sicke & feeble, and as many old folke lusty & strong; so we are not to remoove aged persons simply from the adminstration of the common-weale, but the impotent onely and un∣sufficient; nor to call unto that vocation yong men, but such as be able to undergo the charge: for Aridaeus was yong enough, and Antigonus in yeeres; and yet this man as olde as he was, [ 50] went within a little of conquering all Asia; but the other had never but the bare name onely of a King, like as in a dumbe-shew upon a stage, making a countenance onely with a guard of par∣tizans and halberds about him, without speaking one word; and so he was a ridiculous pageant and laughing stocke among his nobles and peeres, who were alwaies his rulers, and led him as they list. And even as he who would perswade Prodicus the Sophister, or Philetas the poet (yong men both, howbeit leane, feeble, sickly, and for the most part of their time bed-ridden) for to meddle with government of State, were a very foole and senselesse asse; so hee were no whit

better, who should debarre such old men as Phocion, as Masanissa the African, or Cato the Ro∣mane, from exercising publike magistracie in citie, or taking the charge of a Lord Generall in the sield: for Phocion one day when the Athenians all in the haste, would needs have gone forth to warre at an unseasonable time, commaunded by proclamation that as many as were not above threescore yeeres of age, should arme and follow him now when they were offended and wroth hereat: Why? my masters (quoth he) what cause have you to complaine? I will go with you my selfe and be your captaine, who carie already above fourscore yeeres on my backe. And of Masanissa, Polybius writeth in his storie, that he died when he was fourscore and ten yeeres old, and left behind him at his death a sonne of his owne bodie begotten, but fower yeeres old: also that a little before his dying day, he overthrew the Carthaginians in a raunged battell, [ 10] and the morrow after was seene eating favourly at his verie tent doore a piece of browne bread: and when some marvelled at him why he so did, he answered thus out of the Poet So∣phocles:

For iron and brasse, be bright and cleare All while mans hand the same doth weare, But the house wherein none dwels at all In time must needs decay and fall.

and even as much may be said, of the the lustre, glosse and resplendent light of the minde, by which we discourse, we remember, conceive and understand. And therefore it is generally held and said, that kings become much better in wars and militarie expeditions, than they be all the [ 20] whiles they sit still quietly at home. In such sort, that it is reported of King Attalus, the brother of Eumenes, how being enervate by long peace and rest, Philopaemen one of his favourites led him up and downe as he list by the nose, and indeed being fed as fat as a beast, he might do with him what he would; so as the Romans were wont to aske by way of mockerie ever and anon, as any sailed out of Asia, whether the king were in grace and favour with Philopaemen, and might do any thing with him? There could not easily be found many Romane captaines more sufficient warriours in all kinde of service than was Lucullus, so long as he was in action, and mainteined his wit and understanding entier; but after that he gave himselfe over once to an idle life, and sat mued up (as it were) like an house-bird at home, and medled no more in the affaires of the common-weale, he became very dull, blockish and benummed, much like to sea-spunges af∣ter [ 30] a long calme, when the salt water doth not dash and drench them; so that afterwards hee committed his olde age to be dieted, cured and ordered unto one of his affranchised bond∣slaves, named Callisthenes, by whom it was thought he was medicined with amatorious drinks, and bewitched with other charmes and sorceries, untill such time as his brother Marcus dis∣placed this servitour from about him, and would needs have the government and disposition of his person the rest of his life, which was not very long. But Dartus the father of Xerxes was wont to say: That in perillous times and dangerous troubles, he became the better and much wiser than himselfe. * 1.2 Aeleas a King of Scythia said, that he thought himselfe no better than his horse-keeper, when he was ilde. Dionysius the elder being demaunded upon a time, whether he were at leisure and had nought to do? God defend (quoth he) that ever it should be so with me: [ 40] for a bow (as they say) if it be over-bent will breake, but the mind if it be over-slacke. For the verie musicians themselves, if they discontinue overlong the hearing of their accords; the Geo∣metricians likewise, to proove & resolve their conclusions, the Arithmeticians also to exercise continually their accounts and reckonings, together with the verie actions do impaire by long time and age the habitudes that they had gotten before in their severall arts, albeit they be not so much practike as speculative sciences: but the politike habitude, which is Prudence, Discre∣tion, Sage, advise, and Justice, and besides all these, Experience which can skill in all oc∣currences how to make choise of opportunities and the verie point of occasions, as also a suffi∣ciencie to be able with good words to perswade that which is meet; this habitude (I say) and knowledge can not be preserved & maintained, but by speaking often in publike place, by doing [ 50] affaires, by discoursing and by judgement: and a hard case (it were) if by discontinuing and leaving off these goodly exercises, it should neglect and suffer to voide out of the mind so ma∣ny faire and laudable vertues: for verie like it is, that in so doing all humanitie, sociable courte∣sie, and gratitude in time, for want of use and practise would decay and fade away, which in deed should never cease nor have an end. Now if you had Tithonus for your father, who indeed was immortall, howbeit by reason of extreme age standing in need continually of great helpe and carefull attendance, would you avoide all good meanes? would you denie or be weary of doing

