Fovvre seuerall treatises of M. Tullius Cicero conteyninge his most learned and eloquente discourses of frendshippe: oldage: paradoxes: and Scipio his dreame. All turned out of Latine into English, by Thomas Newton.

❧ THE BOOKE of Oldage: otherwyse entituled, the Elder CATO: writ¦ten Dialoguewise, by M. T. Cicero, vnto Titus Pomponius Atticus.

The Preface.

O Titus, if I ease thee of that payne, And heauy care, which doth thee nòw annoye, And makes thine heart, ful pensiue to remain, Shal I herein my labour wel employe?

FOR in speaking vnto thee (Freende Atticus) I dare bee bolde to vse the same verses, which that worthye* Poet, (not greatly wallowing in wealth, but fullye fraught with faithfulnesse) vseth in spea∣king to Flaminius: albeit I am well assured (frend Attic{us}) that thou art not so disqui∣eted night and daye, as Flaminius was: for I doe knowe the moderation, and quiet stay of thy mynde. And that thou hast brought home with thee from Athens, not onelye thy* Syrname, but curtesie also, and Pru∣dence. And yet I suspecte, that nowe and

then, thou art sore troubled in mynde, for the same* matters that I my selfe am.

The Cōsolatiō whereof is great & ther∣fore to bee differred till another time. At this presēt, I thought it best to wryte some little Treatise vnto thee, cōcerning Olde∣age: because I would haue, both thee & my selfe eased of this heauye burden of Olde∣age, which is commune and indifferent to mee, aswell as to thee, and hath nowe ey∣ther catched holde of vs alreadye, or else ere it bee longe, wyll come vppon vs.

Notwithstandinge, I well knowe that thou doest and wilt take the same modestly, and wiselye as thou doest all other thin∣ges.

But when as I purposed with my selfe to wryte somewhat of Oldeage, thou camest into my remembrance, as a man worthy of such a gyft, which both of vs, might ioynt∣lye and commonlye enioye.

As for my part I promise thee, the pen∣ninge of this Booke, was such a delectati∣on vnto mee, that it did not onelye cleane wype away all the encombraunces and dis∣commodities of myne Oldeage from mee:

but rather made myne Oldeage vnto me, pleasaunte, and delectable. Therefore Philosophy can neuer be suffyciently pray∣sed: whose Preceptes and Rules, who so e∣uer obayeth, may passe the whole time of his Age, without anye griefe or trouble. But of those other poyntes, we haue heretofore, and shall hereafter speake.

And wee doe attribute the whole dys∣course, not to Tithonus, as Aristo Chi∣us did, least as in a fayned Fable the whole Discourse shoulde carye the lesse credite: but vnto Olde Marcus Cato: to the ende the Treatise might carye the greater Au∣thoritie. With whom wee doe introduce Laelius and Scipio, meruaylinge to see him so patientlye to tolerate his Oldeage, and his aunswere to them agayne. Whom if thou thincke more learnedlye heere to dispute, then in his owne woorkes hee was accustomed, impute the cause to his skil∣fulnesse in the Greeke Tongue, whereof it is well knowen that in his Oldeage he was verye studious,

But to what purpose, shoulde wee make anye moe woordes? For all that wee haue

to saye concerning Oldeage, the Discourse of Cato himselfe shall manifestly declare.

The Speakers Names.

• ...Publius Scipio.
• ...Caius Laelius.
• ...Marcus Cato.

SCIPIO.

OFtentimes both I, & my freend Caius Laeli∣us heere also, are wont much to meruayle at thy excellente & abso∣lute wisdome O Cato, aswel in al other matters: as namely & specially, because I neuer yet perceiued thine Oldage to be burdenous vnto the: which to the most part of Oldmen is so odious, that they say they carye a burdē heauier then the Mount AEtna.

CATO.

It is no great hard matter, (Scipio and Laelius) which you seeme so much to meruayle at. For they that haue in themselues no helpe to lyue wel and blessedlye: vnto such, euerye Age is combersome: but vnto such, as seeke all thinges at themselues, nothinge can

seeme euil, which commeth by the neces∣sitie of Nature.

Of y^e which sort is Oldage principally, whereunto to come, al men doe desire, and yet when they haue their wishe, doe accuse it: such is their vnconstancie, folly and ouerthwartnesse: They saie it cree∣peth vpon thē sooner then they thought it would. First, who caused thē to ima∣gin an vntruth? For why doth Oldage sooner steale vpon Adolescencie, then A∣dolescency doth after Childhood? Fur∣thermore, why shoulde Oldage be lesse troublesome vnto them, if they mighte reach to the Age of eight hundred yeres then it is when they be but eighty? For the age passed be it neuer so longe, when it is once gone, can with no maner of cō∣solation mitigate foolish Oldage.

Therfore if you be wōt to haue my wis∣dome in admiration (which I woulde God were correspondent to youre opi∣nion, and also aunswerable to my * Syr∣name) surelye wee are in thys onlye pointe wise, because we follow Nature being our best guid, as a god, & obey her. Of whom, it is not like to bee true, whē

al other parts of age are wel described & set out, y^t the last Act of all should (as it were of a drowsy Poet) bee negligentlye handled. But in Age there must needes be some extreme or last End (& as in ber∣ries of trees & fruicts of the earth) when they com to their ful ripenes) a drowpīg downward and readynes to fall: which euery Wisemā must patiently tolerate.

For what other thing is it, to warre with the Gods, as the Gyaunts did, but to repugne and goe against Nature?

LAEL.

But you shall do a singuler greate pleasure vnto vs both, for I dare also in this case vndertake for Scipio (be¦cause we both desire, & also hope to lyue¦tyl we be Oldmen) if we might learne a good whyle before hand of you, by what means we may most easly suffer & beare out our olde Age when it cōmeth.

CATO.

I wyll (Laelie) with all my hart fulfill your request, especially if I shall thereby do such pleasure vnto you both, as you say I shall.

SCIP.

Right glad would wee bee, if it bee not too much paynes and trouble

for you, O Cato, sith you haue (as it were runne a great race, & made a long iourney which path also we must go) to heare & vnderstand what kind of thing y^t is, wherunto you are already arryued.

CATO.

I will doe herein O Laelie, what I am able: for I haue oftentimes bene in place where I haue heard y^e cō∣plaints of my equalles & familiers (for, Like w^t Like, accordīg to y^e old prouerbe will kepe cōpany & best agree together) when as C. Salinator, and Sp. Albinus, men of Consular calling, and in maner of the same age that I my selfe am, were wont greatlye to be wayle their cases, both because they lacked pleasures, w^t∣out which, they accoumpted their life as none: & also because they were despised of those, of whom they had earste beene reuerenced.

But in myne opiniō, they blamed not that, which was blame worthy. For if y^e cause and blame thereof, were in Olde∣age, then should the same discommodi∣ties, happen also vnto me, & to all other elderly mē besides: of whō I haue kno∣wen a great mainye, that haue lyued in

their Olde age without any whyning or complaint: who were wel pleased to bee loosed and deliuered, out of the yoake of their Sensuall Lustes: and were neuer despised of their Freendes and acquain¦taunce. But the faulte of all this repy∣ning, is in the Maners & not in the Age. For discreete & temperate olde men, be∣ing not sterne and churlishe, doe lyue in their Oldage tolerably and well. But way wardnesse and inhumanitie is vnto euery Age tedious and yrkesome.

LAEL.

It is euen so, as you say O Cato: but there wil some peraduenture saye vnto you, y^t your Oldage, seemeth vnto you tollerable ynoughe, because of your great wealth, riches & dignity: but many cannot haue such good hap.

CATO.

In deede Laelie, that which you say, is somewhat, but al thinges do not rest therin. As, the report goeth that Themistocles, nippinglye aunswered a certain Seriphian Paisaūt, obiecting, y^t he had not gottē such great glory, and same by himselfe, but rather through y^t renowne of his noble coūtry: thou saiest euen truth (sayd he) for neither should I

euer haue bene ennobled. if I had bene a Seriphian, neyther thou renowmed, if thou hadst bene an Athenian.

Which thing may euen in lyke man∣ner be said of Oldage. For neither in ex∣treeme penurye, and want, can Oldage be easye, no not to a Wiseman: neyther can it bee but combersome to an vnwise persō, although he haue neuer so great plentye.

The fittest weapons for Oldage (O Scipio and Laelie) are Artes and exer∣cises of Vertues: which beinge all the time of mannes age embraced, bring vn∣to hym, when hee hath lyued a longe while, meruailous fruites & commodi∣ties. Not only, because they neuer for∣sake or start from him, no, not in the ve∣rye last pushe of his age (which surely is a moste excellente thinge) but also be∣cause the Conscience of oure former lyfe, well and vertuously led, and the re∣membraunce of our many good deedes, is most pleasaunt.

Certes, I being a younge Striplinge, did so loue Quintus Maximus (euen be that recouered Tarento) being an Old

man, as though hee had beene myne E∣qual and of lyke Age vnto myselfe. For in y^t worthy man, there was a certeyne Grauity, seasoned with Curtesy: neither had his Oldeage altered his manners: Albeit when I first began to honoure & reuerence him, hee was not verye olde, but yet pretily striken in yeares.

For I was borne a yere after that he had bene the first time Consull: And in that yeare that hee was the fowrth ty∣me Consull, I being a very young man went with him as a Souldier vnto Ca∣pua: the fifte yeare after that, I was made Treasorer at Tarento: Then I was chosen Aedile, & fower yeres after that, Praetor: which office I bare and ex∣ecuted, when Tuditanus and Cethegus were Consulls. At that time hee beinge a very aged man, was a perswader of y^e Law Cincia, touchinge Giftes and Re∣wardes.

And bee beinge a man farre growen in yeares, was both a lustye warriour, as though he had beene still young, and with his forbearing cooled the courage of Hanniball, being all vpon the hoigh,

like a dapper yonker, whose commenda∣tion our familer trend Ennius excellētly blazeth out, thus:

One man by protracting the tyme vvith delaye: Hath saude our vveale-publike and restorde it agayne. For hee neuer forced vvhat ill tongues did say So that his country stil safe might remaine. Therfore his renovvne and illustrious name, For aye is enrollde vvithin the Booke of Fame.

What vigilancy and what wisedome vsed hee, when hee recouered Tarento? when as in my hearinge hee spake these wordes to Salinator (who after the losse of the Towne, fled into the Castle) ma∣king his vaunt & sayinge thus: By my meanes (O Fabius) hast thou regayned Tarento: *Your Maistership saith euen true ({quod} Fabius) to him again, smyling: for if thou hadst not loste the Towne, I could not haue regained it.

Neyther was hee any whyt excellēter in warres abroad then in peace at home. For being the secōd time Consul, while his fellowe in Office Sp. Caruilius, sate still & would do nothing, he withstoode asmuch as euer he coulde, C. Flamini∣us y^e Plebeian Tribune, sharing out to e∣uery one, man by man, against the Au∣thority

of the Senate, al the ground cal¦led *Picaenū & *Gallicum. And when he was Augur, hee durst to say, y^t all those things were w^t most fortunate luck takē in hand, which were done for the safetye and preseruatiō of the common wealth: & that all those things, which were pre∣iudicially attempted against the cōmon∣wealth, were vnluckely done, and enter¦prised.

Manye and sundrye notable qualities haue I knowen in this man, but none is more to be meruayled at, then howe bee toke the death of his sonne Marcus, a no∣ble Gentleman, & one that had bene Cō¦sul. We haue extant abrode an Oration of the prayse of y^t man: which when wee read, what Philosopher do we not con∣temne? Neyther was hee onely renow∣med in the open sight of all men abrode: but domestically within his owne dores at home, he was more noble. What pro∣found talke vsed hee? what worthye pre∣ceptes? what great skil had hee in Anti∣quity? what exact knowledge in the Art of Diuination? There was also in him,

as in a Romane, very great learning: he perfectly remēbred & that by hart could recoumpt all the Warres, aswel Ciuile and Domestical, as forreine and exter∣nall. Whose talke and conference I so desirouslye enioyed as though I had al∣readye diuined and ghessed that thing, which afterwarde chaunced: that he be∣ing dead, there would be none, at whose handes, I might learne ought.

