M.T. Cicero's Cato Major, or his Discourse of old-age: with explanatory notes.

CHAP. X.

FOR do not you observe in Homer, how Nestor is on all Occasions glorying of his own former Exploits? For he lived, 'tis said, to three times the common Age of Man; that is, He lived to see three successive Generations: And yet he had

no Reason to apprehend his being thought tiresome on these Subjects; since (as Ho|mer says) his Discourse flow'd more sweet than Honey from his Tongue: And herein bodily Strength had no Share or Concern at all. Yet the Great * 1.1 Commander of all the Greeks, never once wish'd, that

he had ten Men in the Camp of Ajax's Strength and Courage, but ten such as Nestor: For by the Assistance of such Counsellors, he doubted not but Troy would soon fall. But to return. I am now in my Eighty-fourth Year, and I wish indeed, I could boast the same of myself as Cyrus did. Yet this I can truly say, that tho' I have not the same Strength of Body as formerly, when I * 1.2 first served in the Punic War, or when I was Quaestor

in it; or when Consul in Spain; or when Tribune to the Consul Glabrio, I fought at Thermopylae: Yet, as you see, Age has not yet wholly unstrung me. The Senate finds no Defect in such Abilities as are proper for that Place; these are not

wanting at the * 1.3 Rostra; nor am I want|ing to my Friends or my Clients. For I never could approve of that old Proverb, tho' commended (I know) by some, which bids us be old betimes, if we would con|tintinue old long. On the contrary I would rather choose to be old for a less Time, or die sooner, than to make my|self old before I truly am. I therefore keep myself constantly employed; and no Man, I believe, ever yet found me quite

idle. But I have not the Strength of one of you; nor have you the Strength of * 1.4 Pontius the Centurion; is he there|fore to be preferred to you? He who has but a moderate Share of Strength, and applies it properly to make the best Use of it, as far as it will go, I assure you will rarely have Occasion to complain for want of more. Milo is said to have entred the Olympic Field carrying an Ox on his Back: Now, if the Choice were given you, which would you prefer, Milo's Strength of Body, or Pythagoras's Abili|ties of Mind? In short, while you have Strength, use it; when it leaves you, no more repine for the want of it, than you did when Lads, that your Childhood was past; or at the Years of Manhood, that you were no longer Boys. The Stages of

Life are fixed; Nature is the same in all, and goes on in a plain and steady Course: Every Part of Life, like the Year, has its peculiar Season: As Children are by Na|ture weak, Youth is rash and bold; staid Manhood more solid and grave; and so Old-Age in its Maturity, has something natural to itself, that ought particularly to recommend it. I suppose, Scipio, you hear how your Grandfather's Host * 1.5Massi|nissa, now at the Age of Ninety Years, employs his Time; that it is indifferent

to him, whether he walks or rides; if he sets out on a Journey on Foot, he will not mount; or if he gets on Horse-back, he will not light; that no Rain nor Weather can oblige him, when abroad, to cover his Head; and that, being thin of Body, he is so active, as in his own Person to dis|charge all the several Duties of his Station, as a King and a General. You see there|fore, that constant Exercise with Tempe|rance, will still preserve a competent Share of our pristine Vigour.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Agamemnon, King of Mycenae in Peloponesus, and Brother of Menelaus, was General of all the Forces of the Greeks, that went against Troy. He makes this Wish, in Homer's Iliad B. or Book 2. v. 372 in the Greek; in English thus, by A. Pope, v. 440.