him dutifull service, namely, to wait upon him, to speake unto him, to find talke with him, and to succour him everie way, under a colour and pretense that you had ministred unto him long enough? I trow you would not. Our countrey then, resembling our father, or our mother ra∣ther according to the tearme 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 which the Candiots give it, which is more aged, and hath many more rights over us, and straighter obligations of us, than hath either father or mother, how durable and long lived so ever it be, yet notwithstanding subject it is to age, and is not suf∣ficent of it selfe, but hath alwaies need of some carefull eie and good regard over it, and requi∣reth much succour and vigilance; she (I say) plucketh unto her a man of honour and policie, she takes sure hold and will not let him go,

She 〈◊〉〈◊〉 him by skirt of roabe behind, [ 10] And holds him fast, least that he from her wind.

you know well that there be many Pythiades, that is to say, five yeeres terames gone over my head, since I began first to minister as Priest unto Apollo Pythius: but yet (I suppose) you would not say thus unto me: Plutarch, you have sacrificed enough now; you have gone in pro∣cession often enough, already, or you have lead a sufficient number of dances in the honour and worship of your god; now you are growen in yeeres and become aged; it were time now, that you laid off the coronet which you weare on your head in token of your priesthood, and give over the oracle by reason of your old age. Neither would I have you thinke that it is lawfull for you, notwithstanding you be farre stept in yeeres, to relinquish and resigne up your holy service of Jupiter the tutor and patron of cities, the president of civill assemblies and coun∣sels; [ 20] you (I say) who are the sovereigne high priest, and the great prophet of the sacred cere∣monies of religion politike wherein you thus long time have bene entred and professed.

But laying aside if you thinke good, these arguments that may distract and pull an old man from the administration of the State; let us discourse philosophically, and consider a little upon this point: namely, that we doe not impose upon old age any enterprise and travel, which is ei∣ther too greevous or unbeseeming, considering that in the universall government of the com∣mon-weale, there be many parts befitting well enough and agreeable to that age whereunto both you and I at this present be arrived. For like as if of dutie we were commanded to continue singing all our life long, we are not bound after that we be growen to great age for to reach un∣to the highest, lowdest, and most shrill notes, considering that there be in musicke many divers [ 30] tunes and different intensions of the voice, which the musicians call harmonies; but reason would that we make choise of that which is easiest for our yeeres, and most sutable to our nature and disposition; even so since that to speake and manage affaires is to men more naturall du∣ring their whose life, than singing to swannes even unto their houre of death, we mustnot aban∣don that affection of saying and doing, as if we should fling away an harpe too high set, but we ought to let the same downe by little and little, taking in hand those charges and offices which be lesse painfull, more moderate, and better according with the strength and manners of old folke: for even our verie bodies, we that are aged doe not suffer to rest still without all exercise, and allow them no motion at all, because we can no more handle the spade to dig the ground, nor weld the plummets of leade in the exercise of dauncing, nor pitch the barre, fling the [ 40] hammer, cast the coit, or throw a stone farre from us, or fight and skirmish in our armour, or handle sword and buckler as we could have done in those daies; yet we can abide to swing and hang at a rope for to stretch our limmes, we can away with shaking of our bodies moderately in a pendant ship, coach, or easie horse-litter; we like well enough of walking gently, and devising one with another upon the way, and mainteining pleasant discourses, wakening and reviving our vitall spirits, and blowing as it were the coles to kindle our naturall heat: and therefore let us not suffer our selves to grow over colde, nor stiffe and starke as if we were frozen and con∣gealed through our sloth and idlenesse; neither on the other side overcharge our selves with all offices, nor be readie to lay our hand to all ministeries and functions, nor enforce our old age convinced of impotencie to come at length to these or such like words, [ 50]