But to what end speake I so much of Maximus? Truly, because you see that it is an horrible villany, to say that suche an Oldeage was wretched or misera∣ble.

But al men cannot be Scipioes or Max∣imi, to recoumpte what Citties they haue sacked? what conflictes they haue had, both by Sea, and Land: what war∣res they haue atchieued: nor what Vic∣torsouse Triumphes they haue solem∣nized.

For when a man hath led his former lyfe quietly, vprightlye, and laudablye, his Oldage is mild & gentle, such as we haue heard that y^e Oldage of Plato was, who in the Lxxxi. yeare of his age, died

as he sate writing. And such, as was the Oldeage of Isocrates, who is reported, that he wrate his Booke entituled *Pa∣nathenaicus, in the ninety & fourth yere of his Age, and lyued fiue yeres after: whose Scholemaister Leontinus Gor∣gias, lyued fullye an hundred and seuen yeares, and neuer faynted, nor gaue o∣uer his studye and labour which he had in hande. And when it was demaunded of him, why hee woulde wishe to lyue so long: *I haue (sayd hee) no cause where by to accuse or mislyke myne Oldeage. A notable aunswere and worthy to pro∣ceede out of the mouth of a famous and learned man. For doltish fooles do laye all their owne faultes and blame vppon Oldeage: which thing the Poet Enni∣us (of whom I ere while made mention) did not.

As Horse which at Olympian Games, ful oft hath borne the Bell, And won the Price: in aged yeeres, now rests himselfe ful wel.

Lo, this man, whom you can very well remember, compareth his Oldeage, to

the Oldeage of a valiaunt & Victorious borse. For the nynthe yeare after hys Death, these twaine, T. Flaminius, & M. Attilius were created Cōsuls, & hee himselfe died whē Caepio & Philip were y^e secōd time Consuls, being Lxx. yeres old (for so long did Ennius lyue) at which time I being lxv. yeres old, w^t a loud voi∣ce & earnest sute was a perswader, y^t the law Voconia might bee enacted.

Thus he caryed two such burdens as are supposed the greatest that can be: to wyt, Pouerty and Oldage, and that in such sort, that hee seemed in a maner to be highly delighted therein.

For as far as I do remember I finde Four principal causes, why Oldage se∣meth wretched and miserable. One is, because it impeacheth and hindereth a man from dealing in matters: an other is, because it enfeebleth and weakeneth the bodye: the thirde, because it almost taketh away al pleasures: & the fourth, because it is not farre of from death.

Now let vs (if you please) see of what force, euery one of these causes be, & how iust, the allegation of euery of them is.

Oldage hindreth, and draweth a man backe (for soothe) from taking a charge or function vpon him: from what char∣ge or function I pray you? from such as are by lustinesse of youth, & bodily strē∣gth acchieued? Are there no thinges ap∣pertayning to Old mē, which although their bodies be weake & feeble, yet may by the minde be done, and administred? Did Q. Fabius (I praye you) nothing? Did L. Paul{us} thy father, O Scipio, & fa∣ther in Law to y^t worthy mā my Sonne, nothinge? and a greate sorte of Oldmen moe. The Fabritij, the Curii, the Corū∣cani, when they meinteyned and defen∣ded y^e weale publique, with their graue counsells, and authorities, did they no∣thinge? Appius Claudius besides, his Oldage, was also blinde: yet hee when all the Senate was of mynde to encline to a peace & league to bee made w^t Pyr∣rhus, was not afrayde to speake those wordes vnto them, which Ennius in his Verses recited:

Hovv are your mynds vvhich earst vvith vvitt vvere fraught Thus fondly bent to bring all thinges to naught?

And much more right grauely: for y^e Verses are knowen well ynough: And

yet Appius his Oration is to be seene, which he made leuenteene yeares after his seconde Consulshippe: and betwene his two Consulships, there were tenne yeres, and he had borne the office of Cē∣sor before his first Consulate.

Whereby it is well to be perceiued, y^t in y^e warres which wee had with Pyrrhus, hee was a man well striken in yeares, & yet haue wee so hearde oure fathers re∣porte.

Therfore their reasons are nothinge worth, which deny that Olde age is oc∣cupied in exploiting affaires of great im∣portaunce. And they doe much like, vn∣to such as saye that the Pylote or May∣ster of a Ship, helpeth nothing in Say∣lyng, when as some climbe vp into the Mast coppe, some walke vppon the Hat∣ches, & some clense y^t Pumpe: but he hol∣dinge the Helme, sitteth quietlye in the sterne or Puppe: and although hee doe not the same things, which Youngmen doe, yet doeth he farre better & greater seruice then they.

For waightye matters are not done

with the strength, nimblenes, and cele∣rity of body, but with counsell, authori∣tie & aduise: wherof Oldage is wōt not onelye not to bee depriued, but rather y^• better therwith encreased, & stored. Vn∣lesse peraduenture you thincke, that I who haue bene both a Souldier, a Tri∣bune, a Generall, an Ambassadour and a Consul, and throughly tryed in diuers brunts of Warres, do nowe seeme alto∣gether to loyter, because I practise not the warres, as I was wont to doe.

But I do prescribe vnto the Senate, what thinges are most expedient to bee done, and geeue certeine information to them before hand, how warre maye bee made vpon Carthage, which hath borne a canckred stomacke a great whyle to∣wardes vs: of whom I shal neuer cease to stand in feare, vntil I perfectly know it to be vtterly subuerted.

Which victorious conquest I pray y^e Gods immortall to reserue for thee (O Scipio) that thou mayest fully fynishe & pursue that which thy Graundfather lefte behinde him vndone.

Since whose death, there are passed. 33. yeares: but the memoriall of that wor∣thye man, God graunt that al posteritye maye embrace and receiue mindfully.

Hee dyed the yeare before I was Cē∣sor, nyne yeares after my Consulshippe, when he had bene created Cōsul the se∣cond time, my selfe then beinge Consul. Thinke you that if hee had lyued tyl he had bene an hundreth yere olde, he wold haue bene wearye of his Oldage?

I graunte hee woulde neyther practize Skirmishing, nor nimble leaping, ney∣ther tossing the pykes a farre of, nor sla∣shing with Swordes, hand to hand: but hee would vse graue counsel, reason, and aduisement. Which points if they were not in Oldmen, our Auncestors wolde neuer haue tearmed their high & moste honorable counsell, by the name of Se∣nate. And among the* Lacedemonians, they y^t bare the highest Offices (as they bee) so also are they called Auncientes or Sages.

Now, if you be disposed, to heare and reade forrayne Examples, you shal find

that noble and flourishing cōmon weal∣thes, haue bene vtterly spoyled by yoūg youthful heades. And the same by Old sage fathers, to haue bene mainteined & recouered.

Tell mee this, howe came it to passe that you loste your mighty and noble common wealth in such a short space? for to one that moued this Question (as it is to be seene in the Booke of the Po∣et Neuius, entituled Ludus) many aun∣sweres were made and namelye this: Forsoothe, because there stepped into Offyce, new vpstart Oratours, foolish & light headed Yonckers. Lo, Rash∣nesse is incidente to youthfull yeeres, but prudence and wisdome to Oldage.

But the Memory is empayred. I be∣leeue it wel, vnlesse a man do exercise it: or if a man bee of nature slowe and bloc∣kishe. Themistocles perfectly knew the names of euery person in the Citye. Do you thincke that hee, when he grew into yeres, vsed to call Aristides, by y^t name of Lysimachus? Surely I do know not only them y^t be yet aliue, but their Fa∣hers & Graundfathers also.

Neyther feare I any whyt least when I read * Epitaphes vpō Tombes, I should (as they say) lose my memory. For by the reading of them, I am brought in∣to remembrance of them that are dead. Neither haue I heard of any * Oldman, that euer forgat in what place hee had layde vp his Treasure. They remem∣ber well ynoughe all such thinges as they make any accoūpt of: their Sure∣tyshippes, & Obligations of apparaūce at certayn dayes: to whō they bee indeb∣ted, and who to them.

What say wee to Lawyers? what to Byshoppes? what to the Augurs? what to Philosophers y^t are Oldmen? How many thinges do they remember?

Their wittes still remaine in Olde∣men, fresh ynough, so that their study & industrye continue still. And this not only in noble and honorable personages, but in priuate and quiet lyfe also.

Sophocles made Tragedies, euen tyll hee was a very Oldman: who being so earnestly vent to his studies, y^t hee was supposed not to take anye care of his

houshold affayres, was cited to appeare before the Iudges, by his owne sonnes. That, as our maner and custome is, whē any Parentes do negligentlye looke to their domesticall dealinges, to sequestre and defeact them, from the vse of theire goodes: so also that the Iudges should displace him from the vse and occupatiō of his owne goodes, as an Old doating Ideot. Then lo, the Oldeman is sayde to haue openlye recyted before the Iud∣ges a certeine Tragedy, which he then had in hand, and had lately written, en∣tituled Oedipus Coloneus: and after he had read the same, to haue demaunded of them, whether they thought y^t Poeti∣call piece of worke seemed to bee of anye doatinge fooles doinge? After the reci∣tall whereof, he was by all the Iudges Sentences acquite and discharged.

Did Oldage cause this man, or He∣siodus, or Simonides, or Sthesicorus, or (those whom I named afore) Isocrates, or Gorgias, or Homer: or the Prince of Philosophers, Pythagoras: or Demo∣crit{us}, or Plato, or Socrates, or afterward

Zeno, Cleanthes, (or him whom you also sawe at Rome) Diogenes the Stoicke, to be nonsuited, or to quayle and fumble in their matters? was not the practise of the studies in all these men, Equall to their lyfe?

Goe too: Let vs omit and passe ouer these deuine Studies. I can name vnto you, out of the coast of Sabine, husband∣men my Neighbours and Familiers: whom being absent, there is neuer light∣lye, any great worke of husbandrye done in their fieldes, neither in sowing, in rea¦ping, nor yet in inninge of their fruicts. Albeit in thē, this thing is not so great∣lye to bee meruailed at. For there is no man so olde, but thinketh that hee maye lyue one yeare longer. But they also toyle about such thinges, as they knowe doth nothing at all perteyne vnto them. They graffe Trees, which shall yelde Fruict, after a great whyle, to them that shall come after them: as oure Statius in his worke, entituled Synephoebis, de∣clareth. Neither would an Husband mā (be he neuer so old) stick to make this aū∣sweer

to one, y^t should aske him for whō hee planteth & soweth: I doe it for the Immortal Gods: whose pleasure it was, that I should not only receiue these thī∣ges, at the hāds of my Predecessors, but should also surrēder & deliuer the same agayn to my Successors. Better a great deale hath Cecilius spoken, of an Olde mā, labouring & prouiding for his Se∣quele and posteritie, then he doth in this folowīg: Certes, although Oldage whē it cōmeth had none other incōuenience or mishap ioyned with it, yet is this one ynough, that by lyuing lōg, a mā seeth many things, which hee would not see.

Yea, and peraduenture hee seeth ma∣ny thinges, which he is right willing to see. And Adolescency many times hap∣neth to see such thinges, as it would not see.

But this nexte sayinge of the same Cecilius is a greate deale worse. Thys also (sayth hee) doe I accoumpte in Oldeage moste miserable, because in that Age, a Man doeth feele

himselfe to be odious vnto others. Nay pleasaunt rather then odious. For euen as Wise Oldmen take great delight in towardly and vertuous Young men: & their Oldage made a great deale easier, which are reuerenced & loued of Young men: so agayne Youngmen take greate ioye and contentment in the good lessōs and Preceptes of Oldemen, whereby they are induced to the studies of Ver∣tue. Neyther doe I perceiue my selfe to be any whytlesse welcome and pleasaūt vnto you, then you are vnto mee.

