Cato major, of old age a poem / by the Honourable Sir John Denham ...

Of Old-Age . Cato , Scipio , Laelius . Scipio to Cato . THough all the Actions of your Life are crown'd With Wisdom , nothing makes them more Renown'd , Then that those years , which others think extreme , Nor to your self , nor us uneasie seem , Under which weight , most like th' old Giant's groan , When Aetna on their backs by Jove was thrown . Cat . What you urge ( Scipio ) from right reason flows , All parts of Age seem burthensome to those , 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 though all equally desire to'obtain , Yet when they have obtain'd it , they complain ; Such our inconstancies , and follies are , We say it steals upon us unaware : Our want of reas'ning these false measures makes , Youth runs to Age , as Childhood Youth o'retakes ; How much more grievous would our lives appear To reach th'eight hundreth , then the eightieth year ? Of what , in that long space of time hath past , To foolish Age will no remembrance last , My Ages conduct when you seem to'admire , ( Which that it may deserve , I much desire ) 't is my first rule , on Nature , as my Guide Appointed by the Gods , I have rely'de , And Nature , ( which all Acts of life designes ) 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 , And this from Nature must be gently born , Else her ( as Giants did the Gods ) we scorn . Lal . But Sir , 't is 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 , might this great burthen bear . Cat . This I resolv'd before , but now shall do With great delight , since 't is requir'd by you . Lael . If to your self 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 . 't is true , ( as the old Proverb doth relate ) Equals with equals often congregate . Two Consuls ( who in years my equals were , ) Caius Salinat●r . When Senators , lamenting I did hear , Spurius Albinus . 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 , Not others , but themselves their age abuse , Else this might me concern , and all my friends , Whose cheerful Age , with Honour , Youth attends , Joy'd that from pleasure's slavery they are free , And all respects due to their age they see , In it 's 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 inhumane , and ill-temper'd mind Not any easie part in life can find . Lael . This I believe , yet others may dispute , Their age ( as yours ) can never bear such fruit , Of Honour , Wealth , and Power , to make them sweet , Not every one such happiness can meet . Cat . Some weight your argument ( my Laelius ) bears , But not so much , as at first sight appears , This answer by Themistocles was made , ( When a Seriphian thus did him upbraid , You those great Honours to your Country owe , Not to your self ) had I at Seripho An Isle to which condemn'd men were banisht Been born , such honour I had never seen , Nor you , if an Athenian you had been : So Age , cloath'd in undecent povertie , To the most prudent cannot easie be , But to a fool , the greater his estate , The more uneasie 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 , 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 mixt 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 armes did wait , I five years after at Tarentum wan The Quaestorship , and then our love began , And four years after , when I Praetor was He Pleaded , and the Against Bribes . Cincian Law did pass . With youthful diligence he us'd to ingage , Yet with the temperate Arts of patient Age He breaks fierce Hannibal's insulting heats ; Of which exploit thus our friend Ennius treats , He by delay restor'd the Common-wealth , Nor preferr'd Rumour before publick Health .

THE ARGUMENT . When I reflect on Age , I find there are Four Causes , which its Misery declare . 1. Because our Bodies Strength it much impairs ; 2. That it takes off our Minds from great Affairs : 3. Next , That our Sense of Pleasures it deprives : 4. Last , That approaching Death attends our Lives . Of all these several Causes I 'le discourse , And then of each , in Order , weigh the force .