Ah good right hand, how gladly wouldst thou take The launce to couch, and pike in skirmish shake: But now alas, this forward will to fight, Thy feeblenesse doth checke, and worke thee spight.

For neither is the man himselfe, who is able enough and in the floure of his yeres, commended, if he should undergo and lay upon his shoulders all the affaires of the common-weale, and not suffer any man else with him to take some part (like as the Stoicks affirme that Jupiter is content

to do) but engaging himselfe in all things, and medling in every matter, either upon an unsatia∣ble desire of glorie, or for envie that he beareth to those, who in some measure would have their part of honour and authoritie in the common-weale. But unto an auncient person I assure you, (although you should ease him of infamie in this behalfe) yet it were a painfull ambition, and a most laborious desire of rule to be present personally at all elections of magistrates; yea and a miserable curiositie to wait and attend every houre of judgement in court, and all meetings and assemblies in counsell; also an intollerable humour of vaine-glorie to stand at receit and catch every occasion of embassage, or know every verduict of our grand-jurie, or undertake the pa∣tronage of all publike causes whatsoever; and say that all this might be performed with the fa∣vour and love of every man, yet greevous it is, and above the ordinarie strength of that age. [ 10] But what will you say if they meet with the cleane contrarie? for to yoong men they be odious, because they let nothing passe their owne hands, but intercept from them all occasion and meanes of action, not giving them leave to arise and put themselves foorth; as for their equals, this covetous desire of theirs to hold the highest place in all things, and to have the sole autho∣ritie every where, is no lesse hated of them, & accounted infamous, than either avarice or loose life, and voluptuousnesse in other old folke. And therefore like as (by report) king Alexander the great, not willing to overcharge his horse Bucephalus when he grew in age, used to mount other coursers before the fight began, for to ride up and downe to review his armie and all the quarters and regiments thereof, but after he had ranged it in array, & set his squadrons and com∣panies in ordinance of battell, and given the signall, he would alight and get upon his backe [ 20] againe as he was woont, and presently march directly affront his enemies, give the charge, and hazard the fortune of the field: even so a politike man of State, if he be wise and of sound) judge∣ment, will favour his strength a little, when he feeleth himselfe aged, as he holdeth the reines in his owne hand, he will forbeare to deale in those charges which are not altogether so necessa∣rie, and suffer younger men to manage matters of lesse importance; but in weightie affaires of great consequence, he will lay to both his owne hands in good earnest, contrary unto the prac∣tise of the champions in publike games and combats of prise, who carefully looke unto their bodies without touching at all any necessary works, and all to employ and use them in need∣lesse, unprofitable, and superfluous feats: but we contrariwise letting passe by the petie and sleight charges, are to reserve our selves whole and entire unto those that be serious and of mo∣ment [ 30] indeed: for a yoong man as Homer saith, all things beseeme indifferently & alike, all the world smileth on him, every body loveth him; if he enterprise small matters, and many in num∣ber, they say he is a good common-wealths man, he is popular, he is laborious; if he undertake great works and honorable actions, he hath the name of generous, noble & magnanimous: yea, and divers occurrences there be, wherein rashnesse it selfe and a contentious humour of emula∣tion have a kinde of grace, and become gaily well such as be fresh and gallant youthes; but for a man of yeeres, who during the administration of the common-weale, undertaketh these and such like ministeries and commissions; namely, the letting to ferme the customes & revenues of the citie, the charge of mainteining an haven, or keeping of the market place and common hall in order and reparation; over and besides, the embassies and voiages in forren parts to princes [ 40] and potentates, or the riding in poste thither, to treat about no matter of necessitie nor weighty affaires of any importance, but onely to salute them or make court unto them, or performe some offices of course and courtesie: In my conceit, and be it spoken unto you my good friend, he is to be pitied for it, and his case is rather lamentable than commendable. To others haply it may seeme an odious trouble & a burdensome matter for him so to be emploid; for surely this is not an age wherein a man should be encumbred with any offices, but such as wherein there is dignitie, grandence & reputation, such as that is, which your selfe at this time do execute in A∣thens, to wit, the presidence of the counsell or senate called Ariopagus, and verily of that kinde also is that dignitie of being one of that honorable counsell and assemblie of the States, called Amphyctiones, which your countrey hath conferred upon you by patent to hold all your life [ 50] time, the labour belonging whereto is pleasant, the paines easie, and the travell tolerable. Howbeit I would not have an auncient person to range and hunt after these offices, nor to ac∣cept them, as demaunding the same, but to receive them by way of refusall, so as he may seeme to take them volens nolens, not as meanes for to be himselfe in honor, but as one that meant by his acception to grace and honour them. For it is no shame as Tiberius Caesar was woont to say, for men above three-score yeres of age to reach forth their hand to a physician for to have their pulse felt; but rather to stretch out their hands to the people, in praying them to give their