  To him the King, How much thy Years excel In Arts of Council, and of speaking well: Oh would the Gods, in Love to Greece, decree But ten such Sages as they grant in thee, Such Wisdom soon should Priam's Force destroy, And soon should fall the haughty Towers of Troy.
• * 1.2

  Both Plutarch, in the Life of Cato, and C. Nepos say, he went into the Service at the Age of 17; and we saw before at Note 13, that he was in it at the Retaking of Capua in his 20th Year. He went Quaestor in his 30th Year, with Scipio Africanus, into Sicily and Afric, where (his Office engaging him in the Business of the Publick Accounts, and Scipio being of a free Temper and a gene|rous Disposition) they widely disagreed; in so much that Cato, repairing to Rome, and there applying himself to Q. Fabius Maximus, whom he principally chose [as we saw before at Note 11] for his Patron, this Affair, to|gether with a Complaint of the Locrians, a People situate near Sicily, was laid before the Senate; and being highly exaggerated by Fabius, a Praetor and two Tribunes were appointed, and very close Orders given them to inquire into Scipio's Conduct: Who returning, confirmed the Complaint of the Locrians; but in relation to Scipio, as Plutarch gives it, in the Life of Cato, they reported, that when not otherwise engaged, he took his Diversion and enjoy'd himself with his Friends; but at the same time he neglected no Business. Livy, on the other hand, who is much larger in his Account of the Whole [Bo. 29. c. 22.] without mentioning Cato at all, but making Fabius the chief Complainant, represents those Ambassadors charmed with the excellent Order they found both the Fleet and Army in, of which they made Report to the Advantage of Scipio in the highest Degree.—Scipio embark'd for Afric in the 550th Year of Rome, when Cato must have been about 30 Years old. He was Consul in the 559th, and had Spain for his Province, where he obtain'd signal Victories over the Spanish Inhabitants, (for the Cartha|ginians, in the late Peace made 6 Years before, had in|tirely surrendred to Rome, and quitted all their Pretences to Spain) and the next Year, on his Return to Rome, viz. 560, he led a Triumph for these Victories. Three Years after this he went Tribunus militum, or Tribune of the Soldiers [generally of the Infantry, a kind of Major General of the Foot] under Manius Acilius Glabrio, one of the Consuls, in the 563d of Rome, into Macedon and Thessaly, to oppose Antiochus Magnus, King of Syria; who, under Pretence of asserting the Liberties of Greece (for which there was no Occasion, since T. Q. Flaminius, as in Note 3. had put the Greeks in Possession of these five Years before) made War against the Romans; and posting himself in the famous Straits of Thermopylae (where Leonidas, and 300 Lacedemonians, opposing Xerxes so gallantly, died) was by Cato's Conduct, in surmounting the Clifts, intirely defeated. He was chosen Censor 11 Years after his Consulship, in his 50th Year; on which Livy, Bo. 39. as quoted before at Note 7. is large. As to his Age, as he was born [as in Note 12] in the 520th Year of Rome; and Cicero in his Brutus gives the Consuls of the Year he died in, who by the Fasti were so in the 605th Year; he should have died, according to that Account, in his 85th Year: But this directly contradicts the Historian Livy, whose Business it was more exactly to consult and consider the Annals, and who [at Note 7] positively says, he impleaded S. Galba in his 90th Year; and C. Nepos, another good Historian, says, he was en|gaged in Publick Affairs 80 Years; by which he should have lived to near 100 Years. These Historians there|fore, are most to be depended on: For Cicero has been observed in some other Cases to miss in his Computations.
• * 1.3

  The Rostra was a publick Place in Rome, where the Orators, and those who spoke to the People on any publick Affair, whether in relation to the Laws or Judge|ments, &c. delivered what they had to say. This Name Rostra, was given it, from its being built up with the Beaks of the Ships, that the Romans, on taking Antium, a Sea-port Town to the South-east of the Mouth of Tiber, and destroying their Fleet, brought as Trophies to Rome. vid. Liv. l. 8. c. 14. in fine. And not as Lipsius says, (de Magnitud. U. Romae, lib. 3. c. 8.) from those gained at the Battle of Antium, fought by Augustus some Years after this Discourse was wrote.
• * 1.4

  This was some Officer then noted for his great Strength, not elsewhere mention'd, that I know of.
• * 1.5

