Chapter 9

27 “Even now I do not miss a young man’s strength—and that was the second charge against old age—any more than, as a young man, I missed the strength of a bull or an elephant. We should use what we possess and, whatever we undertake, act according to our powers. What words could be more contemptible than those of Milo of Croton? When he was already old, he is said to have watched athletes training on the course, looked down at his own arms, and wept: ‘But these are dead now.’ Not so dead as you yourself, you fool! Your distinction never came from yourself, but from your lungs and muscles. Sextus Aelius said nothing of the kind, nor Tiberius Coruncanius many years before him, nor Publius Crassus more recently. These men laid down the law for their fellow citizens, and their wisdom continued to grow until their last breath.”

28 “An orator, I fear, may lose vigor with age: his work requires not only talent but lungs and strength. Yet somehow the voice’s resonance retains its brilliance even in old age. I have certainly not lost mine, and you see how old I am. Still, quiet and unhurried speech suits an old man, and the composed, gentle eloquence of an elderly speaker very often wins a hearing by itself. If you cannot practice it yourself, you can at least teach Scipio and Laelius. For what is more delightful than old age surrounded by the eager attention of the young?”

29 “Shall we deny old age even the power to teach young men, train them, and equip them for every duty? What work could be more splendid? To me, Gnaeus and Publius Scipio, and your two grandfathers, Lucius Aemilius and Publius Africanus, seemed fortunate in the company of noble young men. All teachers of worthy accomplishments must be considered happy, however their strength may have aged and failed.

“And indeed, that failure of strength itself is more often caused by the faults of youth than by old age. A youth of lust and excess hands an exhausted body on to age.”

30 “In Xenophon, Cyrus, speaking on his deathbed when he was very old, says that he never felt his old age had become weaker than his youth. As a boy I remember Lucius Metellus, who became chief pontiff four years after his second consulship and held that priesthood for twenty-two years. At the very end of his life he was so strong that he had no wish for his youth back. There is no need for me to speak of myself, although that is an old man’s habit, and a privilege allowed to our age.”

27 “Even now, I do not miss a young man’s strength—this was the second complaint about old age—any more than I missed the strength of a bull or an elephant when I was young. The right thing is to use whatever strength you have, and to do everything within your powers. What remark could deserve more contempt than the one made by Milo of Croton? When he was already old and saw athletes training on the track, he is said to have looked at his arms and said through his tears, ‘But these are dead now.’ It is not so much those arms that are dead as you yourself, you fool! Your fame never came from your own worth, but from your chest and arms. Sextus Aelius never said anything like that. Neither did Tiberius Coruncanius many years before him, nor Publius Crassus just recently. They gave their fellow citizens legal advice, and their expert knowledge lasted right up to their final breath.”

28 “I do worry that old age may weaken a public speaker. His work calls not only for mental ability but also for strong lungs and physical strength. Yet somehow the ringing quality of the voice actually stands out in old age. I certainly have not lost it yet, and you can see how old I am. Still, a quiet, relaxed style of speaking suits an old man. The calm and gentle speech of an articulate older man often wins an attentive audience by itself. Even if you can no longer deliver such a speech yourself, you can still teach Scipio and Laelius how to do it. What could be more enjoyable than old age surrounded by devoted young people?”

29 “Are we denying old age even the strength to teach young people, train them, and prepare them for every duty? What work could be finer than that? I thought Gnaeus and Publius Scipio were fortunate to have groups of distinguished young men around them. So were your two grandfathers, Lucius Aemilius and Publius Africanus. We should consider all teachers of worthwhile skills happy, even if their strength has declined with age and failed them.

“Yet this loss of strength is more often caused by the bad habits of youth than by old age. A youth spent in uncontrolled pleasure and excess hands old age an exhausted body.”

30 “In Xenophon, Cyrus says in the speech he made as he was dying, when he was very old, that he had never felt himself weaker in old age than he had been in youth. I remember Lucius Metellus from my boyhood. He became chief priest four years after his second consulship and held that priesthood for twenty-two years. His strength was so good at the very end of his life that he felt no need for youth. There is no need for me to say anything about myself, though that is an old man’s habit and is allowed at our age.”