But now you see, howe that Oldage is not only not saynt, sluggish, nor drow∣sie, but is rather still busied & euer doing and deuising of some what: such things (I meane) as euery one his delyte hath bene vnto, in his former life.

Nay, how say wee to this moreouer? that they are euery day learning some∣what. As we haue seene by Solon, who glorying in certayne verses, sayed, that be waxed an Oldmā, by learning euery day somwhat: as I my selfe also did: for I learned the Greeke tongue when I

was an aged man: which I did so gree∣delye rake and snatche vnto mee, as one desirous to staunche and quenche a long thirst: to the intent y^t I might attaigne to the knowledge of those things, why∣ch you now see me to vse for Examples. Which thing when I heard say that So∣crates had likewise done in musical In∣strumentes, I was (verily) willinge to haue done therein semblably: (for men in the old tyme learned to play vpon In∣struments) but in Learning (doubtlesse) I tooke verye great paynes, and Dyly∣gence.

NEither doe I now anye whyt more desire or longe to haue y^e lustines & strēgth of a yoūg mā (for this was y^t se∣cond point of y^e discōmodities belōging to Oldage) then I did beinge a younge man, desire or long to haue the strength of a Bull, or of an Olyphant. For that thing which naturallye is engraffed in man, it is conuenient and meete for him to vse: & what soeuer he taketh in hand, to goe through stitche with it, & to doe it effectuouslye.

For what more contemptible worde can there be, then that of Milo Crotoni∣ata? who beeinge now olde, and seeinge certeine Champions, & Wrestlers try∣inge themselues, in the place or fielde of Exercise, is reported, that hee looked vpon his owne Armes, and spake these wordes, weeping: Ah las, these Armes of mine are now deade. Ah thou prat∣ling Foole: thy armes are not so much dead, as thou art thy selfe: for thou ne∣uer gottest any renowne of thy selfe, but by thy stronge Sydes, and brawny Ar∣mes. Sext. AElius neuer played the lyke part, nor manye yeares after that, T. Coruncanus: yea of late dayes P. Crassus, neuer shewed the like prancke: by which men, Lawes were prescribed to the Citizens: and whose Prudence continued with theym, euen till the last gaspe of their lyfe.

But I feare, least an Orator or Plea∣der, drowpe and faynte in Oldage. For why: to his Function is requisite, not onlye wytte, but durablenesse also, and strength. Assuredly, this same shrilnesse

of voyce, doth gallantlye shyne and ap∣peare (I know not how) euen in Olde∣age: whych I my selfe haue not yet lost, and yet you see my boarye haires. But yet not withstanding, a quiet and mylde Speach is comelye in an Oldman: and the very neate and calme talke of an elo∣quent Sage, doth oftentimes of itselfe, cause Audience and eare to bee geeuen vnto it.

Which thing if a man cānot through∣lye doe himselfe, yet maye hee instructe and direct Scipio and Laeli{us}. For what thing is pleasaunter then Oldage guar∣ded with the zealous affections of yoūg men? Shall wee not leaue vnto Oldage such strength and power as to teach and instruct Youngmen, and to trayne them to knowe euerye part of their Duties? Then which office, what can bee more excellent? Verelye, me thought that C. and P. Scipio. and thy two Graundfa∣thers, L. Aemilius and P. Aphricanus were happye and Fortunate, throughe the attendaunce and company of young Gentlemen.

All Maisters of Liberall Artes, are also to bee accoumpted happy, although their strength be decayed and gone: al∣beit this same decay and fayling of the strength is oftener caused throughe the defaultes of Adolescency, then of Olde∣age. For libidinous & dissolute Adoles∣cencie, bringeth vnto Oldeage, a bodye feeble and impotent.

Cyrus in that talke which hee had vp∣on his death Bed, being a very Did mā, (as Xenophon wryteth) denieth that e∣uer he perceiued or felt his Oldage, any whytte weaker then his Adolescencye was.

I my selfe beeinge a Boy, remember that L. Metellus, who was made hyghe Byshoppe foure yeres after his seconde Consulship, and executed that rowme of Priesthoode xxii yeares, was of such perfect strength in the very latter end of his Age, y^t he neuer wished for his Ado∣lescencye agayne, I neede not to speake anye thing of my selfe: albeit it is an Oldmans part so to do, & allowed vnto vs, by the priuiledge of our Age.

Do ye not see, howe often Nestor in Homer maketh vaunt of his owne ver∣tues? For he had now lyued three mens Ages, and therfore needed not to feare, least in telling of himselfe, y^t, whych was true, he shoulde eyther seeme too arro∣gant or too talkatiue. For there flowed from his tongue (as Homer saith) wor∣des and reasons, sweeter then hony: vn∣to which sweetenesse, hee needed not a∣nye bodily strength, and yet that renow∣med * General of Greece, neuer wished to haue tenne persons lyke Aiax: but hee manye times wished to haue tenne suche as Nestor. Whiche if it mighte so happē: he doubted not, but Troy should in short time be ruinated. But now I returne to my selfe.

I am now going on the Lxxxiiii. yere of myne Age: and glad would I be, if I might glorye and vaunte of that thinge which Cyrus did: but yet this can I say, that (in deede) I haue not that strength which I had at the * Punique warres, or when I was Lieutenant in the same Warres, or when I was Consull in

Spayne, or as I had iiii. yeares after, when as I beeing Tribune or Marshall of the field, fought a Battaile at* Ther∣mopylę, in the tyme y^t M. Attilius, and C. Labeo were Consulls. And yet as you see, Oldage hath not altogether soa¦ked awaye my strength, nor weakened mee: the Senate house findeth no lacke of it in mee: the Iudicial place of Pleas misseth it not: my Friendes, Clientes, & Straungers, see no such want in mee.

Neyther did I euer assent vnto that olde and much praysed Prouerbe: whi∣ch wisheth a man to beginne to be Olde quickly, if he desire to be Old long. But I (truelye) had leyfer, not to bee an Old man long, then to be an Oldman before I were old in deede. And therfore there neuer yet came anye man to talke wyth mee, but I was occupied.

But (in deede) I haue not so much Strength, as eyther of you twain hath: And agayne, neyther of you haue the Strength of T. Pontius the Centuri∣on. What then? is hee therefore bet∣ter then you?

Let there onelye bee a measurable moderation of Strength, and let euerie man attempt so much as hee is able to compasse: and then I warrant him, hee shall not feele himselfe greatly aggree∣ued for the lacke of his strength.

It is sayde that Milo at the famous Games of Olympia, caried an Oxe aly∣ue, vppon his shoulders, the space of a furlong. Now therfore, whether had∣dest thou leyfer haue the Bodilye stren∣gth of this Milo, or the notable fine wit and knowledge, that was in Pythago∣ras?

To bee short: vse & take well in worth this gift of Bodily strength, whyle it la∣steth: and when it is gone, seeke not af∣ter it to haue it agayne: vnlesse perad∣uenture, you wil say, that young Strip∣linges should desire to bee in their swa∣thing bandes and Childhood againe: or being somwhat further stepped in yeres, should wish to bee in their Adolescencye againe.

The course of Age is certaine, and y^t waye of Nature is one, and the same

simple: and to euery parte of Age is his due tempestiuitie appointed.

For euen as weakenesse is naturally in young Childrē: wyeldenes in Yongmē: and Grauitie in full consistent age: so is there naturallye in Oldage, a certeine Rypenesse, which ought to bee taken in his due tyme and season.

I thinke Scipio, that you heare what youre Hoste Masinissa doth now dayes being 90. yeares old: who, if he begyn anye Iourney on foote, will not in all y^t Iourney come on horsebacke: and whē hee rydeth foorth, on horsebacke, will not alight: no Rayne, nor Colde can make him to couer his head: his Body is very dry: and therefore doth he in his owne person, execute all the offices and functions that appertayne to a Kinge. Therfore Exercise and temperaunce is able yet to cōserue in Oldage, somwhat of y^t former strength, and youthful lusti∣nesse.

In Oldage there is no great strēgth. Why: Strēgth is not looked for nor re∣quired in Oldage. And therfore by the

Laws and Ordinaunces, our Age is ex∣empt and dispensed withall, from those affaires, & functions, which cānot with∣out strength, be discharged. And there∣fore, wee are not cōpelled to do y^t thing, which wee cannot doe: nay, wee are not charged to doe so much as wee are able to doe.

But many Oldmen be so weake and feeble, that they are not able to execute any office or function, belonging to Hu∣mane Dutie, or respecting mans lyfe. But surely this is not y^e proper fault of Oldage, but the cōmune faulte of lacke of Health. How wearish & weake, was the sonne of P. Aphricanus, euē he, that adopted thee? what slender health or ra∣ther none at all had bee? which if it had not so bene, he (surely) wold haue proo∣ued the secōd Light of our citie. For be∣sides his fathers haughtines and glory, he was also better furnished w^t learnīg & qualities of the mynde. What meruaile is it therfore in Oldmen, if they be som¦time weakishe and feeble, sithens euen Youngmen cannot escape it?

Wee must resist Oldage (O Scipio and Laelie) and the faultes that bee in it, must by diligence be recompenced. And as wee would fighte against Sicknesse, so must wee also againste Oldage: wee must haue a special regard to our health wee must vse moderate Exercises: wee must take so much meate and drincke, y^t the powers of the bodye maye be refre∣shed, and not vtterly oppressed. And not onelye must wee haue this speciall care to our Bodye, but also to our Soule, & mynde muche more. For, these also (vnlesse a man do obserue a measure, as in feedinge a Lampe wyth Oyle) are quēched by Oldage, & entinguished.

And the Bodies by defatigation and Exercise, decaye and growe worse, but the Myndes by beinge exercised, are holpen and bettered.

For those, whom the Comicall Poet Caecilius calleth foolishe Oldmen, hee meaneth to bee such as are credulous, forgetfull, and dissolute: which are the faultes, not of right Oldage, but of such an Oldage, as is sluggish, slouthful, and drowsie.

And as Malapertnesse and Sensuality, is more incidence to Youngmen then to Olde: and yet not to all Youngmen, but vnto such as bee not of good disposi∣tion: so this Oldmanlye foolishnesse (whyche is commonlye called Dotage) is not in all Oldemen, but in them onlye which be lewde, and of small accoumpt.

Appius beeing both old & also blind, gouerned and ruled his foure tall Son∣nes, his fiue Daughters, his familye & housholde, which was great, besides his Patronage of a greate maignye of Cli∣entes. He had his minde bent as it were a Bowe, and neyther did he shrinke nor yelde to Oldage. Hee reserued and ex∣ecuted not onelye Authoritye, but also an imperious cōmaundmēt ouer al thē, that were vnder his charge. For his ser∣uauntes feared him: his Children reue∣renced him: all men tenderly loued him: in that house of his, there was a perfect patterne of the auncient fashion, and dis∣cipline of our Country.

For herein is Oldage honorable, if it defend & maintein itselfe if it stil retayn

his authoritye, if it bee not in Bondage to any man: if euen to the laste breath, it exercise Rule and Commaundement o∣uer them that depend vpon it.

For as wee commend that Younge man, in whom there bee some pointes of an Oldman: so also doe wee praise that Oldman, in whom, there is any of y^e pro∣perties of an honest Youngman. Whi∣ch thing who soeuer followeth, may be olde in Bodye, but neuer in mynde.

I am now in hande with my seuenth Booke of Originalles: I am collecting all the Monumentes of Antiquity: & now am I earnestlye busied with pen∣ning the Orations of all such famous & notable causes as I haue in my time de∣fended. I studye the Augurall, Canon, and Ciuile lawe: I geeue my selfe mu∣che to the studye of the Greeke tongue: and (as Pythagoras his Scholers were wont to doe) to exercise my memory w^t∣all, I recoumpt euery Euening, all that I haue sayde, hearde, or done, daye by day.