voices or suffrages with them at the election of magistrates; for this is a very vile and base thing: as contrariwise there is in this a certeine venerable majestie, and a dignitie right ho∣norable; that when the countrey hath elected one to bee a magistrate, when they call up∣on him and give attendance at his doore, hee should then come downe unto them out of his house, with a kinde of reciprocall honour of his part, a cheerefull countenaunce and courteous behaviour to the people againe, to salute, embrace, wel-come, and accept this their present, woorthy indeed and beseeming honourable old age. Semblablie also in some sort an auncient man ought to use his speech in the congregation and assemblie of the people, not running ever and anon and leaping up into the pulpit or place of audience to make an ora∣tion unto the people, nor readie alwaies like as a cocke croweth againe when hee heareth [ 10] others, to counterchaunt (as it were) to all those that make any speech, nor in fastning upon them, and striving to take hold and vantage of their words, to unbridle the reverence that yoong men beare toward him, nor to breed in them by that meanes matter to exercise and accu∣stome themselves in disobedience and unwillingnesse to heare him: but hee must otherwhiles seeme topasse by, and make semblance as though hee saw and heard nothing, and give them leave a little to brave it, to fling out, and cast up the head like a wanton yoong horse, neither to bee present, among or to search curiouslie into everie thing that is done or saide, espe∣cially when the daunger is not great, nor a matter touching the safetie of common weale, nor any honour and reputation; for there in such cases he ought not to stay untill he be cal∣led, but to put foorth himselfe and to runne even above the ordinarie strength of his age, or [ 20] else if he be not able, to yeeld his bodie to be led by hand and susteined up by folkes armes, yea and to be caried in a chaire; as the historie doth report of Appius Claudius, who having heard that the Senate of Rome after a great foughten field which king Pyrrhus had woon of the Romaines, inclined to accept of articles and capitulations tending to a composition and to peace, could not endure that indignitie, nor conteine himselfe, (blinde though he were of both his eies) but would needs be caried through the common place even to the senat house; and be∣ing entred in upon his feet, he stood in the mids of them all and said: My masters, hitherto I have beene grieved for the losse of mine eie-sight, in that I could not see; but now I wish that I had lost the use also of mine eares, and that I might not heare the shamefull counsels & cour∣ses that you take, besides the lewd exploits that you performe: then partly by reprooving them [ 30] sharply, and in part by his effectuall reasons and remonstrations exciting them, he wrought so, that perswaded they were presently to resume armes for to fight with Pyrrhus, for the seignorie and empire of Italy. And Solon at what time as the flatterers of Pisistratus wherewith he abused the people of Athens, were openly derected and discovered, and that it appeered once that he aimed at nothing else but to usurpe tyrannie over them, and when no man durst make head against him and empeach or crosse his dessignes, himselfe alone bringing foorth armour out of his house, and laying the same in the street before his very doores; cried with a loud voice unto the citizens for to aide him; which when Pisistratus heard, hee sent unto him for to de∣maund & know upon what assurance that he had, he durst be so bold as thus to do? Mary (quoth he) I presume upon mine old age. Such occurrences as these so necessarie, doe rekindle and set [ 40] on fire againe old men, who were in maner extinct and cleane dead before, provided, that there remained in them any sparke or breath at all: but in other smaller occasions, an auncient perso∣nage shall do well and wisely to excuse himselfe otherwhiles, and refuse base or vile ministeries, wherein greater toile and paines groweth unto them that be amploied therein, than profit and commoditie doth accrue unto the parties for whose sake they be undertaken. It falleth out also somtimes, that if he stay untill he be called and sought unto, until he be desired, & that they send to seeke for him at his house, he shall win more credit and authoritie among his citizens by comming among them in the end at their request: and say that he be present in place, he shall be silent himselfe for the most part & suffer yoonger men to speake, as being the judge of civill contention and emulation among them, provided alwaies that the same exceed not a certaine [ 50] meane; for then he shal reproove them mildly, after a kind & loving sort cut off all opinionative debates, all head-strong opinions, all opprobrious tearmes and heat of choler. Now the ad∣vices and opinions delivered of any matter in question, his part is to comfort and encourage him that commeth short of the point, not reprooving and blaming him at all, but rather tea∣ching him how to do better against another time, yea and to praise him boldly, who hath done well, and suffer his owne selfe willingly to take the woorse and be overcome, giving the place to some many times, and not disdaine to bee overmatched and perswaded by reason: to the