THE FIRST PART . 1. THe Old from such affairs is only freed , Which vigourous youth , and strength of body need . But to more high affairs our age is lent , Most properly when heats of youth are spent . Did Fabius , and your Father Scipio ( Whose Daughter my Son married ) nothing do ? Fabricii , Coruncani , Curii ; Whose courage , counsel , and authority , The Roman Common-wealth restor'd , did boast , Nor Appius , with whose strength his sight was lost , Who when the Senate was to Peace inclin'd With Pyrrhus , shew'd his reason was not blind . Whither 's our Courage and our Wisdom come ? When Rome it self conspires the fate of Rome . The rest with ancient gravity and skill He spake ( for his Oration's extant still ) 't is seventeen years since he had Consul been The second time , and there were ten between ; Therefore their Argument's of little force , Who Age from great Imployments would divorce . As in a Ship some climb the Shrouds , to'unfold The Sails , some sweep the Deck , some pump the Hold ; Whil'st he that guides the Helm , imploys his skill , And gives the Law to them by sitting still . Great actions less from Courage , strength , and speed , Then from wise Counsels and Commands proceed ; Those Arts Age wants not , which to Age belong , Not heat , but cold experience makes us strong , A Consul , Tribune , General , I have been , All sorts of war I have past through , and seen And now grown old , I seem to'abandon it , Yet to the Senate I prescribe what 's fit . I every day 'gainst Carthage war proclaim , ( For Rome's destruction hath been long her aim ) Nor shall I cease till I her ruine see , Which Triumph may the Gods designe for thee ; That Scipio may revenge his Grandsire's Ghost , Whose life at Cannae with great Honour lost Is on Record , nor had he wearied been With Age , if he an hundred years had seen , He had not us'd Excursions , Spears , or Darts , But Counsel , Order , and such aged Arts , Which , if our Ancestors had not retain'd , The Senate's Name , our Council had not gain'd , The Spartans to their highest Magistrate , The Name of Elder did appropriate : Therefore his fame for ever shall remain , How gallantly Tarentum he did gain , With vigilant Conduct , when that sharp reply He gave to Salinator , I stood by , Who to the Castle fled , the Town being lost , Yet he to Maximus did vainly boast , 't was by my means Tarentum you obtain'd ; 't is true , had you not lost , I had not gain'd ; And as much Honour on his Gown did wait , As on his Arms , in his Fifth Consulate , When his Colleague Carvilius stept aside , The Tribune of the People would divide To them the Gallick , and the Picene Field , Against the Senate's will , he will not yield , When being angry , boldly he declares Those things were acted under happy starres , From which the Commonwealth found good effects , But othewise , they came from bad Aspects . Many great things of Fabius I could tell , But his Son's death did all the rest excell ; ( His Gallant Son , though young , had Consul been ) His Funeral Oration I have seen Often , and when on that I turn my eyes , I all the Old Philosophers dispise , Though he in all the Peoples eyes seem'd great , Yet greater he appear'd in his retreat ; When feasting with his private friends at home , Such Counsel , such Discourse from him did come , Such Science in his Art of Augury , No Roman ever was more learn'd than he ; Knowledge of all things present , and to come , Remembring all the Wars of ancient Rome , Nor only these , but all the World's beside ; Dying in extreme age , I prophesi'd That which is come to pass , and did discern From his Survivors I could nothing learn . This long discourse was but to let you see , That his long life could not uneasie be . Few like the Fabii or the Scipio's are Takers of Cities , Conquerors in War , Yet others to like happy Age arrive , Who modest , quiet , and with vertue live : Thus Plato writing his Philosophy , With Honour after ninety years did die . The Athenian Story writ at ninety four By Isocrates , who yet liv'd five years more , His Master Grogias at the hundredth year And seventh , not his studies did forbear , And askt , why he no sooner left the Stage , Said , he saw nothing to accuse Old Age . None but the foolish , who their lives abuse Age , of their own Mistakes and Crimes accuse , All Commonwealths ( as by Record is seen ) As by Age preserv'd , by Youth destroy'd have been , When the Tragedian Naevius did demand , Why did your Common-wealth no longer stand ? 't was answer'd , that their Senators were new , Foolish , and young , and such as nothing knew ; Nature to Youth hot rashness doth dispence , But with cold prudence Age doth recompence ; But Age ( 't is said ) will memory decay , So ( if it be not exercis'd ) it may ; Or , if by Nature it be dull , and slow , Themistocles ( when ag'd ) the Names did know Of all th' Athenians , and none grow so old , Not to remember where they hid their Gold . From Age such Art of Memory we learn , To forget nothing , which is our concern . Their interest no Priest , nor Sorcerer Forgets , nor Lawyer , nor Philosopher ; No understanding , Memory can want , Where Wisdome studious industry doth plant . Nor does it only in the active live , But in the quiet and contemplative ; When Sophocles ( who Plays , when aged wrote ) Was by his Sons before the Judges brought , Because be pay'd the Muses such respect , His Fortune , Wife , and Children to neglect , Almost condemn'd , he mov'd the Judged thus , Hear , but instead of me , my Oedipus , The Judges hearing with applause , at th' end , Freed him , and said no Fool such Lines had penn'd . What Poets , and what Orators can I Recount ? What Princes in Philosophy Whose constant Studies with their Age did strive , Nor did they those , though those did them survive . Old Husbandmen I at Sabinium know , Who for another year dig , plough , and sow . For never any man was yet so old , But hop'd his life one Winter more might hold . Caecilius vainly said , each day we spend Discovers something , which must needs offend , But sometimes Age may pleasant things behold , And nothing that offends : He should have told This not to Age , but Youth , who oftner see What not alone offends , but hurts , then wee : That , I in him , which he in Age condemn'd , That us it renders odious , and contemn'd . He knew not vertue , if he thought this , truth ; For Youth delights in Age , and Age in Youth . What to the Old can greater pleasure be , Then hopeful , and ingenious Youth to see ? When they with rev'rence follow where we lead , And in strait paths by our directions tread ; And even my conversation here I see , As well receiv'd by you , as yours by me . 't is dis-ingenious to accuse our Age Of Idleness , who all our powr's ingage In the same Studies , the same Course to hold ; Nor think our reason for new Arts too old . Solon the Sage his Progress never ceast , But still his Learning with his dayes increast ; And I with the same greediness did seek As ( water when I thirst ) to swallow Greek , Which I did only learn , that I might know Those great Examples , which I follow now : And I have heard that Socrates the wise Learn'd on the Lute for his last exercise , Though many of the Antients did the same , To improve Knowledge was my only aime .

