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 VM Library 
 
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 http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924026768592 
 
M. TVLLI CICERONIS 
 
 CATO MAIOR 
 DE SENECTVTE 
 
 EDITED WITH INTRODUCTION 
 AND COMMENTARY 
 
 BY 
 
 EDWIX W. BOWEl^ 
 
 PROFESSOR IN RANDOLPH-MACON COLLEGE 
 
 BOSTON, U.S.A. 
 D. C. HEATH & CO., PUBLISHERS 
 
 1909 
 
 ■J. 
 
Copyright, 1909, 
 By D. C. Heath & Co. 
 
 k^ 
 
PREFACE 
 
 This edition of the Cato Maior is based on the standard 
 text of C. F. W. Miiller. All the critical material that has 
 appeared since the publication of Miiller's edition has been 
 utilized, however, in order to help the student to a more 
 satisfactory interpretation of Cicero's famous essay oh 
 Old Age. The variant readings are collected in a Critical 
 Appendix at the end of the volume, where the textual 
 criticism is to be found. 
 
 'the edition has been provided with a rather full Intror 
 duction, in which much information is given as to the prob- 
 able date of composition, the characters of the dialogue, 
 the nature of the work, and its sources. It is hoped that 
 this general information will quicken the interest of the 
 student and enable him to acquire a better understanding 
 of the Cato Maior. 
 
 The Commentary is believed to be sufficient to explain 
 all the more difficult points. Despite the fact that the 
 present edition is intended primarily for students, it has 
 not been deemed wise to reduce the notes to a mere skele- 
 ton. However, they have been so arranged as to convey 
 the desired information in the most convenient form. 
 Translation — where translation was thought to be ad- 
 visable — is regularly given first and the syntactical ex- 
 planations follow. In the few cases where references to 
 larger manuals seemed desirable, such references are 
 added at the end of the note, so as to facilitate the labor 
 of the student. This general plan has been adopted in the 
 hope that the student may feel encouraged to read the 
 notes by finding immediate assistance at the beginning. 
 
 In addition to the German annotated editions to which I 
 am indebted, I have found the excellent editions of Ben- 
 
iv PREFACE 
 
 nett and Moore especially helpful in the preparation of the 
 present work. 
 
 It remains now to express my sincere thanks to Pro- 
 fessor Gonzalez Lodge, of Teachers College, Columbia Uni- 
 versity, one of the editors of the series, for the valuable 
 criticism and suggestion he has so cheerfully given me, as 
 well as for the laborious service in proof-reading. I wish 
 also to express to Mr. J. M. Burton, jun., and Mr. H. V. 
 Bounds, two of my students, and to Dr. Herbert C. Lips- 
 comb, of the Randolph-Macon Woman's College, my 
 hearty appreciation of their assistance so generously 
 given. 
 
 E. W. B. 
 
 Ashland, Va., June 1, 1909. 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 I. DATE OF COMPOSITION OF THE CATO MAIOR 
 
 Cicero had two distinct periods of literary activity dur- 
 ing which he produced most of his philosophical writings. 
 The first period began about 56 b. c, after his return from 
 exile, and continued till the year 51. To this period 
 belong his De Oratore (written in the year 55), De Re 
 Publica (54) and De Legibus (52) . The second period be- 
 gan with 46 B. c, after his reconciliation with Caesar, 
 and to this period of Cicero's creative impulse are to be 
 assigned his now lost Hortensius or De Philosophia, sev- 
 eral oratorical treatises, such as his Partitiones Oratorioe, 
 the Brutus or De Claris Oratoribus, and his Orator. After 
 the death of his beloved daughter TuUia, early in the year 
 45 B. c, Cicero spent the next twelve months in retire- 
 ment, writing incessantly to console his grief, and pro- 
 duced in rapid succession his De Consolatione, Academica, 
 De Finibus Bonorum et Malorum, Disputationes Tusca- 
 lanoe, De Natura Deorum, Cato Maior, Loslius, Paradoxa. 
 and De Officiis, not to mention several treatises of a 
 rhetorical nature. These philosophical works therefore 
 were written mostly in 45 and 44 b. c. They are all pre- 
 served except the De Consolatione. 
 
 The exact date of the composition of the Cato Maior 
 is regarded an open question. Until recently most edi- 
 tors assumed the spring of 44 b. c, shortly after Caesar's 
 assassination (Ides of March), to be the correct date. 
 But the later editors generally reject this date and are 
 disposed to think that the essay was composed shortly 
 before Caesar's death, possibly in January or February, 
 44, or perhaps in December, 45 b. c. This conclusion 
 
-w INTRODUCTION 
 
 seems to be more generally accepted by conservative 
 scholars of the present day. 
 
