Cato major, or, The book of old age first written by M.T. Cicero ; and now excellently Englished by William Austin of Lincolns Inne, Esquire ; with annotations upon the names of the men and places.

CHAP. XI.

STrength is not in old age; neither indeed is strength required of age; therefore both by the laws and statutes, our age is free from those offices which cannot be ex∣ercised without strength; there∣fore we are not compelled to do those things which we cannot; no, nor so much as we can; but some men are so weak, that they can scarcely execute any office or duty of life at all; yet that is not the proper fault of age, but most commonly of sicknesse; how

weak was (Scipio) the sonne of Publius Africanus, he which adop∣ted you Scipio? of how small or ra∣ther of no health? which had it not been so, he had shined like another light in the city; for to his fathers magnanimity of mind, in him was added most plentifull learning; what wonder is there then in old men, if they be sometimes weak, since youth it selfe cannot avoid it? Age is to be resisted, Laelius and Scipio, and his faults are to be ruled with dili∣gence; we must strive against age as against a disease; we must have a care of our health; we must use moderate exercises; so much meat and drinke must be taken, that the strength may be refreshed, not oppressed, neither must we only feed the body, but the minde and understanding much more, for they also are ex∣tinguished

with age, unlesse you alwayes adde to them by study, and instill as it were oyle into a lampe. For though mens bodies grow heavy, and weary with much exercise, yet the minde is made more light, and ready by exercising it selfe. They whom Caecilius cals foolish old men, are such as are credulous, forget∣full and dissolute, whith are not generally the faults of all age, but of a sluggish, drowsie and slothfull age. For as wantonnesse and lust is more in young men then in old, and yet not in all young men, but in the dishonest; so that folly of age which is wont to be called doating, is in light-headed old men, but not in all; Appius being both an old man, and a blind man, governed foure valiant sonnes, and five beautifull daughters, a great houshold, and many retay∣ners,

for he had his mind ready bent as a bow, neither fainting did he yeild to age. He held not only authority, but also com∣mand over his own, his servants feared him, his children reveren∣ced him, he was dear to all, the ancient manners and discipline of the countrey flourished in that house. For age is so excel∣lent, if it keep its authority, if it be bound to no man, that even to the last gaspe, it beareth rule over its own. And as I like a youth in whom there is some gravity, so I like an old man in whom there is some youthfulnesse, which who so observeth, may be an old man in body, but in minde he never shall be. I am now writing my seventh book of [1] Originales, and of excellent causes, whatsoever I have heretofore defended, now es∣pecially I compile oratiōs, I handle

the sooth-sayers, the Priests, and the Civil law. I also use the Greek tongue much. And after the manner of the Pythagoreans, for to exercise my memory, I call to mind in the evening, what I have spake, heard, or done all that day. These are indeed the cases of the minde; these the exercises of the wit, in which studies while I busie my selfe, I do not greatly desire the strength of body; I am present with my friends, I come into the senate often, and of my own ac∣cord, I bring discourses, long and well thought upon, which I there defend not by strēgth of body, but of mind, which if I could not do, yet lying on my bed, the remem∣brance of the good I have done, would much delight me. But hi∣therto I have so lead my life, that I am yet able to performe the like; fore one which liveth in these la∣bours

and studies never perceives how age creepeth on him; for it doth by little and little wax old, without feeling, neither is life suddainly dissolved, but by long continuance exstinguished.

XI. TABLE of Annotations.

• 1. THe Book of Originals, was in manner of a Chronicle, which Cato wrote; there are but a few fragments of them extant, the rest are lost.