THE SECOND PART . NOw int' our second grievance I must break , That loss of strength makes nnderstanding weak . I grieve no more my youthful strength to want , Then young , that of a Bull , or Elephant ; Then with that force content , which Nature gave , Nor am I now displeas'd with what I have . When the young Wrestlers at their sport grew warm , Old Milo wept , to see his naked arm ; And cry'd , 't was dead , Trifler thine heart , and head , And all that 's in them ( not thy arme ) are dead ; This folly every looker on derides , To glory only in thy armes and sides . Our gallant Ancestors let fall no tears , Their strength decreasing by increasing years ; But they advanc'd in Wisdom ev'ry hour , And made the Common-wealth advance in power . But Orators may grieve , for in their sides Rather than heads , their faculty abides ; Yet I have heard old voices loud and clear , And still my own sometimes the Senate hear . When th' Old with smooth and gentle voices plead , They by the ear their well-pleas'd Audience lead : Which , if I had not strength enough to do , I could ( my Laelius , and my Scipio ) What 's to be done , or not be done , instruct , And to the Maximes of good life conduct . Cneius and Publius Scipio , and ( that man Of men ) your Grandsire the great Affrican , Were joyful , when the flower of Noble blood Crowded their Dwellings , and attending stood , Like Oracles their Counsels to receive , How in their Progress they should act , and live . And they whose high examples youth obeys , Are not despised , though their strength decays . And those decayes ( to speak the naked truth , Though the defects of Age ) were Crimes of Youth . Intemperate Youth ( by sad experience found ) Ends in an Age imperfect , and unsound . Cyrus , though ag'd ( if Xenophon say true ) Lucius Metellus ( whom when young I knew ) Who held ( after his Second Consulate ) Twenty two years the high Pontificate ; Neither of those in body , or in mind Before their death the least decay did find . I speak not of my self , though none deny To age ( to praise their youth ) the liberty : Such an unwasted strength I cannot boast , Yet now my years are eighty four almost : And though from what it was my strength is far , Both in the first and second Punick war , Nor at Thermopylae , under Glabrio , Nor when I Consul into Spain did go ; But yet I feel no weakness , nor hath length Or Winters quite enervated my strength ; And I , my Guest , my Client , or my friend , Still in the Courts of Justice can defend : Neither must I that Proverb's truth allow , Who would be Antient , must be early so . I would be youthful still , and find no need To appear old , till I was so indeed . And yet you see my hours not idle are , Though with your strength I cannot mine compare . Yet this Centurion's doth yours surmount , Not therefore him the better man I count . Milo when entring the Olympick Game , With a huge Oxe upon his shoulder came . Would you the force of Milo's body find ? Rather than of Pythagoras's mind ? The force which Nature gives with care retain , But when decay'd , 't is folly to complain ; In age to wish for youth is full as vain , As for a youth to turn a child again . Simple , and certain Nature's wayes appear , As she sets forth the seasons of the year . So in all parts of life we find her truth , Weakness to childhood , rashness to our youth : To elder years to be discreet and grave , Then to old age maturity she gave . ( Scipio ) you know , how Masinissa bears His Kingly Port , at more than ninety years ; When marching with his foot , he walks till night ; When with his horse , he never will alight ; Though cold , or wet , his head is alwayes bare ; So hot , so dry , his aged members are . You see how Exercise and Temperance Even to old years a youthful strength advance . Our Law ( because from age our strength retires ) No duty which belongs to strength requires . But age doth many men so feeble make , That they no great design can undertake ; Yet , that to age not singly is appli'd , But to all man's infirmities beside . That Scipio ( who adopted you ) did fall Into such pains , he had no health at all ; Who else had equall'd Affricanus parts , Exceeding him in all the Liberal Arts. Why should those errors then imputed be To Age alone , from which our youth's not free ? Ev'ry disease of age we may prevent , Like those of youth , by being diligent . When sick , such moderate exercise we use , And diet , as our vital heat renues ; And if our bodies thence refreshment finds , Then must we also exercise our minds . If with continual Oyl we not supply Our Lamp , the Light for want of it will die : Though bodies may be tir'd with exercise , No