These be the Exercises of the wytte,

these are the feates, wherein the mynde is occupied. In these I paynfullye tra∣uayling & studying, finde no great lacke of the strength of bodye. I am readye & able to helpe my freendes, I come often into the Senate house, and of myne own accord, I cary thither with me, matters throughlye debated and canuassed: and them doe I defend and mainteine wyth the strength, not of Body, but of Minde. Whych thynges if I were not able in person to execute, yet shoulde I take great delectation lying in my Bedde, to thincke vppon those matters, whiche I could not doe. But my age passed is su∣ch, that I can doe them. For hee y^t gee∣ueth himselfe cōtinually to these studies and labours, feeleth not when, nor how Oldage creepeth vpon him.

Thus doth Age, by little and little, & without feelinge, waxe olde, and growe to an end: neyther is it sodeinly broken of, but by continuaunce, and tracte of tyme quenched.

NOW followeth the third dispraise or faulte that is founde in Oldage:

because they saye it lacketh Pleasures. Oh worthy gifte of Age, if it take that thing frō vs, which euē in Adolescēcy is most beastly. For geue ye eare (my good Gentlemenne) and marke yee well an Olde Oration or discourse of Architas Tarentinus, a right noble and excellent man, which was lent vnto mee, when I was a very yoūgman at Tarento with Q. Maximus. He sayde that there was not anye more pernitious plague, euer geeuen vnto men by Nature, then was this Pleasure of y^e Body. Which Plea∣sure, mēs libidinous lustes, inordinate∣lye desiring, are rashly and vnaduisedly incited, and stirred to ensue and folow. Hence (said hee) spring all Treasons, & Trecheries against our Country, hence beginne all the euersions of Common wealthes: hence are hatched all secrete conspiracies, and priuye conserences w^t oure Enemies. Fynally, that there is no villany, nor anye notable enormi∣tie, which the inordinate desire of Plea∣sure did not egge, and incense a man to enterprise. And that Whoredome,

Adulterye, and all such kinde of detesta∣ble deedes, were by none other lures, & enticementes, procured, but by Plea∣sure.

And whereas eyther Nature, or some God, hath geeuen nothinge vnto man, of more excellency, then the mind, or reasonable Soule:, there is no thing so much against this diuine Gyfte and bountye, as is Pleasure. For where Pleasure beareth swaye, Tempēraunce hath no place at all: neyther can Ver∣tue abyde within Pleasures kinge∣dome.

For the playner vnderstandinge of which thing, hee willed, and bade vs to ymagine & in mynde to presuppose some man, so greatlye plunged in this bode∣lye Pleasure, as possiblye mighte bee: hee thought no man would doubt, but that so long as any such man, wallowed in this Sensualitye, hee should neither be able by witte, reason, deuise, nor cogi∣tation, to cōtriue & compasse, any thing that were good. And therefore he sayd that nothing was so detestable & pestife∣rous as Pleasure.

For it beeinge great and continuinge long, would sone marre, and extinguish all the light of the Minde.

Nęarchus our Host of Tarento (a mā who had still continued in Frendship w^t the People of Rome) did then tell mee, that hee had hearde his Elders reporte, that Architas had al this discourse with C. Pontius, the Samnite, father vnto him, by whō our two Cōsulles, P. Post∣humius, and T. Veturius were foyled & ouercome in the Battaile at Caudium. At which Discourse, Plato of Athens was also present: who (as I finde) came to Tarento, when L. Aemilius. and Ap∣pius Claudius were Consuls.

But to what ende speake I all this? Forsooth, to geeue you to vnderstand, y^t if wee cannot by wisdome and reason, set at naught and dispise Pleasure: yet that wee may saye Gramercy to Oldage, by whose meanes it commeth to passe that wee haue no lust to do that thing, which wee ought not to doe. For Pleasure be∣ing a deadly Enemy to Reasō, hindreth consultation, and (as I maye saye) da∣zeleth

& bewitcheth y^e eyes of the minde, neither hath it anye Felowshippe with Vertue.

Sore against my will was it, that I disgraded and displaced L. Flaminius, brother of y^t right valiaūt T. Flaminius, out of y^e Senate, seuen yeres after y^t hee had bene Cōsull: but I déemed it con∣uenient y^t his inordinate Lust shoulde by such opē punishmēt be accordingly met w^tal & reproued. For beinge Consull in Gallia, hee was at a Banket entreated by a cōmon Brothel or Curtesan, to be∣head some one of thē, which were in Pri∣son, and condēned to dye. Hee, so longe as his brother Titus was Censor (whi∣ch was next afore mee) escaped vnpuni∣shed: But I and Flaccus could not in a∣nye wyse allow of such a Villanous and lewd Lust, which besides his owne pri∣uate shame, and reproche, emblemished also the Honor of our Empyre.

I haue oftentimes heard myne Aun∣cestours tell, (who likewise sayde that they had heard the same at Oldemens handes afore) that C. Fabritius was

wont much to meruayle: because being Ambassadour to Kinge Pyrrhus, be had heard Cyneas the Thessalian, reporte, that at Athens there was a * certeine fe∣low, professing himselfe to be a Wyse∣man, who affirmed, that all thinges whyche wee goe aboute, oughte to be referred vnto Pleasure. Whyche tale, M. Curius, and T. Coruncanus hearing him report, were wont to wish that the Samnites, and Kinge Pyrrhus hymselfe, were fullye perswaded to be∣leeue, and creedite the same: to thende they myght bee a greate deale more ea∣selye vanquished, when as they once ad∣dicted theymselues whollye to Plea∣sures.

This M. Curius. lyued with * P. De∣cius, who in his fourth Consulshyppe, fiue yeares before the other was Con∣sul, voluntarily offred himselfe to death for his Country. Fabritius knewe hym well, and so did Coruncanus: who as∣well by their own lyues, as by the deede of this P. Decius (whom euen nowe I named) iudged y^t there was somthinge

naturallye good and excellent: whyche was to bee desired, euen for itselfe, and which euery good and vertuous person (abandoning & concemning pleasures) ought to ensue.

But, to what end speake I so much of Pleasure? because (forsoth) it is not only no Dispraise at all, nay rather a moste high praise & cōmendation for Oldage, because it greatlye careth not, for anye Pleasures. It lacketh dayntye fare, curious dishes, and sundry drinckes. It therfore lacketh Dronkennes, Indige∣stion, and phantasticall dreames.

But if wee must needes yeelde some what to Pleasure, because wee cannot easelye withstand her allurementes (for the Diuine Philosopher Plato calleth Pleasure, y^e Bayt of all Mischiefe, be¦cause mē are ensnared & caught therw^t, as Fyshes wyth the Hooke) I saye all though Oldage lack imoderat gluttīg cheere, yet may it bee delighted in mo∣derate Banquetting.

When I was a Boy, I oftentimes sawe C. Duillius, the Sonne of M.

euen hee that firste vanquished the Car∣thaginians by Sea) being an old man, comming home from Supper. Hee lo∣ued manye tymes to haue a Torche or Lyncke caryed before him, and a Musi∣cion also playing: which example or pre¦sident, no priuate persō before him euer shewed: his Glory & renowme embold∣ned him so farre, licentiously to deale. But what speake I so much of others? Now come I agayne to myselfe. First I alwaies had Cōpanye & Felowshyp. And Felowshippes were first instituted when I was Treasurer, at such time as wee receiued the sacred Rites of the La¦dye* Greate mother of the Gods, out of Phrygia.

I banquetted therefore with my Ma∣tes, but yet alwayes moderately. But there was in me then, a certayn galan∣tise and heate of Age: which Age gro∣winge forwarde, all thinges are euerye daye, more and more qualified. For I neuer measured my delite in those Bā∣quets, for any pleasures of the body: but rather for the Companie sake and talke

of my Frendes, and well willers.

And therfore our Auncestors dyd ve∣rye wel, in tearminge a feastinge assem∣blye of Freendes (because it bath a con∣iunction of lyuinge together) by the na∣me of Conuiuium: a great deale better then doe the Greekes, who call the selfe same thing, somtime a *Compotation, and somtime a * Concenation: wherein they seeme to allow of y^t, which in thys kynde, is least of all to be made accoūpt of.

Verily I doe take delight in season∣able Banquetting, euen for the delight that I take in the talking & confereēce: and not with my Equalles onelye, who are now very fewe, but with your Age also, & euē with you yourselues. And I hartely thanke Oldage, for that, it hath encreased in mee a greedinesse of talke, and taken away the desire of Meate and Drinke. Now yet, if any man take spe∣ciall delight in these thinges (because I wyl not seeme altogether to bee at open warre and defiaunce wyth Pleasure, whereof there is peraduēture a certaine

measure Naturall) I doe not perceiue that Oldage lacketh a fruition and fee∣linge, no not in these Pleasures them∣selues. The Prerogatiues, and superi∣orities at Feastes, instituted by oure Aūcestours, do wonderfully cōtent me: and those pointes or cases, which by an aunciēt custome amōg our Elders, are propounded at the Table by the chiefe Maister of the feast: and the Cuppes as in Xenophōs Treatise, entituled Sym∣posiū) prety, small, and clenly rynsed: & in Sommer season a pleasaunt cooling, & likewise in Winter, eyther y^e warme Sonne, or a good Fyre, is vnto mee sin¦guler delight. Which thinges when I lye at my Manor of Sabine, I am vsu∣allye wont to put in practise: and euery daye I throughly furnishe my Boorde wyth my Neighbours: where we passe awaye the time together in talkinge of manye and sundrye matters, euen tyll it be farre in the night.

But there is not so great tickling, & as it were an itch of Pleasures in Old men. I beleeue it wel: nay, there is not so much, as any desire thereto. For no∣thinge

is greuous or beauilye taken of a man, which hee neyther desireth nor ca∣reth for.

Very wel did Sophocles aunswere a certayne man, which asked him beinge now greatly striken in yeares, whether hee vsed Venereall act or Carnal com∣pany with women? God forbid ({que} he) that I should vse any such thing: for I haue willinglye renounced and fledde from all such lasciuiousnes, as from a beastly and furious Mayster.

For to them that are desirous of such thinges, the lacke and want thereof is peraduenture odious and greuous. But to them which are fullye glutted, and satisfied therewith, it is more plea∣sure to want, then to haue them: how be it, he that forceth not for athing, lacketh it not. And therfore not to care for it, I saye, is greater pleasure, then to haue y^t fruition of it.

Now if youthful Age, delight & enioy these foresayd Pleasures, the reason is, first because it is more wylling to ensue small matters, & of light importaunce,

as afore wee haue sayd: and afterwards such thinges as Oldage, if it fully enioy not, yet doth it not altogether lacke.

And like as hee which sitteth vppon the first and chiefest Bench, doth better behold and is more delighted to see* Am¦biuius Turpio: and yet is bee also de∣lyghted, whych sitteth vpon the hynder∣most and last Bench of al: euen so Ado∣lescency more néerely beholdinge Plea∣sures, doth perhaps more frolicklye de∣lite, and ioye in them. But yet Oldage beholding the same aloofe and farre of, hath as much delectation therein, as is sufficient.

But what a singuler commoditye is this, that the Mind being as it were fre∣ed, and worne oute of the seruice & thral∣dome of Sensualitie, Ambition, Con∣tention, Quarrelling, and all filthy Af∣fections, kepeth itselfe within his boū∣des, and lyueth (as the Prouerbe sayth) with itselfe? But if it be furnished & as it were nourished with the foode of some Study and learning: then truly is there nothinge more pleasaunt then is a quiet

Oldage.

Wee sawe C. Gallus, the Familier Frend of thy father, O Scipio, continu∣allye to applye, and as it were to dye, in his earnest study of measuring of* Hea∣uen and* Earth: How often hath y^t next Morning, come vpō him ere he had ful∣lye finished that thing which he had be∣gonne to describe the night before? How often did nighte surprise him, when as hee had begonne anye thing in the mor∣ning? What a singuler delighte was it vnto him, when as be long before prog∣nosticated, and foretolde vnto vs, the E∣clipses, both of the Sunne and Moone? What diligēce bestowed hee in lighter matters and of lesse importaunce, but yet verye quicke, and wittye?

