Chapter 17

59 “Xenophon’s books are most useful on many subjects. Read them attentively, I beg you, as indeed you do. How richly he praises agriculture in the book on managing an estate entitled Oeconomicus! To show you that he thought nothing so kingly as devotion to cultivating the soil, Socrates in that book tells Critobulus about Cyrus the Younger, king of the Persians, a man outstanding in talent and the glory of his command. When Lysander the Spartan, a man of the highest excellence, came to him at Sardis bringing gifts from the allies, Cyrus treated him with courtesy and kindness in every respect and showed him an enclosed garden carefully planted. Lysander admired the trees’ height, the straight rows arranged in a pattern of fives, the soil, cultivated and clean, and the sweet scents wafting from the flowers. He said he admired not merely the care but the ingenuity of the man who had measured and laid it all out. Cyrus answered, ‘But I measured all this myself. The rows are mine, the plan is mine; many of these trees were planted by my own hand.’ Then Lysander, looking at his purple robe, his splendid appearance, and his Persian adornment of much gold and many jewels, said, ‘They rightly call you happy, Cyrus, since fortune has joined herself to your virtue!’”

60 “Old men too may enjoy this good fortune. Age does not prevent us from holding fast to our other interests, and above all to farming, to the very end of our years. We are told that Marcus Valerius Corvinus lived to a hundred, spending his later life on his farms and cultivating them. Forty-six years separated his first and sixth consulships. Thus his career in office lasted as long as the span our ancestors reckoned before old age began. His final years were happier than his middle ones in having more authority and less labor.”

61 “For authority is the crown of old age. How great it was in Lucius Caecilius Metellus, and in Aulus Atilius Calatinus! Of the latter the epitaph says:Many peoples agree that this one manWas the foremost citizen of his nation.You know the whole poem engraved on his tomb. Rightly, then, did a man carry weight when everyone’s testimony agreed in his praise. What a man we saw not long ago in Publius Crassus, the chief pontiff, and later in Marcus Lepidus, who held the same priesthood! Why speak of Paulus or Africanus, or, as before, of Maximus? Their authority resided not merely in their opinion, but in their very nod. Old age, especially honored old age, possesses an authority worth more than all the pleasures of youth.”

59 “Xenophon’s books are very useful for many purposes. Please keep reading them carefully, as you already do. How fully he praises farming in his book about managing a household, called Oeconomicus! To show you that he thought nothing was more suitable for a king than an interest in farming, consider a story Socrates tells Critobulus in that book. Cyrus the Younger, king of the Persians, was a man of outstanding intelligence and famous for his rule. Lysander of Sparta, a man of exceptional ability, came to visit him at Sardis and brought him gifts from the allies. Cyrus treated Lysander in a friendly and courteous way in every respect. He also showed him an enclosed piece of land that had been carefully planted. Lysander admired the tall trees, the straight rows arranged in a five-point pattern, the well-worked, weed-free soil, and the sweet scents drifting from the flowers. He said he admired not only the care but also the skill of the person who had measured and laid out the grounds. Cyrus answered, ‘But I measured all this myself. I arranged the rows and planned the layout. I even planted many of those trees with my own hand.’ Lysander looked at his purple robe, his well-groomed body, and his Persian ornaments with their plentiful gold and jewels. Then he said, ‘People are certainly right to call you happy, Cyrus, since good fortune has joined your excellence!’”

60 “Old men can enjoy this good fortune too. Age does not stop us from keeping up our interests, especially farming, to the very end of old age. We are told that Marcus Valerius Corvinus lived to be a hundred. In his later years he lived on his land and farmed it. Forty-six years passed between his first and sixth terms as consul. So his career in public office lasted the full span of years that our ancestors thought came before a person entered old age. Compared with his middle years, his last years brought greater happiness in one way: more respect and less toil.”

61 “The crowning reward of old age is the respect it earns. How much respect Lucius Caecilius Metellus enjoyed! And how much Aulus Atilius Calatinus enjoyed! His epitaph says:‘Many different peoples agree: this manwas his nation’s leading citizen.’The whole poem carved on his tomb is well known. He rightly carried weight, since everyone agreed in praising him. Think of the impressive Publius Crassus we saw recently as chief priest! Later, Marcus Lepidus was just as impressive in that priestly office. Need I mention Paulus and Africanus, or return once more to Fabius Maximus? Their authority showed itself not just in their opinions but even in a nod. Old age, especially when honored, carries so much authority that it is worth more than all the pleasures of youth.”