weariness the mind could e're surprise . Caecilius the Comedian , when of Age , He represents the follies on the Stage ; They 're credulous , forgetful , dissolute , Neither those Crimes to age he doth impute ; But to old men to whom those Crimes belong . Lust , petulance , rashness , are in youth more strong Than age , and yet young men those vices hate , Who vertuous are , discreet , and temperate : And so what we call dotage , seldome breeds In bodies , but where Nature sow'd the seeds . There are five Daughters and four gallant Sons , In whom the blood of Noble Appius runs , With a most num'rous Family beside ; Whom he alone though old , and blind did guide . Yet his clear-fighted mind was still intent , And to his business like a Bow stood bent : By Children , Servants , Neighbours so esteem'd , He not a Master , but a Monarch seem'd . All his Relations his admirers were , His Sons paid reverence , and his Servants fear : The Order and the antient Discipline Of Romans , did in all his actions shine . Authority ( kept up ) old age secures , Whose dignity , as long as life endures . Something of youth I in old age approve , But more the marks of age in youth I love . Who this observes , may in his body find Decrepit age , but never in his mind . The seven Volumes of my own Reports , Wherein are all the Pleadings of our Courts . All noble Monuments of Greece are come Unto my hands , with those of ancient Rome . The Pontificial , and the Civil Law , I study still , and thence Orations draw . And to confirm my Memory , at night , What I hear , see , do , by day , I still recite . These exercises for my thoughts I find , These labours are the Chariot of my mind . To serve my friends , the Senate I frequent , And there what I before digested , vent . Which only from my strength of mind proceeds , Not any outward force of body needs : Which , if I could not do , I should delight On what I would to ruminate at night . Who in such practices their minds engage , Nor fear , nor think of their approaching age ; Which by degrees invisibly doth creep : Nor do we seem to die , but fall asleep .

THE THIRD PART . NOw must I draw my forces 'gainst that Host Of Pleasures , which i' th' Sea of age are lost . Oh , thou most high transcendent gift of age ! Youth from its folly thus to disengage . And now receive from me that most divine Oration of that noble Tarentine , Archytas much praised by H●vate . Which at Tarentum I long since did hear ; When I attended the great Fabius there . Yee Gods , was it man's Nature ? or his Fate ? Betray'd him with sweet pleasures poyson'd bait ? Which he , with all designs of art , or power , Doth with unbridled appetite devour ; And as all poysons seek the noblest part , Pleasure possesses first the head and heart ; Intoxicating both , by them , she finds , And burns the Sacred Temples of our Minds . Furies , which Reasons divine chains had bound , ( That being broken ) all the World confound . Lust , Murder , Treason , Avarice , and Hell It self broke loose ; in Reason's Pallace dwell , Truth , Honour , Justice , Temperance , are fled , All her attendants into darkness led . But why all this discourse ? when pleasure's rage Hath conquer'd reason , we must treat with age . Age undermines , and will in time surprize Her strongest Forts , and cut off all supplies . And joyn'd in league with strong necessity , Pleasure must flie , or else by famine die . Flaminius , whom a Consulship had grac'd ( Then Censor ) from the Senate I displac'd ; When he in Gaul a Consul , made a Feast , A beautious Curtesan did him request , To see the cutting off a Prisoner's head ; This Crime I could not leave unpunished , Since by a private villany he stain'd That Publick Honour , which at Rome he gain'd . Then to our age ( when not to pleasures bent ) This seems an honour , not disparagement . We , not all pleasures like the Stoicks hate ; But love and seek those which are moderate . ( Though Divine Plato thus of pleasures thought , They us , with hooks and baits , like fishes caught . ) When Quaestor , to the Gods , in Publick Halls I was the first , who set up Festivalls . Not with high tastes our appetites did force , But fill'd with conversation and discourse ; Which Feasts , Convivial Meetings we did name . Not like the Antient Greeks , who to their shame , Call'd it a Compotation , not a Feast ; Declaring the worst part of it the best . Those Entertainments I did then frequent Sometimes with youthful heat and merriment : But now ( I thank my age ) which gives me ease From those excesses , yet my self I please With cheerful talk to entertain my guests , ( Discourses are to age continual feasts ) The love of meat and wine