How greatly did Naeuius reioyce in his Comedy, called the Punique VVar∣res? How ioyed Plautus in his Comedy Truculentus? How in his Pseudolus?

I also, saw old* Liuius, who hauinge set foorth a Comedye, seuen yeares bee∣fore I was borne, when Cethegus, and Tuditanus were Consulles, lyued fyll

I was a pretye Stripling.

What shoulde I speake of the pro∣founde studie of P. Licinius Crassus, both in the Canon, and also in the Ci∣uyle Lawe? Or of this our P. Scipio, who was this other daye created highe Priest? But yet all these whom I ha∣ue named, wee sawe to bee Oldmen, & most earnestly enflamed w^t these kynde of studies.

As for M. Cethegus, (whom Ennius doth verye well tearme the Marowe or Pyth of Lady * Suada) howe studiously did wee see him busied in Oratorie, be∣inge euen an Oldman.

What Pleasures therefore of Ban∣quettes, or Playes, or Harlottes, are comparable to these Pleasures? And these are the studies of learning, which in men of wisdome, and good inclinatiō do grow, euen as they themselues doe, in Age: so that, that saying of Solon is verified, which hee vttered in a certaine Verse, as before I haue declared, That hee waxed older and older by learning euery day more and more.

Then which Pleasure of the mynde, there can none (doubtlesse) bee greater.

I come now to the Pleasures which Husbandmen haue, wherewith surelie I am incrediblie delited: which neither are impeached, nor hyndered with any Oldage, and in my phansie, do approch neerest vnto the lyfe of a Wiseman. For their dealing & trade is w^t the Earth, w^t neuer refuseth to bee vnder their com∣maundement & subiection: and euer re∣payeth that which it afore receiued, w^t a¦surplusage & vsury: albeit somtimes w^t lesse, but for y^t most part w^t greater gain & encrease. Albeit (in deede) not y^t fruits only, but y^t power & nature of y^e Earthe itselfe, is it, w^t delyteth me: which when it hath receiued y^t Seede cast vpō it, into her lap, being by tillage wel ploughed, & manured, doth first for a time keepe it closely couered ouer w^t barowing, why∣th is therupō called Occatio: and after∣wards being warmed w^t moisture, & her therishmēt, she maketh it to sprout and shoote vp. & bringeth out of it a greene blade, which being strengthned & staied w^t the smal stringes at y^t rote of y^e stēmes

doth by lyttle and little, grow vp to a cō∣uenient bignesse: and standing vpright vpon a knottye straw ful of ioyntes, is, when it draweth toward rypenesse, in∣closed within Huskes. Out of the why∣ch when it peepeth, it bringeth foorth y^e Corne handsomelye set in thorder of an Eare: and to saue it from being pecked out by small Byrdes, it is rampyered & fenced with a Trench or Walle of the Awnes, or Beardes.

What shoulde I speake of the Graf∣finge, springinge vp, and encrease of Vy∣nes? I cānot be ynough delighted there∣in: because I would you should know y^e quietnesse and delectation of myne Old∣age. I doe omit the force and Vertue of al these thynges, which the Earth brin∣geth forth: how, out of one poore kernel of a Figge, or out of one seely grayne of a Grape, or out of the smallest seedes of other Fruites and Plantes, it doth pro∣create and bring foorth, such great Bo∣les, and Stemmes. The small twygs, the Gryftes, the Stalkes, the plātable Vynes, the platted stayes, for theym to

runne along vpon, & the old Wyne stoc∣kes, doe not these cause any mā to delite therein with a kinde of admiration?

The Vyne whiche naturallye is fal∣linge, if it be not vnder propped, & shoa∣red vp, lyeth flat vpon the ground: but the same, to rayse vppe itselfe, clas∣peth and with his Tendrells (as it were with handes) holdeth faste what soeuer it catcheth. The which creeping and spreading itselfe sundrye wayes, y^t Husbandmans skilfull Arte, doth with his pruninge toole restrayne and cut of, least it should with superfluous Braun∣ches, be ouer growen & spread too much euery waye.

And therfore at the beginning of the Spring, in that which was lefte at the ioyntes where those twigges were cut of, there sprouteth out a young Burgē or Budde: out of the which, the Grape comming foorth, doth shew itselfe: whi∣ch encreasing in bignesse, partly with y^e moysture of the Earthe, and partlye w^t the heate of the Sunne, is at the firste very bytter in cast, but afterwards be∣ing

ripened, waxeth sweet & tothsome: and being clad and shrowded with lea∣ues, lacketh neither moderat warmth, and also defendeth the too much parth∣ing heat of the Sūne. Then the which what thing can there bee, either for the fruiet, pleasanter, or for the Eye, gor∣geouser and trimmer? whereof, not the profite onely, (as before I sayde) but y^t manuraunce and the selfe nature of the thinge highly deliteth me. The orders of the shoares or proppes, the tyinge & byndinge them together at the toppes, the shreadinge of the old Vines and the superfluous Braunches (which before I mentioned) and y^e placinge of others in their steedes.

To what ende should I rehearse the wateringe of the Plantes, the Dyg∣ginge and new renewing of the groūd, whereby the Earthe is made a greate deale rancker and fruitfuller? What should I speake of the profite that com, meth by the Dunginge and Compos∣tinge of Land? I haue sayde sufficient∣ly of it, in that Booke which I wrate of

Husbandry: whereof the Learned He∣siodus in hys Woorke which hee wrate of Tyllage, spake neuer a worde? But Homer who was (as I take it) manye hundreth yeaces before hym: in∣troduceth and maketh Laertes, longing and languishinge for the absence of his Sonne, as an Husbandman, tylling yea & Dunging also of the ground.

Neyther are Husbandlye affayres onelye delectable and plentifullye stoa∣red with greene Corne, Meadowes, Vyneyardes and Copsees: but with Orchardes also and Gardeines, Gra∣singe of Cattall, Swarmes of Bees and varietie of all sortes of Flowers. And not onely Planting, but Engraf∣finge also is delightfull, which are as wittie, and as fine posates, as any be in Husbandrye.

Many delites of Husbādry can I recken vp: but I suppose y^t these which I haue already named, bee vnto you somwhat redious. But you shall pardon me: for y^t great goodwil w^t I beare to Husban∣dry, hath caried me somewhat far in the

discourse thereof: and also Oldeage is by nature, talkatiue and geeuen to ma∣ny wordes: because I wil not seeme to cleare it from all faultes.

And therfore M. Curius after he had tryumphed ouer the Samnites, and Sa∣bines, and ouer Pyrrhus, spent the later ende of his Age in this kinde of lyfe. Whose Ferme or coūtry House, as oftē as I beholde (for it is not far frō mine) I cannot but greatlye wonder to consi∣der eyther the continency of this noble Gentleman, or the Discipline that was in those dayes.

For vpon a tyme the Samnites brin∣ging vnto this Curius sitting by the fier a huge summe of Golde, were by him put backe and reiected; saying, he thou∣ght it more honorable to haue domini∣on and to be Lord ouer them that be ful of Gold, then to haue Gold himselfe. Coulde such a Noble mynde otherwise choose, but leade a pleasaunt Oldage?

But now come I agayn to Husbād∣men, because I recken my selfe one of their order and felowshyp. Senatours,

that is to saye, Sage Seniors and Did men, were in those dayes Husbandmen. For as L. Quintius Cincinnatus was holding the Plough in the field, newes was brought to him that he was made Lord * Dictator. By y^e cōmaundment of which Lord Dictator, the maister of the Horsemen, C. Seruilius Hala, slewe Sp. Melius a spiring to be king, and go∣inge aboute by intrusion to gette the Crowne.

Out of their Fermes and Countrye Houses, was Curius, and manye other Oldmen sent for, and called into y^e Se∣nate: wherupon they that went to Sō∣mon and call them were named * Via∣tores, Purseuauntes, or common Mes∣sangers. Was therefore the Oldage of these men miserable, which thus de∣lighted in Tyllage and husbandrye? Certes in my iudgement. I doubt whe∣ther there can bee anye blessedder lyfe then this is: and not onely for common Duties sake, because Tillage is expedi∣ent and cōmodious for all sorces of men in generall, but also for the delectation

(which I speake of) and for the plenti∣fulnesse and abundance, which both for the sustenaunce of men, and honoure of the Gods are requisitely belonginge. And sithens some doe desire this, let vs nowe reconcile oure selues vnto Plea∣sures.

For a good and substantiall Husbād hath alwayes his Cellors for Wyne, Oyle, Honye, and houshold prouision, well stoared, and his whole House well furnished. Hee hath stoare of Hogge, Kydde, Lambe, Henne, Mylke, Cheese and Honye.

Now, Husbandmen themselues doe call and tearme a Gardeyne, by the na∣me of an other Larder: and Hawkinge and Huntinge beeinge superuacuous & vayne exercises, doeth season the same thinges a greate deale better, and ma∣keth theym more toothsome.

What should I speake of the greene verdure and hue of Meadowes, of the orderlye settinge of Trees, or of the goodlye beautye, and fashion of their

Vyneyardes, and Olyueyardes?

I wyll in fewe Woordes declare my mynde. I say there can be nothing, ey∣ther profitabler for vse, eyther ttym∣mer for shewe, then is Ground, well manured and tylled: from the fruition whereof, Oldage doeth not onelye not hynder a man, but also rather inuiteth and allureth him thereunto.

For where may that Age better, yea or so wel, warme itselfe, eyther by sit∣tinge in the Sunne, or by a good fier: or concrarye wise as the Season of the yeere serueth, bee so holsomlye cooled either in shadye places, or pleasaunte waters?

Let younger folkes therefore take to themselues their exercises of deedes of Armes, of Horsemanshippe, of tossinge the Pyke and Speare, of handlinge y^e Clubbe, and Ball, theire Practise of Swymminge and Runninge: to vs Oldemen, of manye other Games let theym leaue the Tables, and Chesse,

(yea and that no further then a man is disposed) because Oldage without these may be happye.

The Bookes of Xenophon are very profitable for sundrye purposes, y^t why∣ch (I pray you) viligētly peruse & read, as you do. How copiously doth he pray∣se Husbādry in his booke of Houshold, entituled Oeconomicus? And that you may well vnderstand how that nothing seemeth vnto him so Princelye and fitte for a Kinge, as is the studye of Tyllage and practise of husbandrye, hee intro∣duceth Socrates in that Booke, reaso∣ning with Critobulus, and telling him that Cyrus the younger, King of Per∣sia, (a Prince both for profoundnes of Wytte, and for glorious Soueraigntye of Empyre, renoumed) when as Lysan∣der the valiaunt Capitayne of the La∣cedemonians, vppon a tyme came vnto him at his Cittie of Sardis, & had brou∣ght vnto him frō his confederates and freendes certeine Presentes and Re∣wardes, did shew himselfe in al pointes generallye curteous and freendlye to∣wardes

the sayde Lysander, and name∣lye that he shewed vnto him a certeyne enclosed fielde sette and planted with Trees righte orderlye.

Now when Lysander had through∣ly viewed, and with admiration beheld both the heighte of the Trees, and the exact order, precisely obserued in y^e pla∣cinge and settinge of them in a perfecte * Quincuncie, the ground well manu∣red and pure withall, and the sweete smelles which the flowers yelded: hee told the king, that he wondered not on∣lye at the diligence, but also at the fyne wytte of him, by whom those thyngs were measured out and described. Vn∣to whom Cyrus thus aunswered. It is euē I my selfe, which haue by measure planted and set these Trees: the order of the Rowes wherin they stand, is my onely deuice, and no other mans: the platforme also & the description here∣of is mine: yea manye of these Trees were planted and set with myne owne handes. Then Lysander well eyinge his purple Robe, and the rych Apparel

of his Bodies, and the rest of his gallāt Brauerye after the Persian guyse, wrought & garnished with much Golde and manye pretious Stones further sayde this: Now do I well see (O Cy∣rus) that for very good cause, thou art reported a Prince, Fortunate: be∣cause vnto thy Vertue, Fortune also is conioyned. This therefore may Olde men lawfullye enioye. Neither is age anye such lett or Obstacle, but that in other thinges also, and namely in Hus∣bandrye and Tyllage, wee maye con∣tinue oure Practise, euen tyll, the laste poyncte of our Oldage.