  Massinissa, Son of Gala, King of the Massylians, a Nation of the Numidians in Africa. His Story is ex|tream'y remarkable. The two Scipio's in Spain, men|tioned before at Note 50, but largely spoke of in Note 97. sent Legates to Syphax, King of the Numidians, to engage his Friendship to the Romans; in which they succeeded. The Carthaginians Provok'd at this, prevailed with Gala to make War upon Syphax; which he accordingly did, by sending his Son Massinissa, a Youth of great Spirit, tho' but 17 Years of Age, with an Army against him. This young General intirely defeated Syphax; and being in the Interest of the Carthaginians, he went over as their Ally into Spain where he very much contributed to the Overthrow of the Scipio's. [Pag. 63.] His Father Gala dying, his Brother ••Esalce Masinissa's Uncle, succeeded him; and on his Death soon after, Gala's Son Capusa, who, being young and weak, one Mezetulus of the royal Blood, rebelled against him, raised an Army, and fought the young King, who with most of his Army was cut off. Yet Mezetulus on his Removal claim'd not the Crown to himself, but set up Lacumaces, another younger Son of Gala, to whom he pretended to be Guardian. Masinissa (who objected not to his Uncle ••Esalce's Succession to his Father, for so the Law of their Country appointed) hear|ing in Spain of his Uncle's and Cousin's Death, hastned over to Afric, landed in Mauritania, and obtained of its King Bocchar, 4000 Men, with whom he march'd into Massylia; and meeting there only 500 of his Country|men, who went to receive him, he, according to Promise, dismissed his Escort, the Moors. His Numbers increas|ing, and gaining one Battle, Lacumaces fled to Syphax. Masinissa, doubting his own Strength, proposed an Ac|commodation; of which Syphax approved at first, till Asdrubal of Carthage, shew'd him the Danger of such a Neighbour, and prevail'd with him to carry on the War. This he accordingly did, and overthrew Masinissa, who with a few about him, fled to the Mountains, and there liv'd on Plunder. Syphax sent a Commander (whose Name also was B••c••har) with Forces against him, who intirely defeated and pursued him to a large rapid River: Masinissa, with four more, took it; two of whom were carried away by the Violence of the Stream, and perished; but Masinissa, tho' sorely wounded, with the other two escaped. B••c••har and his Men, believing them all lost, reported the Matter so to Syphax, to his and his People's no small Joy, as well as to that of Asdrubal. But Masi|nissa, as soon as he had recovered of his Wound, to their 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Mo••ti••ication, and to the equal Joy of his Friends, appeared again, as if he had dropt out of the Clouds, and in a little Time collecting an Army of 6000 Foot and 4000 Horse, was ready to oppose Syphax; who then be|gan to consider M••sinissa as an Enemy that would require h••s utmost Thought and Care. He therefore raised a larg•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉, march'd himself against him, and sending his Son 〈◊〉〈◊〉 with another Body round, to attack him on the Rear while he himself engaged in the Front, Ma|sinissa was intirely routed again; and it was only by his singular Dexterity, that he narrowly escaped the great Di|ligence Vermina used in the Pursuit: But from that Time he was obliged to keep private and at a Distance, till the Romans landed. In this Time Asdrubal, apprehending the Romans might as formerly make a Descent on Afric, judged it necessary to bring Syphax into a strict Alliance with Carthage: For which end he gave him his Daugh|ter Sophonis••a, a fine Woman, in Marriage. Scipio land|ing, sent Laelius into the Country before him. Masinissa then presently appeared; and joining him, drew great Numbers of Numidians to their Assistance. Their first Battle was with Syphax, whom they defeated, and took himself, with his beautiful Queen Sophonisba, Prisoners. She fell at Masinissa's Feet, imploring his Mercy, as of the same Country with her, and that she might rather die, than be delivered up to the Pride of the Romans. This he not only promised; but, charmed with her Looks and Behaviour, married her himself the same Day. Scipio highly offended at this, reproved him for it; and he knowing his Dependance must be wholly on the Romans, to be as just to his Bride as lay in his Power, and to keep his Word to her, sent her a Bowl of Poison with a pro|per Message, which she bravely took, and, as she desired, died free. This is all related by Livy, lib. 29. Massi|nissa, by the Favour of the Romans, greatly enlarged his Dominions. He reigned 60 Years; was always faithful to the Romans, and left this younger Scipio his Executor. Liv. lib. 50. Epit.