they recompence , And cheer the mind , as much as those the Sence . I 'm not more pleas'd with gravity among The ag'd , than to be youthful with the young ; Nor 'gainst all pleasures proclaim open war , To which , in age , some natural motions are . And still at my Sabinum I delight To treat my Neighbours till the depth of night . * But we the sence and gust of pleasure want , Which youth at full possesses , this I grant ; But age seeks not the things which youth requires , And no man needs that , which he not desires . When Sophocles was ask'd if he deny'd Himself the use of pleasures , he reply'd , I humbly thank th' Immortal Gods , who me From that fierce Tyrants insolence set free . But they whom pressing appetites constrain , Grieve when they cannot their desires obtain . Young men the use of pleasure understand , As of an object new , and neer at hand : Though this stands more remote from age's fight , Yet they behold it not without delight : As ancient souldiers from their duties eas'd , With sense of Honour and Rewards are pleas'd . So from ambitious hopes , and lusts releast , Delighted with it self , our age doth rest . No part of life's more happy , when with bread Of ancient Knowledge , and new Learning fed ; All youthful pleasures by degrees must cease , But those of age even with our years increase . We love not loaded Boards , and Goblets crown'd , But free from surfets , our repose is sound . When old Fabritius to the Samnites went Ambassadour from Rome to Pyrrhus sent , He heard a grave Philosopher maintain , That all the actions of our life were vain ; Which with our sence of pleasure not conspir'd . Fabritius the Philosopher desir'd , That he to Pyrrhus would that Maxime teach , And to the Satanites the same doctrine preach ; Then of their Conquest he should doubt no more , Whom their own pleasures overcame before . Now into Rustick matters I must fall , Which pleasure seems to me the chief of all . Age no impediment to those can give , Who wisely by the Rules of Nature live . Earth ( though our Mother ) cheerfully obeys , All the commands her race upon her lays . For whatsoever from our hand she takes , Greater , or less , a vast return she makes , Nor am I only pleas'd with that resource , But with her wayes , her method , and her force , The seed her bosom ( by the plough made fit ) Receives , where kindly she embraces it , Which with her genuine warmth , diffus'd , and spread Sends forth betimes a green , and tender head , Then gives it motion , life , and nourishment , Which from the root through nerves and veins are sent , Streight in a hollow sheath upright it grows , And , form receiving , doth it self disclose , Drawn up in rancks , and files , the bearded spikes Guard it from birds as with a stand of pikes . When of the Vine I speak , I seem inspir'd , And with delight , as with her juice am fir'd ; At Nature's God-like power I stand amaz'd , Which such vast bodies hath from Attoms rais'd . The kernel of a grape , the figs's small grain Can cloath a Mountain , and o're shade a Plaine : But thou ( dear Vine ) forbid'st me to be long , Although thy trunck be neither large , nor strong , Nor can thy head ( not helpt ) it self sublime , Yet like a Serpent , a tall tree can climb , What'ere thy many fingers can intwine Proves thy support , and all it 's strength is thine , Though Nature gave not legs , it gave thee hands , By which thy prop the proudest Cedar stands ; As thou hast hands , so hath thy off-spring wings , And to the highest part of Mortals springs , But lest thou should'st consume thy wealth in vain , And starve thy self , to feed a numerous train , Or like the Bee ( sweet as thy blood ) design'd To be destroy'd to propagate his kind , Lest thy redundant , and superfluous juyce , Should fading leaves instead of fruits-produce , The Pruner's hand with betting blood must quench Thy heat , and thy exub'rant parts retrench : Then from the joynts of thy prolifick stemme A swelling knot is raised ( call'd a gemme ) Whence , in short space it self the cluster shews , And from earths moisture mixt with Sun-beams grows , I' th' Spring , like youth , it yields an acid taste , But Summer doth , like age , the sourness waste , Then cloath'd with leaves from heat , and cold secure , Like Virgins , sweet , and beauteous , when mature . On fruits , flowrs , herbs , and plants , I long could dwell At once to please my eye , my taste , my smell , My Walks of trees , all planted by my hand Like Children of my own begetting stand , To tell the several nature of each earth , What fruits from each most properly take birth : And with what arts to inrich every mold , The dry to moysten and to warm the cold . But when we graft , or Buds inoculate , Nature by Art we nobly meliorate , As Orpheus Musick wildest beasts did tame , From the sowr Crab the sweetest Apple came : The Mother to the Daughter goes to School , The species changed , doth her laws o're-rule ; Nature her self doth from her self depart , ( Strange transmigration ) by the power of Art How little things , give law to great : we see The small Bud captivates the greatest Tree . Here even the Power Divine we imitate , And seem not to beget , out to create . Much was I pleas'd with fowls and beasts , the tame For food and profit , and the wild for game . Excuse me when this pleasant string I touch , ( For age , of what delights it , speaks too much ) Who , twice victorious Pyrrhus conquered , The Sabines and the Samnites captive led , Great Curius , his remaining dayes did spend , And in this happy life his triumphs end . My Farm stands neer , and when I there retire , His , and that Age's temper I admire , The Samnites chiefs , as by his fire he sate , With a vast sum of Gold on him did wait , Return , said he , your Gold I nothing weigh , When those , who can command it , me obey : This my assertion proves , he may he old And yet not sordid , who refuses Gold . In Summer to sit still , or walk , I love , Neer a cool Fountain , or a shadie Grove , What can in Winter render more delight ? Then the high Sun at noon , and fire at night , While our old friends , and neighbours feast , and play , And with their harmless mirth turn night to day , Unpurchas'd plenty our full tables loads , And part of what they lent , returns to our Gods . That honour , and authority which dwells With age , all pleasures of our youth excells , Observe , that I that Age have only prais'd Whose pillars were on youth's foundations rais'd , And that ( for which I great applause receiv'd ) As a true maxime hath been since believ'd . That most unhappy age great pity needs , Which to defend it self , new matter pleads , Not from gray hairs authority doth flow , Not from bald heads , nor from a wrinckled brow , But our past life , when virtuously spent , Must to our age those happy fruits present , Those things to age most HOnorable are , Which easie , common , and but light appear , Salutes , consulting , complement , resort , Crouding attendance to , and from the Court , And not on Rome alone this honour waits , But on all Civill , and well-govern'd States . Lysander pleading in his City's praise , From thence his strongest argument did raise , That Sparta did with honour Age support , Paying them just respect , at Stage , and Court , But at proud Athens Youth did Age out-face , Nor at the Playes , would rise , or give them place , When an Athenian Stranger of great age , Arriv'd at Sparta , climbing up the Stage , To him the whole Assembly rose , and ran To place and ease this old and reverend man , Who thus his thanks returns , the Athenians know What 's to be done , but what they know , not do . Here our great Senat's Orders I may quote , The first in age is still the first in vote , Nor honour , nor high-birth , nor great command In competition with great years may stand . Why should our Youths short , transient pleasures , dare With Age's lasting honours to compare ? On the World's Stage , when our applause grows high , For acting here , life's Tragick Comedy , The lookers on will say we act not well , Unless the last the former Scenes excell : But Age is froward , uneasie , scrutinous , Hard to be pleas'd , and parcimonious ; But all those errors from our Manners rise , Not from our years , yet some Morosities We must expect , since jealousie belongs To age , of scorn , and tender sense of wrongs , Yet those are mollify'd , or not discern'd , Where civil arts and manners have been learn'd , So the Twins humours in our Terence , In his Comedy called Adelphi . are Unlike , this harsh , and rude , that smooth and faire , Our nature here , is not unlike our wine , Some sorts , when old , continue brisk , and fine , So Age's gravity may seem severe , But nothing harsh , or bitter ought to appear , Of Age's avarice I cannot see What colour , ground , or reason there should bee , Is it not folly ? when the way we ride Is short , for a long voyage to provide . To Avarice some title Youth may own , To reap in Autumn , what the Spring had sown ; And with the providence of Bees , or Ants , Prevents with Summers plenty , Winters wants , But Age scarce sows , till Death stands by to reap , And to a strangers hand transfers the heap ; Affraid to be so once , she 's alwayes poor , And to avoid a mischief , makes it sure Such madness , as for fear of death to dy , Is , to be poor for fear of Poverty .