Wee haue hearde saye, that M. Va∣lerius Coruinus lyued tyll hee was an hundreth yeares olde: and that when hee was verye aged, hee dwelled in the Countrye, and fell to Tyllynge of hys Land.

Betweene whose First and Sixt Con∣sulshippe, there were Fortye and Sixt yeares. Therefore so longe tyme of Age, as our Auncestoures appointed &

would haue to the beginninge of Olde∣age, dyd he beare Office and Aucthori∣tye in the Common Wealthe. And herein was his extreeme and laste Age blessedder then his middle age, because it was honoured with more Authority: and of Laboure and Trauayle had lesse then afore.

The highest Tytle and Honorablest perfection of Oldage, is Aucthority. Oh, how great was it in L. Caecilius Metellus? how honourable in Attilius Calatinus? whose Prayse and commē∣dation is sounded oute in this Honora∣ble Testification: Many Nations with one mouth do agre, that he was the chie¦fest man of all the Cittye. The Epi∣taph y^t was engrauen vpon his Tombe is well knowen. Worthilye there∣fore and by good right was hee called a graue Personage, of whose Prayses all men by one consente gaue so good a re∣porte generallye.

What a worthye man sawe wee P. Crassus, of late the highe Bishop to be?

what a noble fellowe was M. Lepidus, who afterwardes was in the same Of∣fice of Priesthoode? What shall I spea∣ke of Paulus or Aphricanus, or (as a∣fore) of Maximus? not onelye in whose discrete Counsels & Directions, but al∣so in whose beckes there rested Autho∣ritie?

Oldage (namelye that, which is reuerenced and honored) hath so great Authority, that it is much more worthe then all the Pleasures of Adolescencie.

But in al this my discourse, remem∣ber ye, that I praise that Oldage, whose foundation was layd and grounded in Adolescency. Whereupon that, which I w^t all mens wel lyking haue so often spoken, is verefied: That the Oldeage which defendeth it selfe onelye wyth talke, is miserable.

It is not the graye hayres, nor the wrinckled face, that straightwayes can bring Authoritie & Estimation: but a former lyfe vertuouslye and honestlye spent, yeldeth the fruicts of Authoritye in the ende. For these thinges whiche

seeme light and of small accoumpt, are (in deede) very honorable: to be saluted, to be desired into companye, to haue the wall geeuen, to bee reuerented and ry∣sen vp vnto, to bee wayted on, home & from home, and to bee soughte vnto for counsayle: which thinges both among vs, and in all other wel gouerned & nur∣tured Cities also, are moste diligentlye obserued.

The report goeth, that Lysander (of whom I ere while made mention) was wont to say, that, The honestest Lod∣ging & honorablest Mansion for Old age to dwell in, was in Lacedęmonia. For in no place els in the worlde, is so much reuerēce shewed to Age as there: in no place is Oldeage more honoura∣ble.

It is also left in written Histories, y^t a certayne Elderly man comming into the Theatre at Athens to see a Playe, had no rowme at al allowed vnto him, to sit in, among his Coūtrymen in that great assembly: who afterwardes cō∣minge to the Lacedemonians (whych

were there at y^t tyme Ambassadours, and in respect thereof had a place accor¦dingly appointed them where to sitte) it is sayd y^t they all arose, and receiued the Oldman to sitte among them.

Whereat when as all the whole assem∣blye for ioye, a greate while together clapped their handes, it is reported that one of the Ambassadoures spake these wordes * The Athenians knowe what is honest, but to doe the same, they wyl not.

Many excellent good orders haue we in our Colledge: but namely this, that as euerye one is in Senioritye and El∣dershippe of Age, so hath he a preroga∣tiue to vtter his mynde firste. For the Aunciente and Aged Augurs are pre∣ferred and esteemed, not onelye before them which bee in higher Office then they: but beefore theym also, which beare the chiefeste Swaye, Auctho∣ritye, and Office, in the Weale Pub∣lique.

What Bodilye Pleasures are there comparable to the rewardes and ad∣uaunce

mentes of Aucthoritye? Where∣in who so euer haue honourablye beha∣ued theymselues, they in myne Opini∣on haue notablye well played the Pa∣geaunt of their Age: and not like bun∣gling Stagiers, in the last Acte of al, to haue fumbled and geeuen it ouer in the playne fielde.

But many Oldmen bee wayward, carefull, testye and ill to please: and if wee throughlye siste the matter, coue∣tous and nygardlye also. But these are the faults of Maners, & not of Oldage.

But yet this way wardnesse, and the other faultes before rehearsed, haue some colour of excuse, which althoughe not iust & rightful, yet such as seemeth may bee allowed of.

They thincke themselues to be con∣temned, despysed, flouted and mocked: and furthermore in that frayle bodye of theirs, euery small Offence is odious & captiously taken. Al which (notwith∣standing) throughe good maners & dis∣ciplines are qualified and sweetened: which to bee true, maye bee perceyued

aswell by the common course of Mans lyfe, as also by the two Brothers in the Comedie Adelphi. What churlishnes & rude behauioure is there in the one? what gentlenesse and curtesie in the o∣ther? The case standeth euen so. For as euerye Wyne by Age is not sowred into Vyneiger: so neither is euery Old¦age crabbed and eluish.

Seueritie in Oldage I well allow, but yet (as I do of all other things) measu∣rable: but spightfull bitternesse I can not in any wise broke nor away withal.

And as concerning Couetousnesse in Oldemen, I am nothinge acquainted ther w^t, nether vnderstād I what it mea∣neth. For can there be any thing more absurd, or more repugnaunt to reason, then the lesse way that a mā hath to go, the more prouision and costage to make and purueighe?

THE fowerth cause whiche seemeth most of all to greeue & disquiet our Age, remayneth yet behinde to bee dis∣cussed: & y^t is, the neerenesse of Death: which (certes) cannot be farre of from

Oldage. O miserable old Caytife, whi∣ch in so longe a tyme as he hath lyued, hath not perceiued and learned that Death is to bee contemned: which ey∣ther is vtterly to bee despised, if it alto∣gether kill and extinguish the Mynd or Soule: or els is greatly to be desired, if it conducte and carye the same to some place, where it shalbe eternal. For (cer∣tes) there can no * third be found.

Therefore what should I feare, if af∣ter death I shall bee eyther not misera∣ble, or els blessed? howbeit who is so foo∣lishe, to a warrant himselfe (althoughe he were neuer so younge) that hee shall lyue till the next Eueninge?

Furthermore that same Age is sub∣iect to a great maigny mo casualties of Death then oure Age is. Youngemen sooner fall into Sicknesse: they are so∣rer sicke, and are hardlyer recured: & therfore few lyue tyll they come to Old¦age: which if it were not so, wee should lyue together a greate deale better and wiselyer. For Discretion, Rea∣son, and wise Aduice resteth in Oldmen:

and therfore if there were no Oldmen, there would bee no Citties at all. But now come I again to talk of imminent Death.

What faulte of Oldeage is this, si∣thens you see y^t same also cōmō to Yoūg age? I my selfe by proofe haue felt, as∣wel in that worthye man my Sonne, as also in thy Brothers (Scipio) of whom great hope was generally conceiued to haue seene them aduaunced to most ho∣nourable Dignities, that Death is a∣lyke common to all Ages.

But a Youngeman hopeth to lyue a great whyle: which an Oldman maye not looke to do. Hee (truly hopeth foo∣lishly. For what folisher thing is there, then to accoumpte thinges vncertayne for certayne, and thinges false for true?

An Oldeman hath nothinge to hope for. But hee is therefore in farre bet∣ter case then a Youngeman: because hee hath alreadye enioyed and obtey∣ned that, which the Yongmanne doth but hope for. The one desireth to lyue longe: the other hath alreadye lyued

long. Howbeit (O Lorde) what is there in Mans lyfe, long, or of any last∣tynge continuaunce?

For admitte and graunt, that wee lyue euen tyll the vttermoste of oure Age. Let vs hope to lyue as longe as euer did the Kynge of the Tartessians. For there was (as I fynde in Hystories) one Argantonius Prince of the Isles called Gades, who reigned Fourescore yeeres, and lyued an hundred and twē∣tye.

But to mee, there seemeth nothinge longe. wherein is anye Extreeme, or Ende. For when that Ende is once come, then is y^t which is passed, quight gone: and nothing remayneth but only that, which a man hath by his Vertues and good deedes atchieued.

Houres passe awaye apace, and so do Dayes, Monethes, and Yeeres: ney∣ther doeth the tyme once passed euer re∣tourne: neither can y^t, which is to come, bee preciselye knowen.

Therfore, euerye one ought to bee con∣tēted with that time, which is graunted

him to lyue. For neyther needeth a Stageplayer, necessarily to play out y^e Enterlude, tyl the very last end therof, to bee cōmended therfore: but in what Act soeuer of the same he be, he must so hādle his part, that he may be praysed: neither should a Wiseman lyue till the Plaudite bee stricken vp.

For a short tyme of Age is longe y∣nough to lyue well and honestlye. But if you continue yet longer, you muste no more be discontented thereat, then Hus∣bandmen be, after the pleasauntnesse of the Spring season once passed, to haue Sommer & Autumne to succeede. The Spring doth signifie and represent (as it were) Adolescencye, & sheweth what Fruicts are lyke to ensue. All the other times and seasons, serue to mow & ga∣ther in, the fruicts.

Now, the fruit of Oldage is (as be∣fore I haue often sayde) the remēbrance and stoare of Goods, before tyme got∣ten. And al thinges which are done ac∣cording to the course of nature, are to be reckned in the number of good things.

And what is so agreable to Nature, as for Oldmen to dye? which thinge hap∣neth vnto Youngemen, euen Maugre Natures Goodwill.

Therfore Youngmen seeme vnto me so to dye, as when a raging flame of fy∣er is with the great quantitye of water quēched. And Oldmē deceasse, euē like as Fyer, when it is all spent, is extin∣guished of it owne accorde, withoute v∣singe any force thereto. And as Apples when they bee greene and vnrype, are plucked from the Tree with violence: but being rype and mellowe, they fall downe from the Tree: euen so, violent force and painfull strugglinge, taketh a∣waye lyfe from Youngmen: but from Oldmen, a rypenesse and maturity.

Which is to mee so pleasaunt and com∣fortable, that the neerer I drawe to Death, the sooner mee thinckes I doe (as it were) see y^t land, & shall at length after a long Nauigation, arriue at the Hauen.

Of al other Ages, the certein terme is appointed how long ech lasteth: but of

Oldage there is no certeine terme limi¦ted: and in it doth a man lyue well and laudablye, so longe as hee is able to exe∣cute and discharge his dutie and Func∣tion: and yet to contemne Death.

Whereupon it hapneth that Oldage is endued with greater Courage and ani∣mositie, then Adolescency and Youth is. And this is it that was aunswered by Solon, vnto Pisistratus the Tyraunte, demaundinge of him, vppon what hope and confidence, he durste bee so bolde & presumptuous, so desperatelye to wyth∣stand and disobey his proceedinges? E∣uen vpon the hope (quoth he) of mine Oldage.

But the best Ende of lyuing is this: when as (the mynde beinge whole and perfect, and all the wyttes and Senses sounde & vnappayred) y^t same Nature w^t compacted and framed the worke toge∣ther, doth lykewise dissolue and lewse the same. For as the Ship wright whi∣ch made the Shippe, best knoweth how to vndoe and pull asunder the same a∣gayne: and as none can better vnioynte

down a house, then the Carpenter that framed it: euen so, Nature which ioy∣ned and fashioned together the Bodye, doth best dissolue and end the same.

For euery Conglutinacion or glew∣inge, when it is new glewed together is hardlye pulled asunder, but being olde and forworne, is easelye disseuered.

