THAT learned critic, the younger Scaliger, comparing the two great orators, says, that nothing can be taken from Demosthenes, nor added to Tully; and if there be any fault in the last, it is the resumption or dwelling too long upon his arguments: for which reason, having intended to translate this piece into prose, (where translation ought to be strict) finding the matter very proper for verse, I took the liberty to leave out what was only necessary to that age and place, and to take or add what was proper to this present age and occasion, by laying his sense closer, and in fewer words, according to the style and ear of these times. The three first parts I dedicate to my old friends, to take off those melancholy reflections which the sense of age, infirmity, and death may give them. The last part I think necessary for the conviction of those many who believe not, or at least mind not, the immortality of the soul, of which the Scripture speaks only positively as a lawgiver, with an ipse dixit; but it may be, they neither believe that, (from which they either make doubts or sport) nor those whose business it is to interpret it, supposing they do it only for their own ends but if a Heathen philosopher bring such arguments from reason, Nature, and second causes, which none of our Atheistical sophisters can confute, if they may stand convinced that there is an immortality of the soul, I hope they will so weigh the consequences as neither to talk nor live as if there was no such thing.

CATO, SCIPIO, LÆLIUS.

SCIPIO.

THO' all the actions of your life are crown'd With wisdom, nothing makes them more renown' Than that those years, which others think extreme, Nor to yourself nor us uneasy seem,

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Under which weight most like th' old giants groan,
When Ætna on their backs by Jove was thrown. 6
CAT. What you urge, Scipio, from right reason
All parts of Age seem burthensome to those [flows;
Who virtue's and true wisdom's happiness
Cannot discern; but they who those possess,
In what's impos'd by Nature find no grief,
Of which our Age is (next our death) the chief,
Which tho' all equally desire t' obtain,
Yet when they have obtain❜d it they complain :
Such our inconstancies and follies are,
We say it steals upon us unaware.

15

Our want of reas'ning these false measures makes;
Youth runs to Age, as childhood youth o'ertakes.
How much more grievous would our lives appear
To reach th' eighth hundred than the eightieth year ?
Of what in that long space of time hath past
To foolish Age will no remembrance last..
My Age's conduct when you seem t' admire,
(Which that it may deserve I much desire)

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25

'Tis my first rule on Nature, as my guide
Appointed by the gods, I have rely'd;
And Nature, which all acts of life designs,
Not, like ill poets, in the last declines:
But some one part must be the last of all,
Which, like ripe fruits, must either rot or fall; 30
And this from Nature must be gently borne,
Else her (as giants did the gods we scorn.

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LEL. But, Sir, 'tis Scipio's and my desire, Since to long life we gladly would aspire, That from your grave instructions we might hear How we, like you, may this great burthen bear. CAT. This I resolv'd before, but now shall do With great delight, since 'tis requir'd by you, LAL. If to yourself it will not tedious prove, Nothing in us a greater joy can move, That as old travellers the young instruct, Your long our short experience may conduct. ́ CAT. 'Tis true, (as the old proverb doth relate) Equals with equals often congregate.

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Two consuls *, (who in years my equals were) 45
When senators, lamenting I did hear

That Age from them had all their pleasures torn,
And them their former suppliants now scorn.
They what is not to be accus'd accuse- 3
Not others but themselves their Age abuse;
Else this might me concern, and all my friends,
Whose cheerful Age with honour youth attends,

*Caius Salinator, Spurius Albinus.

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Joy'd that from pleasure's slav'ry they are free,
And all respects due to their Age they see
In its true colours; this complaint appears
The ill effect of manners not of years;
For on their life no grievous burthen lies
Who are well-natur'd, temperate, and wise;
But an inhuman and ill-temper'd mind
Not any easy part in life can find.

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60

LAL. This I believe; yet others may dispute Their Age (as yours) can never bear such fruit Of honour, wealth and pow'r, to make them sweet; Not ev'ry one such happiness can meet. 64

CAT. Some weight your argument, my Lælius, But not so much as at first sight appears. [bears, This answer by Themistocles was made, (When a Seriphian thus did him upbraid,

*

"You those great honours to your country owe, "Not to yourself)"—" Had I at Seripho 70 "Been born, such honour I had never seen, "Nor you, if an Athenian you had been." So Age, cloth'd in indecent poverty, To the most prudent cannot easy be; But to a fool the greater his estate The more uneasy is his Age's weight. Age's chief arts and arms are to grow wise, Virtue to know, and known to exercise : All just returns to Age then virtue makes,

Nor her in her extremity forsakes.

* An isle to which condemned men were banished.

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The sweetest cordial we receive at last,
Is conscience of our virtuous actions past.
I (when a youth) with reverence did look
On Quintus Fabius, who Tarentum took;
Yet in his age such cheerfulness was seen,
As if his years and mine had equal been :
His gravity was mix'd with gentleness,
Nor had his Age made his good humour less :
Then was he well in years, (the same that he
Was consul that of my nativity)

(A stripling then) in his fourth consulate
On him at Capua I in arms did wait.
I five years after at Tarentum wan

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The Quæstorship, and then our love began ;
And four years after, when I Prætor was,
He pleaded, and the Cincian law * did pass.
With useful diligence he us'd t' engage,
Yet with the temp'rate arts of patient Age
He breaks fierce Hannibal's insulting heats;
Of which exploit thus our friend Ennius treats : 100
He by delay restor❜d the commonwealth,
Nor preferr'd rumour before public health.
* Against bribes.

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