THE FOURTH PART . NOw against ( that which terrifies our age ) The last , and greatest grievance we engage , To her , grim death appears in all her shapes , The hungry grave for her due tribute gapes , Fond , foolish man ! with fear of death surpriz'd Which either should be wisht for , or despis'd , This , if our Souls with Bodies , death destroy , That , if our Souls a second life enjoy , What else is to be fear'd ? when we shall gain Eternal life , or have no sence of pain , The youngest in the morning are not sure , That till the night their life they can secure Their age stands more expos'd to accidents Then our's , nor common cure their fate prevents : Death's force ( with terror ) against Nature strives , Nor one of many to ripe age arrives , From this ill fate the world's disorders rise , For if all men were old they would be wise , Years , and experience , our fore fathers taught , Them under Laws , and into Cities brought : Why only should the fear of death belong To age ? which is as common to the young : Your hopefull Brothers , and my Son , to you ( Scipio ) and me , this maxime makes too true , But vigorous Youth may his gay thoughts erect To many years , which Age must not expect , But when he sees his airy hopes deceiv'd , With grief he saies , who this would have believ'd ? We happier are then they , who but desir'd To possess that , which we long since acquir'd . What if our age to Nestor's could extend ? 't is vain to think that lasting , which must end ; And when 't is past , not any part remains Thereof , but the reward which virtue gains . Dayes , Months , and years , like running waters flow , Nor what is past , nor what 's to come we know , Our date how short so e're must us content , When a good Actor doth his part present , In ev'ry Act he our attention draws , That at the last he may find just applause , So ( though but short ) yet we must learn the art Of virtue , on this Stage to act our part ; True wisdome must our actions so direct , Not only the last Plaudite to expect ; Yet grieve no more though long that part should last , Then Husbandmen , because the Spring is past , The Spring , like Youth , fresh blossoms doth produce , But Autumne makes them ripe , and fit for use : So Age a Mature Mellowness doth set On the green promises of youthfull heat , All things which Nature did ordain , are good , And so must be receiv'd , and understood , Age , like ripe Apples , on earth's bosom drops , Whil'st force our youth , like fruits untimely crops ; The sparkling flame of our warm blood expires , As when huge streams are pour'd on raging fires , But age unforc'd falls by her own consent , As Coals to ashes , when the Spirit 's spent ; Therefore to death I with such joy resort , As Seamen from a Tempest to their Port , Yet to that Port our selves we must not force , Before our Pilot Nature steers our course , Let us the Causes of our fear condemn , Then death at his approach we shall contemn , Though to our heat of youth our age seems cold , Yet when resolv'd , it is more brave and bold . Thus Solon to Pisistratus reply'd , Demanded , on what succour he rely'd , When with so few he boldly did ingage , He said , he took his courage from his Age . Then death seems welcome , and our Nature kind , When leaving us a perfect sense and mind ; She ( like a Workman in his Science skill'd ) Pulls down with ease , what her own hand did build . That Art which knew to joyn all parts in one , Makes the least violent separation . Yet though our Ligaments betimes grow weak , We must not force them till themselves they break . Pythag'ras bids us in our Station stand , Till God our General shall us disband . Wise Solon dying , wisht his friends might grieve , That in their memories he still might live . Yet wiser Ennius gave command to all His friends , not to bewail his funeral ; Your tears for such a death in vain you spend , Which strait in immortality shall end . In death if there be any sense of pain , But a short space , to age it will remain . On which without my fears , my wishes wait , But timorous youth on this should meditate : Who for light pleasure this advice rejects , Finds little , when his thoughts he recollects . Our death ( though not its certain date ) we know , Nor whether it may be this night , or no : How then can they contented live ? who fear A danger certain , and none knows how near . They erre , who for the fear of death dispute , Our gallant actions this mistake confute . Thee ( Brutus ) Rome's first Martyr I must name , The Curtii bravely div'd the Gulph of Flame : Attilius sacrific'd himself , to save That faith , which to his barb'rous foes he gave ; With the two Scipio's did thy Uncle fall , Rather to fly from Conquering Hannibal . The great Marcellus ( who restored Rome ) His greatest foes with Honour did intomb . Their Lives how many of our Legions threw , Into the breach ? whence no return they knew ; Must then the wise , the old , the learned fear , What not the rude , the young , th'unlearn'd forbear ? Satiety from all things else doth come , Then life must to it self grow wearisome . Those Trifles wherein Children take delight , Grow nauceous to the young man's appetite , And from those gaieties our youth requires , To exercise their minds , our age retires . And when the last delights of Age shall die , Life in it self will find satietie . Now you ( my friends ) my sense of death shall hear , Which I can well describe , for he stands near . Your Father Laelius , and yours Scipio , My friends , and men of honour I did know ; As certainly as we must die , they live That life which justly may that name receive . Till from these prisons of our flesh releas'd , Our souls with heavy burdens lie oppress'd ; Which part of man from Heaven falling down , Earth in her low Abysse , doth hide , and drown . A place so dark to the Celestial light , And pure , eternal fires quite opposite . The Gods through humane bodies did disperse An heavenly soul , to