 Arguments for the later date, i. e., after the death of 
 Csesar, are as follows: 1. The De Divinatione with the 
 exception of the first book is known to have been written 
 after- the death of Csesar, and in the opening chapter of 
 the second book tHe l^ato Maior is mentioned as having 
 been recently written. 2. The Cato Maior is mentioned 
 as a recent work in three letters addressed by Cicero to 
 Atticus (AdAtt., 14, 21, 3; 16, 3, 1; 16, 11, 3). Now the 
 earliest of these letters (Ad Att., 14, 21, 1) was written 
 about 12 May, 44 b. c. 3. In the dedicatory introduction 
 of the Caio Maior (§ 1) Cicero refers to troubles which 
 weighed heavily upon him and Atticus, and it has been 
 inferred that the troubles here alluded to were the appre- 
 hensions Cicero entertained in regard to the course of 
 Antony, who might undertake to avenge Caesar's murder 
 and lay violent hands upon Cicero as privy to the assassi- 
 nation. Hence Cicero, it is argued, was careful to make 
 otily very vague allusions to the politics of the times. 
 4. The calm and serene tone that pervades the essay indi- 
 cates Cicero's pleasure at the destruction of the tyrant 
 who overthrew the Roman Republic and blotted out 
 Roman liberty. 
 
 In reply to the foregoing arguments and in support 
 of the early date (i. e., before the middle of March, 44 b. c.) 
 of the Cato Maior the following points may be noted : 
 
 1. The statement about the Cato Maior in the introduc- 
 tion to the second book of the De Divinatione does not 
 warrant the inference that the Cato Maior was written 
 after the assassination of Csesar, and such a conclusion is 
 wholly gratuitous. The words interiectus est nuper liber 
 in quern ad nostrum Atticum de senectute misimus {De Div., 
 2, 3) certainly do not warrant the conclusion that the 
 Cato Maior was composed after the death of Ca3sar. On 
 
DATE OF COMPOSITION OF THE CATO MAIOR vii 
 
 the contrary, it is stated (De Div., 2, 7) that a change has 
 taken place in Cicero's plan of literary work in conse- 
 quence of Caesar's death, implying that Cicero will return 
 to public life and will therefore have less time to devote 
 to writing. This announcement at the beginning of the 
 second book of the De Divinatione simply indicates that 
 the first book of that treatise was probably finished be- 
 fore the death of Csesar. Then the statement interiectus 
 est etiam nuper liber etc. (De Div., 2, 3) shows that the 
 Cato Maior must already have been written either before 
 the first book of the De Divinatione, or before the second 
 book of that work was begun. It follows therefore that 
 the Cato Maior in either case was written before the death 
 of Caesar. 
 
 2. The word nuper occurring in the letter Ad Att., 14, 
 21, 3, dated 12 May, 44 "b. c.,is so elastic in signification 
 that it may readily mean December, 45 b. c, or January 
 or February, 44 b. c, just as well as April, 45 b. c, which 
 the adherents of the later date assume. This argument 
 of itself therefore is inconclusive. But while two letters 
 (Ad Att., 16, 3, 1 and ib., 16, 11, 3, dated respectively 17 
 July and 5 November, 44 b. c.) express Cicero's grati- 
 fication that the Cato Maior has merited Atticus's ap- 
 proval, the first letter (Ad Att., 14, 21, 3, dated 12 May, 
 44 B. c.) contains a suggestive passage (§ 3) which is 
 thought to argue for the earlier date of composition. The 
 passage reads, Legendus mihi scepius est Cato Maior ad 
 te missus. Amariorem enim me senectus facit. Stomachor 
 omnia. Now what was it that had embittered Cicero's 
 Hfe? It appears from the context that the source of that 
 disquietude was Cicero's disappointment at the turn af- 
 fairs had taken in transferring the tyranny from Caesar 
 to Antony, whose abuse of unlimited power gave the friends 
 of the Republic ample ground for alarm. Cicero then felt 
 keenly the need of that philosophic calm which he had 
 
viii INTRODUCTION 
 
 written about in his Cato Maior. Hence he speaks of 
 having repeatedly read that essay. This would indicate 
 that the Cato Maior must have been written before 
 Caesar's assassination ; otherwise it would hardly be pos- 
 sible for Cicero, in a letter written less than two months 
 after that momentous event, to mention the circumstance 
 of his having read the essay repeatedly. 
 