end that they may take the better heart and be more bold, and ready to helpe out and supplie others in their defects, and that with good words and faire language, like as that old Nestor did in Homer:

Of all the Greeks there is no man, Who blame these words or gainsay can: But yet for sooth you say not all, Nor come are to the finiall. For why? you seeme but yoong by your visage, And well my sonne you may be for your age.

Moreover, this were more civilly done, not to reprove and checke them openly nor in pub∣licke [ 10] place, although it be without any great biting and nipping, which is enough to abate and cast downe the courage of yoong men; but rather apart and privatly, especially such as be well framed and disposed by nature to government of State another day; instructing and leading them gently into the right way, setting before their eies some excellent sayings, examples and inventions tending to policie, and inciting them alwaies to good and honest enterprises, hear∣tening and imboldning them by that meanes, that they may shew a lively and lightsome spirit, and even at the beginning, making the people cast a liking and love unto them, and be more gentle and tractable afterwards: like as it is the maner of those, who when they teach yong men to sit and ride an horse, bring them first one that is gentle and easie to be mounted upon; now if peradventure one of them at his first entrance do faile and catch a fall, he must not let him lie [ 20] along, and so breake the heart of a youth for ever, but lift him up and set him on his feet againe, yea, and give him comfortable and gracious words. Thus did Aristides in times past by Cimon, and Mnesiphilus by Themistocles, whom the people at the first could not abide and brooke, as having but a bad name in the citie for their audaciousnesse and loose life; and yet these good men stood their friends, brought them into credit, and mightily encouraged them. It is repor∣ted also even of Demosthenes himselfe, that the first time he came to the barre, he suffered a dis∣grace, and was rejected by the people, which he tooke to heart & was wondrously dismaied, un∣till such time as an ancient and fatherly citizen, one who had sometime heard Pericles making orations to the people, tooke him by the hand & said unto him: That he resembled Pericles for all the world in speech and gesture, and that he did himselfe great wrong upon such an occasion [ 30] to be faint-hearted and cast downe. Semblably, Euripides after the same maner imboldned Ti∣motheus the Musician, who at his first comming upon the stage was hissed out by the people, as one that by his novelties which he brought up, seemed to violate and breake the lawes of Mu∣sicke; but he willed him to be of good cheere for all that, saying: It would not be long after, but he should be able to draw and leade the whole Theater after him as he would, and have the peo∣ple at his devotion. To be briefe, like as the terme of time limited and appointed for the vestall virgins or nunnes votaries at Rome, was divided into three parts: The first, to learne that which perteined to their religion; the second, to practise; and the third, to teach the yonger. And likewise, as in the citie of Ephesus every one of those maidens vowed to the service of Diana, was at the beginning called Melliere, which is as much to say, as a Novice to be a priestresse hereaf∣ter; then Hiere, that is to say, a full priestresse in deed; and last of all, Pariere, which signifieth one that had power to imitate and professe others in the same orders; even so, he that is a per∣fect polititian and States-man, at the first is but a learner and a questionist (as it were) to doe his acts, and so to commence in that profession; but in the end, he teacheth others, he is a regent over novices, and sheweth them the secrets of policie. For to be a president and overseer of o∣thers that trie masteries or combats, is not to be a fencer or champion himselfe; but he that in∣stituteth and traineth a yoong man to publike affaires and matters of State, framing and fitting him for his countrey another day, in shewing him how