guide this Universe ; That man , when he of heavenly bodies saw The Order , might from thence a pattern draw : Nor this to me did my own dictates show But to the old Philosophers I owe . I heard Pythagoras , and those who came With him , and from our Countrey took their Name . Who never doubted but the beams divine Deriv'd from Gods , in mortal breasts did shine . Nor from my knowledge did the Antients hide What Socrates declar'd , the hour he dy'd , He th'Immortality of Souls proclaim'd , ( Whom th' oracle of men the wisest nam'd ) Why should we doubt of that ? whereof our sence Finds demonstration from experience ; Our minds are here and there , below , above ; Nothing that 's mortal can so swiftly move . Our thoughts to future things their flight direct , And in an instant all that 's past collect , Reason , remembrance , wit , inventive art , No nature , but immortal , can impart . Man's Soul in a perpetual motion flowes , And to no outward cause that Motion owes ; And therefore , that , no end can overtake , Because our minds cannot themselves forsake . And since the matter of our Soul is pure , And simple , which no mixture can endure Of parts , which not among themselves agree ; Therefore it never can divided be . And Nature shews ( without Philosophy ) What cannot be divided , cannot die . We even in early infancy discern , Knowledge is born with babes before they learn ; Ere they can speak , they find so many wayes To serve their turn , and see more Arts than dayes , Before their thoughts they plainly can expresse , The words and things they know are numberlesse ; Which Nature only , and no Art could find , But what she taught before , she call'd to mind . This to his Sons ( as Xenophon records ) Of the great Cyrus were the dying words ; Fear not when I depart ( nor therefore mourn ) I shall be no where , or to nothing turn : That Soul , which gave me life , was seen by none , Yet by the actions it design'd , was known ; And though its flight no mortal eye shall see , Yet know , for ever it the same shall be . That Soul , which can immortal glory give , To her own Vertues must for ever live . Can you believe , that man's all-knowing mind Can to a mortal body be confin'd ? Though a foul , foolish prison her immure On earth , she ( when escap'd ) is wise , and pure . Man's body when dissolv'd is but the same With beasts , and must return from whence it came ; But whence into our bodys reason flowes , None sees it , when it comes , or where it goes . Nothing resembles death so much as sleep , Yet then our minds themselves from slumber keep . When from their fleshly bondage they are free , Then what divine , and future things they see ? Which makes it most apparent whence they are , And what they shall hereafter be declare . This Noble Speech the dying Cyrus made . Me ( Scipio ) shall no argument perswade , Thy Grandsire , and his Brother , to whom Fame Gave from two conquer'd parts o' th World , their Name , Nor thy great Grandsire , nor thy Father Paul , Who fell at Cannae against Hannibal ; Nor I ( for 't is permitted to the ag'd To boast their actions ) had so oft ingag'd In Battels , and in Pleadings , had we thought , That only Fame our vertuous actions bought , 't were better in soft pleasure and repose Ingloriously our peaceful eyes to close : Some high assurance hath possest my mind , After my death , an happier life to find . Unless our Souls from the Immortals came , What end have we to seek Immortal Fame ? All vertuous spirits some such hope attends , Therefore the wise his dayes with pleasure ends . The foolish and short-sighted die with fear , That they go no where , or they know not where . The wise and vertuous Soul with cleerer eyes Before she parts , some happy Port discries . My friends , your Fathers I shall surely see , Nor only those I lov'd , or who lov'd me ; But such as before ours did end their daies : Of whom we hear , and read , and write their praise . This I believe , for were I on my way , None should perswade me to return , or stay : Should some God tell me , that I should be born , And cry again , his offer I should scorn ; Asham'd when I have ended well my race , To be led back , to my first starting place . And since with life we are more griev'd than joy'd , We should be either satisfi'd , or cloy'd ; Yet will not I my length of dayes deplore , As many wise and learn'd have done before : Nor can I think such life in vain is lent , Which for our Countrey and our friends is spent . Hence from an Inne , not from my home , I pass , Since Nature meant us here no dwelling place . Happy when I from this turmoil set free , That peaceful and divine assembly see : Not only those I nam'd I there shall greet , But my own gallant vertuous Cato meet . Nor did I weep , when I to ashes turn'd His belov'd body , who should mine have burn'd : I in my thoughts beheld his Soul ascend , Where his fixt hopes our Interview attend : Then cease to wonder that I feel no grief From Age , which is of my delights the chief . My hope 's , if this assurance hath deceiv'd , ( That I Man's Soul Immortal have believ'd ) And if I erre , no Pow'r shall dispossess My thoughts of that expected happiness . Though some minute Philosophers pretend , That with our dayes our pains and pleasures end . If it be so , I hold the safer side , For none of them my Error shall deride . And if hereafter no rewards appear , Yet Vertue hath it self rewarded here . If those who this Opinion have despis'd , And their whole life to pleasure sacrific'd ; Should feel their error , they when undeceiv'd , Too late will wish , that me they had believ'd . If Souls no Immortality obtain , 't is fit our bodies should be out of pain . The same uneasiness , which every thing Gives to our Nature , life must also bring . Good Acts ( if long ) seem tedious , so is Age Acting too long upon this Earth her Stage . Thus much for Age , to which when you arrive , That Joy to you , which it gives me , 't will give . FINIS .