Chapter 1
Original Latin
1 O Tite, si quid ego adiuero curamve levassoquae nunc te coquit et versat in pectore fixa,ecquid erit praemi?licet enim mihi versibus isdem affari te, Attice, quibus affatur Flamininumille vir haud magna cum re, sed plenus fidei,quamquam certo scio non, ut Flamininum,sollicitari te, Tite, sic noctesque diesque,novi enim moderationem animi tui et aequitatem, teque non cognomen solum Athenis deportasse, sed humanitatem et prudentiam intellego. et tamen te suspicor isdem rebus quibus me ipsum interdum gravius commoveri, quarum consolatio et maior est et in aliud tempus differenda.
nunc autem visum est mihi de senectute aliquid ad te conscribere,
2 hoc enim onere, quod mihi commune tecum est, aut iam urgentis aut certe adventantis senectutis et te et me ipsum levari volo; etsi te quidem id modice ac sapienter, sicut omnia, et ferre et laturum esse certo scio. sed mihi, cum de senectute vellem aliquid scribere, tu occurrebas dignus eo munere, quo uterque nostrum communiter uteretur. mihi quidem ita iucunda huius libri confectio fuit, ut non modo omnis absterserit senectutis molestias, sed effecerit mollem etiam et iucundam senectutem. numquam igitur laudari satis digne philosophia poterit, cui qui pareat omne tempus aetatis sine molestia possit degere.
3 sed de ceteris et diximus multa et saepe dicemus: hunc librum ad te de senectute misimus. omnem autem sermonem tribuimus non Tithono, ut Aristo Cius, parum enim esset auctoritatis in fabula, sed M. Catoni seni, quo maiorem auctoritatem haberet oratio; apud quem Laelium et Scipionem facimus admirantis, quod is tam facile senectutem ferat, eisque eum respondentem; qui si eruditius videbitur disputare quam consuevit ipse in suis libris, attribuito litteris Graecis, quarum constat eum perstudiosum fuisse in senectute. sed quid opus est plura? iam enim ipsius Catonis sermo explicabit nostram omnem de senectute sententiam.
Musean translation
Complete machine-assisted Musean translation made directly from the Latin in all 23 chapters and 85 sections. Latin-source editorial review recorded; no human specialist certification is claimed.
1 “O Titus, if I brought you help, or lightened the careThat burns you now and, lodged within your breast, torments you,What would my reward be?”For I may address you, Atticus, in the same verses that were addressed to Flamininus by“That man of little wealth, but rich in loyalty,”although I know for certain that you are not, like Flamininus,“So troubled, Titus, through the nights and days.”I know your self-command and even temper; I understand that you brought home from Athens not merely a surname, but cultivation and good judgment. Yet I suspect that the same matters which sometimes trouble me deeply trouble you as well. Consolation for those calls for a greater undertaking and must wait for another time.
For now I have thought it right to write you something on old age,
2 since I wish to lighten, for you and for myself, this burden we share: old age, already pressing upon us, or at least approaching. I know, of course, that you bear it and will bear it, as you bear everything, with moderation and wisdom. But when I wanted to write about old age, you came to mind as a man worthy of a gift from which we might both draw benefit. For my part, composing this book gave me such pleasure that it not only brushed away all the troubles of old age but made old age itself gentle and delightful. Philosophy, then, can never receive the praise it deserves: whoever obeys it may pass every season of life without distress.
3 On other subjects we have said much and shall often speak again; this book I send you is on old age. I have entrusted the whole discussion not to Tithonus, as Aristo of Ceos did—a fable would carry too little authority—but to Marcus Cato in his old age, to give the argument greater weight. I represent Laelius and Scipio expressing their wonder that he bears old age so easily, and Cato answering them. If his discussion seems more learned than his own books usually are, attribute it to Greek literature, which he is known to have studied with great devotion in his later years. But why say more? Cato’s own words will now unfold our entire view of old age.
Plain English translation
Complete machine-assisted Plain English translation made independently and directly from the Latin in separate source-only production passes, not from Musean or a historical English translation. Latin-source editorial review recorded.
1 “Titus, if I give some help or ease the worrythat now torments and troubles you, lodged in your heart,will there be any reward?”I can address you, Atticus, in the same lines used to address Flamininus by“that man with little wealth, but full of loyalty,”although I know for certain that, unlike Flamininus, you are not“troubled like this, Titus, both night and day.”For I know your self-control and steady temper. I understand that you brought back from Athens not just your nickname, but also culture and good judgment. Still, I suspect that the same things that deeply trouble me sometimes trouble you too. Offering comfort for those troubles is a bigger task and must wait for another time.
For now, though, I have decided to write something to you about old age,
2 because I want to relieve both you and myself of this burden we share: old age, which is either already pressing on us or certainly approaching. Of course, I know for certain that you bear it, and will bear it, calmly and wisely, as you do everything. But when I wanted to write something about old age, you came to mind as someone worthy of a gift that we could both enjoy. Writing this book was so pleasant for me that it not only wiped away all the troubles of old age but even made old age easy and enjoyable. We can never praise philosophy enough. Anyone who follows its guidance can pass every stage of life without distress.
3 But I have said much about other subjects and will often speak about them again. This book I send you is about old age. I have given the whole discussion not to Tithonus, as Aristo of Ceos did—a mythical story would carry too little authority—but to Marcus Cato in his old age, to give the argument greater weight. I present Laelius and Scipio with him, expressing surprise that he bears old age so easily, and Cato answering them. If his discussion seems more learned than his own books usually are, put that down to Greek literature. We know that he studied it very eagerly in his old age. But why say more? Cato’s own discussion will now explain my whole view of old age.
About this section
Chapter 1 is part of On Old Age by Marcus Tullius Cicero. This page sets the Latin original beside 2 direct-source translations, so any line can be checked against the source. It is part 1 of 23 in the work, which is kept in the Roman tradition.
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