To frame his words with comely grace, And deeds performe meet for his place. [ 50]

is a good profitable member of the common-wealth, not in a small and base kinde of ser∣vice, but in a ministerie of great consequence; and to which especially and principally, Lycur∣gus having given himselfe and aimed at, accustomed yong men even from their infancie to o∣bey and doe reverence to every elder, no lesse than to a ruler and law-giver. For in what regard els, and to what other purpose said Lysander? That there was no place in the world, where it was so honourable for to be old, as in Lacedaemon. Was it because it was permitted and lawfull there for elder persons more than for any other, to till the ground, to put out money to usurie, to play

at dice, being set together, and to keepe good fellowship, drinke merily as they are close at their game, and playing hard at hazzard? I suppose neither you nor any man els will so say. But it was because all such, being after a sort in place of rulers, of fatherly governours and tu∣tours over youth, have not a vigilant eie ouer the publicke affaires onely, but a particular regard also alwaies to every action of yong men, enquiring and learning not sleightly, and as it were passing by their whole demeanour, namely, how they exercise their bodies in publicke place; how they play and disport themselves; what their diet is, and how they converse and live toge∣ther, shewing themselves dread and terrible to those that do ill, but venerable and desireable to the good; for in trueth yoong folke alwaies observe & looke after them, and to such they make court; for that ancient persons do labour for to make them better, & augment the generosity of [ 10] their mind, without all envie. For this passion, as it beseemeth no time of mans age, howsoever in yong men it be entituled with a number of faire and honest names, to wit, emulation, zeale, and desire of honour; so in olde men it is altogether unseasonable, absurd, rude, savage, unman∣ly and base. And therefore a man of yeeres, who is a polititian, must be very farre off from this humour of envie, and not like unto old runt-trees or dodils, which repining as it were at others, doe manifestly hinder and take away the spring and growth of yoong poles and plants which come up under them, or grow neere about them: but contrariwise, he ought to admit and re∣ceive them kindly, yea, and to offer himselfe lovingly unto those that make to ward him and be glad to sort and converse with him; such he ought to enforme, to direct, to dade and leade by the hand, yea, and to cherish and nourish them, not onely with good instructions, sage coun∣sels [ 20] and wise admonitions, but also in yeelding unto them the place and meanes to exercise some functions of government, whereby there may grow unto them some honour and glorie, in preferring them to those charges and commissions which be not hurtfull to the State, but pleasing and acceptable to the common people. As for others, which at the first entrie be un∣toward and shew some resistance, be difficult, dangerous and hard to be atchieved (like unto some medicines and potions which presently doe gnaw and wring the bellie, or make the sto∣macke sicke) and where of the honour and profit ensueth long after; it is not good to put such into yong mens hands, nor to helpe them to such hard bargaines, ne yet to expose them raw as they be and unacquainted, to the mutinous exclamations and obloquies of the rude multitude, which is hard to be pleased; but rather he himselfe is to undergoe the displeasure and ill-will of [ 30] the people for the weale publicke; for this will cause the yoonger sort to be more affectionate unto him, and better willing a great deale to enterprise all other services. But over and besides all that hath beene delivered already, this would be well remembred, that to administer and go∣verne the common-wealth, lieth not onely in bearing an office, or going in ambassage, or in crying with a loud voice to an assembly, or in the pulpit or tribunall for publicke orations, to fare as if he were mad and out of his wits, in vehement preaching to the multitude, or in pen∣ning a number of decrees, acts and edicts, wherein the common sort suppose that all policie and government doth consist, like as they imagine also; that to be a Philosopher, is nothing els, but to discourse and dispute in the schooles at certeine times of philosophicall points aloft in a chaire, and reade lecture at their houres out of their books, and in the meane while be ig∣norant [ 40] of that civill administration and philosophie which is continually seene in works and daily actions. For this were all one, according to Dicaearchus, as is one should say, that they only walked, who fetched many turnes up and downe in galleries, and not they, who went into the countrey on foot, or visited their friends. But wee must thinke, that to governe a common∣wealth, is very like unto the profession of Philosophy: for Socrates was not to be thought a Phi∣losopher onely, when he caused stooles and formes for to be made readie to sit upon, against a conference, or when he sat him downe in a chaire, or when he observed precisely the houres of lecture, of disputation, or of walking in the schooles, which were appointed for his disciples and familiar followers; but also otherwhiles, when he was at his game and play, as it fell out, when he dranke and eat, when he was in warfare or in the campe with some, bargaining, [ 50] buying and selling with others; and finally, when he was in prison, and even then, when as he drunke that cup of hemlocke for his poison; having taught and prooved plainly before, that mans life at all times, in all parts, in every occasion and accident, and generally in all affaires ad∣mitteth the use of Philosophie. And even so, we are to make account of civill government; namely, to thinke that fooles or leud persons doe not administer the common-weale, either when they be Generals of armies, or L L. Chancellors, or when they seeme to leade the people after them with their elo quent tongue; but rather raise tumult and sedition among them, or

