to visit my relations, which I could not sooner afford. In returning I called at Newport, to see my brother James, then settled there with his printing house: our former differences were forgotten, and our meeting was very cordial and affectionate: he was fast declining in health, and requested of me that in case of his death, which he apprehended not far distant, I would take home his son, then but twelve years of age, and bring him up to the printing business.

21 This I accordingly performed, sending him a few years to school before I took him into the office. His mother carried on the business till he was grown up, when I assisted him with an assortment of new types, those of his father being in a manner worn out. Thus it was that I made my brother ample amends for the service I had deprived him of by leaving him so early.

CHAPTER 3.

ABRIDGMENT OF CICERO'S DISCOURSE ON OLD AGE; AD

DRESSED TO TITUS POMPONIUS ATTICUS. TRANSLATED BY DR. FRANKLIN.

SECTION I.

Essential requisites to a happy old age; a well spent life; pursuit of useful knowledge; virtue; exercise, and temperance; purity of conscience and conduct.

1 The subject I have now chose to write on, is OLD AGE; which, as it is advancing on us both, and in a little time must unavoidably seize us, I would look out and endeavor to find the best and surest means, to make the burden of it sit as easy on us as possible.

2 I must own, the thoughts that flowed on me from the subject, in composing it, proved so entertaining and delightful to me, while about it, that they have not only divested the prospect of old age, now before us, of every thing shocking or frightful, but they have rendered my expectations of it even agreeable and comfortable.

3 Which leads me to say, we can never sufficiently admire the excellency of philosophy, to whose dictates whoever submits, he will never find himself at a loss in any stage or condition of life, to render it not only supportable but easy. But on other philosophical subjects I have already wrote several tracts, and shall continue to write. This on old age (as I said) comes to you.

4 I choose for my speaker in it, old Marcus Cato; that the respect paid to his name and character may give greater force and authority to what is said. At his house I suppose Scipio and Lælius to be met, expressing their wonder to the old man, how, with such ease and cheerfulness he could support the weight of his years: to which he fully answers them. And thus they begin:

SCIPIO.

5 Our friend Lælius, and myself, Cato, greatly admiring your wisdom and vast compass of knowledge in general, have been particularly wondering to see how very easily and cheerfully you bear your age; for we can't perceive that it gives you any manner of trouble; while we have observed others complaining of theirs, as if the burden were insupportable.

CATO.

6 Indeed, my friends, you place your wonder on a matter far below deserving it, a business in which there is little or no difficulty at all; provided proper measures be taken in it. For know this, that those who have no aid or support within themselves, to render their lives easy, will find every state irksome: while such as are convinced, they must owe their happiness to themselves, and if they cannot find it in their own breast, they will never meet with it from abroad; will never consider any thing as an evil, that is but a necessary effect of the established order of nature; which old age most undoubtedly is.

7 'Tis certainly strange, that while all men hope they inay live to attain it, any should find fault with it when it comes to their share. * * * * But it was absolutely necessary, that some term, some period, should be set; and that, as it is with the fruits of trees, and of the earth, seasons should be allowed for their springing, growing, ripening, and at last to drop. This, wise men will submit to, and cheerfully bear. * *

LÆLIUS.

8 But, Cato, you would highly oblige us both, (for I may venture to speak for Scipio, as well as myself, since we both hope, or doubtless wish at least, to be old in our turn,) if you would be pleased to instruct us beforehand, how, and by what methods, we may avoid the inconveniencies that generally attend old age, so as to render it the more easy to us, when we reach it.

CATO.

9 With all my heart, Lælius, in case you both desire it.

SCIPIO.

10 We both earnestly desire it, Cato, if not too troublesome; for as you are now well advanced towards the end of a long journey, which we are probably to travel after you, we would gladly know of you, how you find it, in the stage you are arrived at.

CATO.

11 Well, I shall do my best to satisfy you. I have indeed, been divers times in company with other old men, my equals, as you know the proverb, Birds of a feather will flock together; when they have been loud in their complaints of the inconveniencies of old age; particularly Caius Calinator and Spurius Albinus, men of consular dignity; who used heavily to lament, that they had outlived all the enjoyments of life, for which it was worth the living; and that they found themselves slighted and forsaken by those who had formerly followed them, and had treated them with the highest respect.

12 But to me, such men appear to lay their charge entirely wrong; for if what they complained of were owing only to their years, the case must be the same with me, and all others of a like age: yet I have known several, who have lived to be very old, without complaining at all; for they appeared not only easy, but pleased at their being delivered from the tyranny of their youthful passions; and far from finding themselves slighted, were still honored and revered by those about them.