 3. The allusion to the troubles which weighed so heav- 
 ily upon Cicero and his friend Atticus, contained in the 
 Caio Maior (§ 1), is .extremely vague and no argument 
 can be grounded upon it. So indefinite is the passage that 
 it may be understood to refer to the fears Cicero and 
 Atticus entertained under Csesar's regime quite as read- 
 ily as to those apprehensions they felt under Antony. 
 Cicero in his Cato Maior offers some comfort of philoso- 
 phy for the evils of the times, be those times the troublous 
 days before Csesar's taking off when tyranny threatened 
 to extinguish Roman liberty, or even the more turbulent 
 period which immediately followed the assassination of 
 the would-be monarch, when Antony boldly inaugurated 
 his policy of self-aggrandizement. Nor does it follow 
 that the introduction to the Cato Maior would necessarily 
 have contained some specific allusions to Caesar's dictator- 
 ship, as the adherents to the later date claim, because 
 that essay was written before Caesar's death. 
 
 4. In reply to the argument that the calm and serene 
 note of the Cato Maior indicates that the work must have 
 been written just after Caesar's murder, it is sufficient to 
 say that Cicero's pleasure at that event was entirely too 
 effervescent and transient to be used as an argument. 
 For Cicero's outburst of joy very speedily gave place to 
 even deeper gloom than that which had settled down upon 
 his spirit during Caesar's dictatorship, and the philosopher 
 was again plunged into the depths of despondency and 
 the slough of despair. The spirit of the Cato Maior is not 
 
THE PLAN AND FORM OF THE CATO MAIOR ix 
 
 that of exultant joy; it is rather that of a subdued tran- 
 quil philosophy which is prepared to make the best of 
 whatever situation in life presents itself. Cicero here 
 accepts with calm submission the inevitable — his en- 
 forced retirement from public life — and devotes him- 
 self with resignation to the field still open to him, of apply- 
 ing the teachings of philosophy even to old age so as to 
 rid it of its discomforts and to make its natural burdens 
 lighter to bear. Now this was the temper Cicero exhibited 
 before the fateful Ides of March, 44 b. c. 
 
 It appears therefore that the evidence is in favor of 
 the earlier date and tends to establish that the Cato Maior 
 was written prior to the assassination of Caesar, perhaps 
 by January or February, 44 b. c. Some editors have 
 pointed out the resemblance of the arguments and illus- 
 trations used in the Cato Maior to those in the first book 
 ■of the Tusculan Disputations and accordingly infer that 
 the Cato Maior must have been written shortly after the 
 composition of the first book of the Tusculan Disputations. 
 As that book was composed probably in the summer of 
 45 B. c, the date of the composition of the Cato Maior 
 would appear to be the autumn of 45 b. c. But this can- 
 not be proved. The evidence only warrants the prob- 
 able conclusion that the Cato Maior was written shortly 
 before the 15 March, 44 b. c. The work seems to have 
 been composed rather hurriedly, if we may judge from 
 a letter to Atticus (Ad Att., 16, 3, 1, dated 16 July, 44 
 b. c), in which Cicero tells him that he is sending him 
 the Cato Maior revised in numerous passages {crebris 
 locis). 
 
 2. THE PLAN AND FORM OF THE CATO MAIOR 
 
 The Cato Maior is dedicated to Atticus, Cicero's lifelong 
 friend, as is also the similar treatise on Friendship, the 
 Lcclius. 
 
X INTRODUCTION 
 
 The Cato Maior purports to be a dialogue which took 
 place 150 b. c. (one year before the death of Cato), and 
 the interlocutors are the Elder Cato, Scipio and Laelius. 
 Scipio and Laelius meet at the house of Cato. Scipio ex- 
 presses his surprise at Cato's cheerfulness under the bur- 
 dens incident to old age, manifesting his admiration for 
 Cato's vigor and cheerful disposition. Cato replies that 
 the secret consists in following the guidance of nature. 
 Lselius thereupon requests Cato to tell how such a happy 
 old age may be attained. Cato accedes to the request and 
 begins by naming several old men whose lives were use- 
 ful and happy till death. He then reviews in detail the 
 various indictments against old age and shows them 
 each in turn to be without foundation in fact. The four 
 charges which Cato refutes are: 1. Old age withdraws 
 men from active life. 2. Old age weakens the physical 
 powers. 3. Old age removes the capacity for enjoyment. 
 4. Old age involves the anticipation of death. The re- 
 futation of this last charge leads Cato into a discussion 
 of death, and with this discussion the essay closes. Cato 
 is the principal speaker and Lselius and Scipio take so 
 minor a part in the dialogue as to render it very ques- 
 tionable whether the production can properly be called 
 a dialogue. The work seems more of the nature of an essay 
 than of a dialogue. 
 