flatter and insinuate into their favour, or declare for ostentation, or els execute some charge and office, and do that which they do compelled by force. Whereas contrariwise, a good and true politician in deed, who affecteth his citizens, loveth his countrey, hath a care and heedfull re∣gard of the weale-publicke, although he never be clad in his rich coat of armes, nor have the roiall mantle of estate upon him, yet he is daily and hourely emploied in the administration of publicke affaires, inciting and exhorting to action those that are sufficient, instructing such as be unskilfull and wanting, assisting as many as come to him for counsell, reclaiming them who are ill given and about to practise mischiefe, confirming and encouraging those who be well minded, and shewing evidently in effect, and not for forme and fashion, that he is amused and wholly bent upon the good of the State: not because there is to grow thereby any interest to [ 10] him or his, or in regard that he is called by name to go first into the Theater, or to be the princi∣pall and first man in the assemblie of counsell, or otherwise by way of recreation, as if he came thither to see plaies & games, or to heare some pleasant musicke when he is there; but contra∣riwise, when he cannot be present personally, yet to be there in spirit and advice; and after he hath intelligence of the proceedings there, to approve some things well done, and to shew him∣selfe displeased in other things For neither Aristides the Athenian, nor Cato the Romane, were in place many times of chiefe government, yet they ceased not for all that, during their whole life, to be in action for the good and service of their countries. And Epaminondas atchieved (I must needs say) many noble acts and valiant exploits, whiles he was captaine generall for Boeo∣tia; howbeit, one act there is reported of his, when he was neither generall nor in any office at [ 20] all, which he exploited in Thessalie, not inferiour to any one of his other worthy deeds: for at what time as the captaines of Thebes had engaged a batailon or regiment so farre into a difficult place and a ground of much disadvantage, whereby the enemies charged sore upon them so vi∣olently, that they were in great affright, and ready to be defaited, he being in the forefront a∣mong the footmen heavily armed, was called backe, and at his first comming appeased all the trouble & affright of the army, and put them in assured hope with his very presence: afterwards he set in order and arranged in battel-ray, that squadron which had broken their ranks and were in confusion, delivered them easily out of this streight and difficult passage, and made head a∣gaine upon the enemies, who hereupon were so daunted, that they changed their minds and re∣tired. Also when Agis the king of the Lacedaemonians led his armie in ordinance of battell [ 30] ready to fight with his enemies in Arcadia, there was one ancient Spartane cried aloud unto him, and said: My lord, you thinke to remedie one mischiefe by another: (giving him thereby to understand, that his meaning was by this present and unseasonable forwardnesse of his, in gi∣ving battell unto the enemie, for to salve and cure (as it were) his former speedy retreat and de∣parture from the siege before the citie Argos, according as Thucydides reporteth in his storie) which when Agis heard, he gave credit unto