Thus, it commeth to passe, that this small remnaunt of lyfe, is neyther gre∣dilye to bee desired of Oldmen, nor w^t∣out cause to be left and forsaken. And Pythagoras chargeth vs, not to depart out of the Garrison, and Wardhouse of this lyfe, without the commaundemēt of our high General, which is God.

There is a notable saying of y^e Wise¦man Solon, wherein he protesteth, that he would not haue his Death to bee vn∣bewayled, and vnlamented of his Fren∣des. His meaninge (I thincke) is, that he would bee entierly deare vn∣to his Frendes. But I know not, whe∣ther Ennius hath a greate deale better thereof iudged:

Let no man at my death lament, Nor weepe when I am laid in Graue: For why? in lyfe aye permanent, I sure am lastinge Fame to haue.

Such death in his opinion, is not to be lamented and bewayled, which is exchaunged for Immortality. Now, as touchinge the Griefe or Agonies of dying (if there be any) certes, they en∣dure but for a small space, especiallye in an Oldman: and after Death the same Sense is eyther such as is blessed and optable, or els is it none at all.

But Adolescencie ought to enure it¦selfe in this Meditation, still to dispise Death: without which Meditation no man can haue a quiet mynde.

For surely dye we muste, and vncer∣taine are wee whether euen this ve∣rye present daye. Therfore who is hee, which euery hower standing in feare of Death, can haue his mynde in any reste and tranquillitye? whereof there nee∣deth no very long discourse to be: sith I well remember not onelye L. Brutus

who in the quarell of his Country was slayne: the two Decij, who gallopinge their horses, voluntarily gaue themsel∣ues to Death: M. Regulus, who wil∣lingly went and yelded himselfe to pu∣nishment, because hee woulde not for∣swere himselfe, but keepe touch & pro∣mise euen with his very Enemies: the two Scipioes, which stopped the pas∣sage and way of the * Carthaginians, euen w^t their owne bodyes: thy Graūd∣father L. Paulus, who through the rash¦nesse of his * Copertner and fellowe in Office, was in that ignominious & dis∣honorable ouerthrow at Cannas, slayne and manquelled: M. Marcellus whose dead Corps, his most cruell * Enemye suffered not to lacke honorable interre∣ment: but also how oure Legions and common Souldiers haue couragiously and stoutlye aduentured manye tymes into such places whence they neuer thought againe to returne alyue: as in my Boke of Originalles, I haue decla∣red. Shall therfore Oldmen whych hee learned and skilfull feare that thing

whych young Striplinges, and the fa∣me not onelye vnlearned but rude and rusticall also, do contemne and sette at naughte?

But a sacietie of all thinges (in mine opinion) causeth a sacietie of lyfe.

There be some delightes peculier to Childhood: Shal tall Striplinges & Youngmen addict themselues thereun∣to semblablye? There bee also some, appropriat vnto youthful Adolescency: Shall rype and consistent Age (whyche is tearmed the Middle Age of man) de∣sire the same? And there bee of this sa∣me middle Age, some Studies, which Oldage careth not for: And there bee some, last of all, peculier to Oldage.

Therfore as the delightes of these for∣mer Ages do decay and come to an end, so do these of Oldage dye, and vanish a∣waye also. Which when it happeneth then doth sacietye of lyfe, bringe a rype and conuenable tyme to dye.

For trulye I see no cause to the con∣trarye, but that I dare bee bolde to de∣clare vnto you, al that I thincke & iudge

of Death: namely for that I seeme the deeper to see into it, because I now ap∣proach & drawe somwhat neere vnto it.

And verelye (OP. Scipio & C. Laelie) I do beleeue that, your noble Fathers, which were Gentlemen both right ho∣nourable, and my most deare Frendes, are yet still alyue, and doe lyue such a lyfe, as (in deede) is alone to be accoūp∣ted Lyfe.

For so long as wee are enclosed with in the Prison or frame of our bodyes we must needes discharge some actions euē of necessitie, and are dryuen to doe some such Functiōs as are vnauoydable. For the mynd or Soule being heauenly, and inspired into Mā from aboue, is depres∣sed, & as it were forcibly throwen down to y^e Earth: being a place to Diuine na∣ture, & Eternitie quight contrary.

But I thincke that the Immortall Goddes inspired Myndes into Hu∣mane Bodies, to the ende there should bee some, to inhabite the Earth: who beholdynge the Order of the Bodyes

Celestial, should imitate the same in the course of their lyues and in Constancy.

And not onely reason and disputatiō enforceth me so to beleeue, but the no∣blenesse also and Authoritye of renow∣med Philosophers.

For I haue beene in place where I haue heard y^t Pythagoras and his Scho¦lers the Pythagorians, being dwellers here, & almost endenizoned among vs, (for they were once termed Italiā Phi∣losophers) neuer made any doubt in the matter, but that we had our myndes or Soules, tipped, and deriued from the very vniuersall diuinitye of God.

There were moreouer shewed vnto mee, those pointes, which Socrates (e∣uen hee which by the Oracle of Apollo was adiudged the Wisest man in the worlde) disputed and spake the last day of his lyfe, concerning the Immortali∣rye of the Soule.

What needeth many wordes? I am thus perswaded, and thus do I thinke, sith there is so greate celeritye of mens Myndes, so good remēbrance of things

passed, so great insighte and forecaste of thinges to come, so many Artes, so ma∣nye Sciences, and so many inuentions, that the Nature which vnderstandeth & conteyneth the knowledge of al these thinges cannot bee mortall. And sith y^e mynde is euer mouinge and hath no be∣ginninge of motion (because it moueth itselfe) so shall it neuer haue anye ende of motion, because it shall neuer leaue nor depart from itselfe.

And sith y^e Nature of the mynd is sim∣ple, and hath nothinge annexed wyth it whiche is vnlike or discrepante from it¦selfe, that therefore it is indiuisible: & forsomuche as it is indiuisible, there∣fore can it neuer dye. And that this ser∣ueth for a greate Argument to proue y^t men know sundry thinges, before they be borne, because young Children, lear¦ning hard Artes, do so quickly conceiue and apprehend the knowledge of innu∣merable thinges, in such sorte, that they seeme not then first to learne them, but to renew them fresh againe, into memo¦ry. Al these in a manner bee Plato hys

reasons.

In Xenophō also we read, y^t Cyrus the Elder lyinge on his death Bedde, spake these woordes: Do not thincke my deare chyldren, y^t when I am gone frō you, I shalbe no where, or broughte to nothing. For in all the whyle that I haue beene with you, you did neuer see my Mynd: but yet by those noble Acts which I haue atchieued, you did well ynough vnderstand, that in this Bodye of myne, there was a Mynde.

Beleeue therefore that I haue the selfe same Minde stil, although visiblie with youre eyes you see it not. Neither would the honourable memorialles of noble Personages remayne after their Deathes, if their worthy mynds should atchieue no such notable enterprise, for the which we should the lōger celebrate the memorye of theym, when they bee dead and gone.

Trulye it woulde neuer sinke in my brayn, y^t mens Mindes or Soules, only lyued whyle they remayned in mortall Bodies, and that beinge departed oute

of them, they vtterly dyed. Neither that the mynde is Doltish and foolish, when it is set at libertye, and departed out of a foolishe Bodye: but when it beinge clerely rid, from all admixtion of y^e Bo∣dye, beginneth once to bee pure & sound, then is it wise. And when Mans Na∣ture is by Death dissolued, it is appa∣raunt and plaine ynough, whither eue∣rye one of the other partes do goe. For all thinges returne to that, frō whence at the first they had their beginning: but y^t Mynd only, neuer visibly appeareth, neither whē it is in y^e body, neither whē it goeth & departeth oute of the Body. Now, you see y^t nothing is so like vnto Death, as Sleepe. And yet the Mindes of them that are a sleepe, do notably de∣clare their Diuinitie. For when they be quiet & free, they forsee many things to come. Wherby it is to be vnderstanded how & after what sort they shalbe, when they bee clerelye dismissed out of y^e Pri∣son of y^e Body. Wherfore if these thin∣ges bee true, then reuerence & honour mee as a God.

But if the Soule or Mynde doe dye

together with the bodye, yet you drea∣ding the Gods, who maintein and go∣uerne al the beautiful furniture of this world, shall godlye and inuiolablye so∣lemnize the memoriall of mee. These wordes spake Cyrus, lyinge vppon his Death bedde. Now if you thincke it good, let vs suruewe and consider oure owne.

No man (Scipio) shal euer perswade me, y^t eyther thy* Father Paulus, or thy two Graundfathers Paul{us} & Aphrica∣nus, or the * Father of the same Aphri∣canus, or * his Vncle, or many other ex∣cellent men, which here neede not to be rehearsed, would euer haue enterprised such worthy aduentures and attemptes (onlye to leaue a paterne & memoryall therof to their posterity) if they had not w^t the eyes of their mynds perceiued & seene that their Posterity and Sequele might apperteine vnto them. Do you think y^t I (for I also must somwhat bo∣ast & brag of my selfe as Oldmēs guise is to doe) would euer haue vndertaken so manye painful labours, day & night,

both in time of Peace & also of Warre if I had thought y^t my glorious renow∣me should extend no further then y^e boū∣des of my natural lyfe? For if it should be so, were it not then much better for a mā to lead an easie & quiet lyfe, without entermedling in any labour or contenti∣ous dealing of the world?

But the Mynd (I wot not how) ray∣singe vp and erectinge itselfe, had euer such a carefull respect to Posteritye, as though when it were departed out of this lyfe, it should then, and neuer tyll then, lyue & flourish. For if it were not so, y^e Soules were immortal, the mynd of euerye good & Vertuous man, would not so earnestly aspire to immortal Glo∣rye. Further more euery wiseman doth right willingly and contentedly dye: cō∣trarywise, euery Foole, most vnwilling lye. Doe you not thincke y^t the Mynd which seeth more and further of, doeth well percciue and knowe, that it goeth to a farre better state? Agayn, that hee whose insight is dymmer & duller, doth neither see nor consider so much?

But verelye I haue a great desire to see youre Fathers, whom I both reue∣renced and loued. And not them onelye am I so earnestlye affected to see, whom I myselfe earst haue knowen: but them also, of whom I haue both heard, read, & also haue myselfe written.

Frō which my Iourney thitherward, no man shall (by my good wyll) bringe me backe, neyther rebound and rebutt me backward, as it were a Tenise Bal: yea although hee woulde vndertake to perboyle my old Bloud and renew my youth agayn as Pelias was.

Certes, if God would graunt to me be∣inge now in this Age to bee a Childe a∣gain, and as younge as a Babe y^t lyeth cryinge in his Cradle, I woulde wyth all my hart, refuse the offer. Neither would I willingly (when I haue as it were runne the whole race) to bee pluc∣ked backe frō the Gole or Endmarkes, to the Listes or place of first setting out.

For what Commoditie hath thys lyfe? Naye rather what moylinge and laboure hath it not? But admitte,

it had some commoditie: yet doubtlesse it hath either some full sacietye, or some finall Ende.

For I meane not to bewayle and de∣plore my lyfe past, as manye and y^t same right learned, Clerks haue often times done. Neyther do I repent that I haue lyued: because I haue so lyued and led my lyfe, that I maye iudge of myselfe, that I haue not beene borne in vayne. And I depart out of this life as oute of an Inne, not as out of a dwelling house. For Nature hath lente vnto vs a place for to stay & abide in, for a tyme, and not to dwell in continuallye.

Oh noble and luckye Daye, when as I shall take my voyage towarde y^t bles∣sed Crewe, and companye of Happye Soules: & when as I shall departe out of this trouble some worlde, and cōmon Syncke of all mischiefe. For I shal not onely goe to those worthye men (of whō I spake before) but also to myne owne Sonne Cato, a man of such Vertue, & goodnesse, as none more, of such pietie and synceritie, as none better: whose

Bodye was * Burned by me, whereas it had beene, more agreeable to Na∣ture, that my Bodye shoulde rather haue bene burned and enterred by him. But his Mynde or Soule not clearlye forsakinge mee, but euer loooking back and expecting my comming, is assured∣lye gone before into those places, why∣ther he perceiued y^t I also must come.