13 But the true ground of such complaints lies wholly in the manners of the men: for such as take care to be neither peevish, humorsome, nor passionate in old age, will find it tolerable enough; but a perverse temper, a fretful, or an inhumane disposition, will, wherever they prevail, render any state whatsoever, unhappy.

LÆLIUS.

14 That is very true, Cato, but may not some allege, it is your easy circumstances in life, with your power and dignity, that produce this happy effect, and render your old age in particular so easy; but these, you know, are articles that fall to but very few people's share.

CATO.

15 I confess, Lælius, there may be something in what you say. *** But the best armor against old age, Scipio and Lælius, is a well-spent life preceding it; a life employed in the pursuit of useful knowledge, in honorable actions, and the practice of virtue: in which, he who labors to improve himself from his youth, will in age reap the happiest fruits of them; not only because these never leave a man, not even in the extremest old age; but because a conscience bearing witness that our life was well spent, together with the remembrance of past good actions, yields an unspeakable comfort to the soul. ****

16 As the wise and good are in age delighted with the company of young people of sense and good inclinations, and nothing makes age sit lighter on them, than the regard and esteem of such; so all young people, who desire to recommend themselves to the world by a virtuous life and solid accomplishments, must of course be pleased with the opportunity of improving themselves by the advice and information of the most experienced: and thus I judge it is, that I observe you to be no less pleased with my conversation than I truly am with yours.

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17 For, what can be more honorable, what more desirable in life, than to see old men waited on by numbers of the young, making their court to them for their advice and instruction. For none, certainly, will deny, that the aged are the best qualified for instructing of youth, and training them up in the knowledge, as well as animating them to the discharge of every important duty in life. * * **

18 And I must ever think, that all those who spend their time in improving others in knowledge, and teaching the nobler arts, when their natural strength of body fails them, are entitled to our highest regard and esteem; though it is undoubtedly true that even this decay is oftener owing to some unhappy courses, and living too fast in youth, than to the natural effects of old age alone.

19 For a libidinous and intemperate life in youth, will unavoidably deliver over the body languid and enervate to succeeding old age. * * * Constant exercise, with temperance, will still preserve a competent share of our pristine vigor.

SECTION II.

Moderation in exercise and diet: literature and science : rural pursuits: mildness of temper : remembrance of past good deeds: resignation to the laws of nature.

1 But allowing it, that old people lose their strength, I say again they do not want it. The laws, their administration, the institutions and discipline of our ancestors, public and private, are their proper business.

2 We must prepare ourselves, my friends, against old age; and as it is advancing, endeavor by our diligence to mitigate and correct the natural infirmities that attend it: we must use proper preservatives as we do against diseases; great care must, in the first place, be taken of our health; all bodily exercise must be moderate, and especially our diet; which ought to be of such a kind, and in such proportion, as may refresh and strengthen nature, without oppressing it.

3 Nor must our cares be confined to our bodies only: for the mind requires much more, which, without care will not only decay, but our understanding will as certainly die away in old age, as a lamp not duly supplied with oil. The body, we know, when overlabored, becomes heavy, and, as it were, jaded; but 'tis exercise alone that supports the spirits, and keeps the mind in vigor.

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4 If the mind has the advantage of literature and science, and can by that means feed on, or divert itself with some useful or amusing study, no condition can be imagined moré happy than such calm enjoyments, in the leisure and quiet of old age. *

*

*

5 Upon all which let me ask you, what gratifications of sense, what voluptuous enjoyments in feasting, wine, hunting, or play, and the like, are to be compared with those noble enjoyments? Those pure and serene pleasures of the mind, the rational fruits of knowledge and learning, that grafted on a good natural disposition, cultivated by a liberal education, and trained up in prudence and virtue, are so far from being palled in old age, they rather continually improve, and grow on the possessor.

6 Excellent, therefore, was that expression of Solon, when he said, that daily learning something, he grew old: for the pleasures arising from such a course, namely, those of the mind, must be allowed incomparably to excel all others.

7 But I now come to speak of the pleasures of a country life, with which I am infinitely delighted. To these, old age is never an obstruction. It is the life of nature, and appears to me the exactest plan of that which a wise man ought to lead. Here our whole business is with the earth, the common parent of us all, which is never found refractory, never denies what is required of it, nor fails to return back what is committed to it with advantage, sometimes indeed with less, but generally with a very large interest. Nor is it the view