the man, retired presently, but afterwards he had the victorie. This Agis caused his chaire of estate to be set every day before his palace gate, and many times the Ephori would rise from their Consistorie, and repaire unto him thither, for to aske his advice, and consult with him about the affaires of greatest importance; for he seemed to be a man of great reach, and is renowmed in the histories for a most wise and sage prince. [ 40] And therefore upon a time, after that the strength of his bodie was utterly decayed, in such sort as for the most part of the day he kept his bed and stirred not forth; when the Ephori sent unto him and requested that he would give them meeting in the common hall of the citie, he arose out of his bed, and strained himselfe to walke thither; but when he was gone a pretie way with much paine and difficultie, he chanced to meet with certeine little boies in the street, and de∣manded of them, whether they knew any thing more powerfull than the necessitie to obey their master; and when they answered No, he made this account, that his impotencie ought to be the end and limit of his obeisance, and so returned backe immediatly to his owne house. For surely, ones good will ought not to shrinke before his power; but when might faileth, the good will would not be forced further. Certes, it is reported that Scipio both in war abroad & also in [ 50] civill affaires at home, used the counsell of Caius Laelius, insomuch as some there were, who gave out and said, that of all those noble exploits Scipto was the actour, but Laelius the authour. And Cicero himselfe confesseth, that in the bravest & most honourable counsels which he exploited during his consulship, by the meanes whereof he saved his countrey, he consulted with Publius Nigidius the Philosopher. So that we may conclude, that in many kindes of government and publicke functions, there is nothing that impeacheth and hindereth olde men, but that they may well enough shew their service to the common-wealth, if not in the best simply, yet in

good words, sage counsell, libertie and authoritie of franke speech and carefull regard, accor∣ding as the Poets say: for they be not our feet, nor our hands, nor yet our whole bodie and the strengeth thereof, which are the members and goods onely of the common-weale; but first and principally, the soule and the beauties thereof, to wit, justice, temperance and prudence; which if they come slowly and late to their perfection, it were absurd and to no purpose, that men should enjoy house, land and all other goods and heritages, and should not themselves procure some profit and commoditie to their common countrey, by reason of their long time which bereaveth them not so much of strength able for to execute outward ministeries, as it addeth sufficiencie of those faculties which are requisit for rule and command. Loe, what the reason was that they portraied those Hermes, that is to say, the statues of Mercurie, in yeeres, without [ 10] either hands or feet; howbeit, having their naturall parts plumpe and stiffe; giving us thereby covertly to understand, that we have least need of olde mens labour and corporall travell, so that their words be active, and their speeches full of seed and fruitfull, as it is meet and conve∣nient.

Notes

• * 1.1

  There is a defect or fault at least∣wise in the Greeke ori∣ginall.
• * 1.2

  〈◊〉〈◊〉