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. I.

O TITUS, if I ease the care, which sticketh in your breast, Which now doth vex and trouble you, wherewith you are opprest; Shall it be thought, Worth ought?

FOr I may well salute you O ATTICUS, with those Verses, wherewith that right worthy, though not welthy man [3] ENNIUS, saluted

[4] Flaminius; & although I surely know, that you are not so troubled day and night as was he, (for I have perceived the moderation of your mind, and I understand that you not only brought a Sir-name from [5] Athens, but also humanity and wisedome) yet notwithstanding I suppose, that you are sometimes much troubled with these matters, where with I my self am: the re∣medie for which griefes is both greater, and to be referred till an∣other time. Now it seemeth good unto me to write something of old age; For I will assay to ease both you and my self, of the burden (which is common to us both,) either of the age present, or of the age to come, though I know for truth that you will bear the weight of it moderately and wisely as you do all things; but as soon as I deter∣mined to write of old age, you

came into my mind worthy of this gift, which might be equally used by us both; and beleeve me, the ma∣king of this book was so delight∣full to me, that it did not only wipe away all the griefes of mine age, but made it easie and pleasant. Where∣fore Philosophy can never be suffi∣ciently praised, which whosoever followeth, may live all his life time without molestation, of which we have * 1.1 spoken much already, and intend to speak more hereafter: But this book of old age. I have sent to you, not attributing all the speech to [6] Tithon, as [7] Aristo Chius doth, least it should seem of small authority, but to [8] Marcus Cate the old man, whereby it may carry the greater grace and preeminence, at whom I make [9] Scipio, & [10] Laelius, wondering that he beare his

age so easily, and he answering them; who if he speak more learnedly, then he was wont to do in his bookes, you must attri∣bute it to the Greek tongue: in which it is well known he was very studious in his age. But what need more words? for now the speech of Cato himself, shall declare all our determination of old age.

I. TABLE of Annotations.

• 1. MArcus Tullius Cicero, The Author of this Book, and many other most noble and ex∣cellent workes, both of Philosophy, and Oratory, he was the sonne of a Knight at Rome, he passed most of the most honourable offices in Rome, he was a faithfull and ear∣nest

• lover and defender of the Com∣mon-wealth, which began to decay at his death, having lost so good a member; he was banished, and after beheaded, by the commandement of Antonius and Octavius.
• 2. Titus Pomponius Atticus, an honourable man, and a great friend to Cicero, he lived in great credit, both with the Romans and with the Athenians, from whence he brought the Sir-name of Atticus.
• 3. Ennius an ancient Poet, borne at Tarentum, he was brought to Rome, by Cato. vide numero 8. & 13.
• 4. Flaminius a grave Senator, to whom Ennius wrote a Book of con∣solation, when he grieved for his brothers expulsion out of the Se∣nate.
• 5. Athens a city in Greece, between Macedon and Achaia, built by Cecrops, who raigned 50. years

• there, it was called Athens by Mi∣nerva, who is also called Athene; it was the place or university of lear∣ning.
• 6. Tithon the sonne of Laomedon, beloved of Aurora; he was counted a fool, because when he was very old, be requested to be turned into a Grashopper, and might have had immortality.
• 7. Aristo Chius a Philosopher of the Ile Coas, who dedicated a Book to the former Tithon. Cicero writes thus of him: elegant and courteous Aristo; but that gravity which ought to be in a Philosopher, was not in him; many excellent things were written by him, but they carry no grace.
• 8. Marcus Portius Cato, whom Ci∣cero here makes one of his speakers in his dialogue, was a man of great honor, authority and severity; he was twice consul, he was the first raiser of

• his house; he was wont to say that he repented three things; one that ever he went by water, when he might have gone by land; the second, that he let passe an idle day; the third, that he told any secret to his wife.
• 9. Publius Scipio, the adopted son of Affricanus Major, the second Person of this dialogue, was of Kinne to Cato; he by the counsell of Cato, was sent to Carthage, in the third Carthaginian warre, and utterly o∣verthrew it.
• 10. Caius Laelius, the third person in this dialogue, was an excellent young man, a neer friend to Scipio, of whose friendship Cicero wrote a book de Amicitia.

Notes

• * 1.1

  In a book of the Consolation of Philosophy which is lost.