Whiche my happe and chaunce I haue seemed stoutlye to beare: not because I did take it so patientlye in deede: but I euer comforted my selfe, thincking that our absence and beeing asunder, should not continue long.

These hee the very causes O Scipio, (for you told me ere while, that you and Laelie were wōt much to meruaile ther∣at) which make mine Oldage vnto me easie, and to bee not onelye without all greeueunce but rather verye pleasaunt and delectable.

And if I doe erre in this poinct, bee∣cause I am of opinion that the Soules of men are immortal, verelye I am wel contēted, in the same errour still to con∣tinue:

neither will I recant this error (wherein I am so singulerly delighted) so long as I lyue. And if the case were so, y^t when I am dead I should feele no∣thinge (as certeine petite Philosophers hold opinion) I feare not a whit, least those Philosophers being dead, should flout and deride this mine error.

Nay, admitte, that we should not be immortal: yet is it good and optable for a man, in his conuenient tyme to dye. For Nature, as she hath of all other thinges, so also hath she her limitatiō & ende of lyuing. Nowe, Oldage is the finall ende or laste parte of Age, much like vnto y^e Conclusion or last knitting vp of an Enterlude: the wearysomnesse whereof, we ought to eschue, speciallie when we are, euen cloyed with saciety.

Thus muche haue I had to saye tou∣ching Oldage: wherunto (I pray God) that you may arryue: that those things which you haue heard of me by month, you may by deede and trial find true ac∣cordingly.

Thomas Newton.

FINIS.

Notes

• Ennius.
• Because he vvas called At¦ticus.
• For the Ciuile dis¦cension.
• For Cato by inter∣pretacion signifieth a vvittye man
• To resiste againste Nature, is to keepe vvarre a∣gainst the Gods.
• Like to like.
• Themisto¦cles.
• Fittest vve¦pons for Oldage.
• By this Lavv, pro¦fessors of Rhetorik and plea∣ders of lavve mi∣ght take no monie for their labor, but do it of a certe•• no¦bl••••es of minde.
• Ennius.
• A taunt pretelye reboūded backe a¦gain.
• Novv cal¦led Marca Anconita¦na. Gallia Ci¦salpina, novv Lū∣bardy.
• Prayse of Fabius
• Plato dy∣ed as hee sate vvry∣ting.
• Which cō¦teyned the pray¦ses of Mi∣nerua her feastes at Athens, vvherein all lear∣ned men shevved forth their Cunning
• A vvor∣thy aun∣svver.
• Ennius.
• By this lavv a mā hauing no Children but daugh¦ters, had his limita¦tion hovv much hee ought at his dea¦th to bee queathe vnto thē, and al the rest of hys inheritāce & goods to descēd to the next Issue male of his kyn.
• Four cau∣ses vvhy old age se¦meth mi¦serable.
• * The j. dis¦praise of Oldage. Oldage is no let or hinderāce to a man from dea¦ling in of¦fices or functions in the Cō¦mon vvel the.
• Graue & vvise coū¦sellours the chiefe staye of a Cōmon vvealths.
• Appius Claudius
• Maister of a Shyppe.
• Who ma¦de Car∣thage Tri¦butary to Rome: & this Scipi∣o vtterly destroyed, it.
• There vvere al¦vvayes 4. Consuls: 2. in Of¦fice for the yere present: & the other elected to succede the next yeare fo¦lovvinge.
• The Sena¦te hath his name of Olde men.
• Lacede¦monians.
• Memorie not mini∣shed in Oldmen.
• Memorye of Themi¦stocles.
• A foolish persvvasi∣on that vvas in people of old time.
• No olde man so ob¦liuious, to forget vvhere he layeth his purse.
• Sophocles accused by his ovvn son¦nes, for do tag
• No man so old but hopeth to lyue one yeere lon¦ger.
• Men must do good for them that come after.
• Old men take de∣light in tovvardly yoūgmen
• An Olde mās good aduertise∣ment, ve∣ry profita¦ble and pleasaunt to a yoūg man.
• Solō vvax¦ed Olde, by lear∣ning eue∣rye daye somvhat
• Cato lear¦ned the
• Greeke tong vvhē hee vvas an Oldmā
• The Se¦cond dis∣prayse of Oldage: alledged by them that saye Oldage is mysera¦ble, becau¦se it ma∣keth the bodye vveake and feble
• Milo re¦prehēded because he bevvai¦led his lacke of strengthe in his old age.
• An other obiection
• To instru¦cte & tea¦ch youth is a neces¦sary and excellēt Function
• Learned men.
• Youth in∣ordinate lye ledde maketh a feeble & impotent Oldage.
• Lusty Old¦age of Cy¦rus.
• Perfecte strength of Metel∣lus in Old¦age.
• Nestor ly¦ued three hundred yeres.
• Iliad. j. Agamem¦non.
• Wisdome excelleth strength.
• Betvvene the Ro∣maines & the Car∣thaginiās.
• A moun¦tayne in Greece through vvhich is a verye streight and nar¦rovv pas¦sage.
• Enoughe such Coc¦kneyes novv a dayes.
• Let euery man med¦dle vvith no more then hee can vvell compasse
• Milo cary¦ed an Oxe aliue, vpō his shoul∣ders, the space of a furlong.
• Euery age hath his proper sea¦son.
• Masinissa kinge of Mauritani at a vvor∣thye and a painfull Prince.
• Obiectiō
• Obiectiō
• Yoūgmē subiect to infirmi¦ties asvvel as olde
• Good les¦sons to re¦sist Olde¦age.
• The dyet of the bo¦dye, aptly resēbled to a Lamp
• Differēce betvvene the po¦vvers of the mynd and the bodye.
• Dotage.
• Blind Ap¦pius a pa∣terne of a noble Gētlemā and good houshol∣der.
• What ma¦keth Old age, hono¦rable.
• Youthful Oldage.
• Old yoūg age.
• The cu∣stome of the Pytha thagoriās
• The third Dispraise of Olage: alledged
• by them that saye it is vvith out al ple¦sures.
• Bodilye pleasure notablye inueigh ed against by Atchitas.
• Pleasures the Wel∣spring of al Mischi¦eues.
• Dignitie of the minde.
• A man ad¦dicted to pleasure, moste vn meete for al vertu¦ous actiōs
• A shame¦ful and re¦prochful ouerthro.
• Oldage qualifieth all il mo∣tions.
• Pleasure and Ver∣tue are contra¦ryes.
• Vice pu∣nished vvithout any parci∣ahtie or respect of persons
• A dissolu∣te part cō∣mitted by Flaminius to fulfill an vvho∣res request
• Epicure.
• This man valyantly died in the defēce his Coū∣trey.
• Obiectiō
• Hard to resist plea¦sures al∣lurements
• Moderate Banquet¦ting cōme¦dable and tolerable for Old¦age.
• Cybele
• Banquet∣tinge and makinge merie vvyth honest cō∣panye.
• Conuiuiū
• 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• Oldage not alto∣gether vvithout vulgare pleasures.
• Xenophō
• Obiectiō.
• Sopho¦cles aun¦svvere touching carnal co¦cupiscēce
• He that careth not for a thig, cannot be sayde to lacke it.
• An excel∣lente player of Comae∣dies and counter∣feicter of mens ge∣stures.
• What old age is ple¦sauntest.
• C. Gallus
• Oldman studious
• Astrono∣mie.
• Geome∣tye.
• Naeuius.
• Plautus
• Liuius An¦dronicus
• Licinius Crassus.
• Scipio.
• The God desse of E¦loquence and gallāt speach cal¦led in Gre¦ke Pitho.
• Wee vvax older by beeing vviser.
• Husban¦drye.
• Buddes.
• Dygging
• Dunging
• Odyss. ••
• Sundrye delightes of Husbā¦drye.
• Planting Graffinge
• Noblemē haue dely¦ted to spē¦de their time in Husban¦drye
• A noble aunsvvere of a vvor∣thy man Enemye to all bry¦berye.
• Senators Oldmen.
• The high¦est office in the cō∣mon vvealth called al∣so the Maister of the peo∣ple: & for the time had the office of a king.
• Noble Councel∣lours cho∣sen out of the coun∣trye.
• Currours or Purse∣uauntes.
• In Husbā¦dry is both profite & pleasure.
• Hortus altera Succidia.
• Exercises for Yoūg men.
• Disportes for Olde men.
• Xenophō his booke of House¦holde.
• Cyrus.
• Lysander
• When Trees are so exactly set, that vvhiche vvay so e∣uer a man loke they stand dy∣rectly one againste another.
• Virtuti Fortuna comes.
• Valerius Coruinus
• Authori∣tye the chiefest honor and orna∣mente of Oldage
• What ma¦ner of old¦age is com¦mendable
• The best dvvelling for Olde age vvas at Lacede¦mon.
• Great re∣uerence a¦mong the Heathen shevved to Old age.
• Too ma∣nye of the same stāp novv a dayes.
• Obiectiō
• Faults of maners & not of age
• Terence.
• Seueritye in mesure alovvable in Oldmē
• Couetous¦nes in old¦men.
• The iiii. dispraise of Old∣age surmy¦sed by thē
• vvhiche saye it is miserable because it is nere vn¦to Death
• Death not to be feared: & the rea¦sōs vvhy
• For ey¦ther the Soule ly¦ueth or els dyeth
• Yongmē more sub¦iect to sic¦knesse thē Oldmen
• Cōmon vvealthes & Cities gouerned and main¦teined by Oldmen.
• Death spareth no Age.
• Obiectiō
• Ansvvere
• Obiectiō
• Ansvvere
• Old men haue already en¦ioyed that
• vvhich younge men doe but hope for.
• Arganto¦nius liued 120. yeres
• Time pas¦seth
• We must haue a greater care to ly¦ue vvell then to lyue long
• Spring
• Fruicts of Oldage.
• Yongmē haue grea¦ter payne in dyinge then Old¦men.
• Oldage hath no certen nū¦ber of ye∣res a poin¦ted hovv long to last.
• Oldage stout and ful of cou¦rage.
• Solons an¦svvere to Pisistr a∣tus the Ty¦raunt.
• It is a vvic¦ked thing for a man to mur¦ther or kil himselfe.
• Solon vvished to haue his death bevvai∣led.
• Ennius.
• Death not to bee be¦vvailed.
• He that stil stan∣deth in feare of Death can neuer haue a qui¦et mynde.
• Nothing more cer∣taine then Death: Nothing more vn∣certaine then the houre of Deathe.
• Valiaunt knightes which dy¦ed for the honor & safegarde of their countrye
• Vnder the cōduct of Ha••dru∣ball. Terentius Varro.
• Hannibal
• Not vvor¦thye and honora¦ble Gen∣tlemē on∣ly, but cō¦mon soul¦diers & in¦ferior per¦sons haue despised Death.
• Euery age hath his peculier delite and studye.
• A true lyfe.
• The Body is the pri∣son or Iayle of the Soule
• Why the mind vvas inspired into man.
• Pythago¦ras.
• Immorta¦litye of the soule
• Plato his Reasons to proue the im∣mortality of the Soule
• Lib. 8. de Cyri paedia
• All thin∣gesreturn to that vvherof they had their first begining
• Sleepe an Image of Death.
• Paulus Ae¦milius. Pub. Sci∣pio. C. Scipio
• Noble mindes de¦sire to le∣aue a re∣
• The God lye desire Death but the vvicked feare it.
• This pla∣ce is tran∣slated ac∣cordinge to ij sun∣drye La∣tine Tex∣tes.
• This life ful of trou¦ble and la¦bour.
• A vvor∣thye and vertuous man is not borne in vaine.
• This life is no dvvelling place of continual abode but as an Inne or lodge¦inge for a tyme,
• The fashi¦on then a¦mong the Romains vvas to burne their dead Bodies.