 The Cato Maior has only the slight disguise of dialogue. 
 Custom prescribed this form for an essay, and Cicero made 
 this concession to convention in almost all of his philo- 
 sophical writings. For the dialogue was a favorite 
 rhetorical device with the ancients when some abstruse 
 philosophical subject was to be discussed. This species 
 of compositiqn contributed to the clearness and force 
 of the discussion, at the same time heightening the dra- 
 matic interest. 
 
 There were two distinct types of dialogue — the Aristo- 
 
CICERO'S METHOD xi 
 
 telian and the Platonic. The type established by Aris- 
 totle emphasized the exposition, giving but little discus- 
 sion, and made one character conspicuous in setting 
 forth his views in detail. In the type of dialogue prac- 
 ticed by Plato, on the other hand, although there is one 
 chief character (Socrates), he simply directs the discus- 
 sion and draws out the interlocutors by a quick inter- 
 play of question and answer. Cicero adopted the Aris- 
 totelian method as better suited to his purpose as well 
 as being in greater favor. The method of Plato was not 
 popular among the Roman writers and therefore found 
 very few followers. But Aristotle's style found a large 
 number of imitators from Theophrastus down to Cicero. 
 
 3. CICERO'S METHOD 
 
 Cicero advisedly selected Cato the Censor as the leading 
 character in his discourse on old age, and in the opening 
 chapter of the LcbHus (§ 4) he gives the reason for his 
 choice. Cato was a notable example of a man who had 
 attained to a green old age, whose influence and character 
 challenged the esteem and admiration of the entire Ro- 
 man world. So by speaking through the mouth of such 
 a prominent personage of a former generation as Cato, 
 who was the bsau ideal of a contented and useful old age, 
 Cicero imparted additional interest and weight to his own 
 opinions and reflections : and his philosophical arguments 
 thus presented as the words of an eminent Roman of a 
 by-gone age made a far stronger appeal to the practical 
 Roman mind than the mere words of Cicero could ever 
 have done. 
 
 But it is to be observed that Cicero's method involved 
 an idealization of his hero, — a form of hero worship 
 which is frequent enough even in our own times. The 
 Cato, therefore, whom Cicero portrays in his essay on 
 old age is not the real Cato. He is not the Cato of history, 
 
xii INTRODUCTION 
 
 — that uncouth, austere, narrow-minded, keen-tongued 
 old Roman who was intensely practical and patriotic in 
 all the relations of life. He is not that Cato of extreme 
 prejudice and partisanship who hated the nobility and 
 relentlessly hounded the great Africanus till he drove 
 the conqueror of Hannibal into enforced retirement at 
 his villa near Naples. Nor is Cicero's Cato the stern censor, 
 the merciless castigator of manners and men, who de- 
 lighted to accuse and degrade those high in public life, 
 at the same time in a spirit of self-righteousness exalting 
 by contrast his own vaunted simple, virtuous life. Cicero 
 paints Cato as a sage deeply versed in Greek philosophy 
 and learning (§§ 11, 23, 39, etc.). But the real Cato of 
 flesh and blood is known to have set himself in dogged 
 opposition to everything that smacked in the least of 
 Greek culture and refinement. By a special, decree he 
 even caused the famous Athenian embassy (Carneades, 
 Critolaus and Diogenes), when they began to lecture on 
 Greek philosophy, during their sojourn at Rome in 155 
 B. c, to leave the city forthwith and return home, on the 
 alleged ground that their teaching tended to corrupt the 
 Roman youth (Pliny, N. H., 7, 112; Plutarch, Cato, 22). 
 The ideal Cato of Cicero was a liberal, far-seeing states- 
 man who merged his own personal dislikes in unselfish 
 devotion to the service of his country. The real Cato of 
 history, on the contrary, was a devoted patriot, to be 
 sure, but a narrow, short-sighted statesman who could 
 never entirely subordinate his own personal animosity 
 in his conduct as a public servant. 
 
 Cicero's method of idealizing Cato is probably the 
 result of hero worship. Cato was several generations 
 removed from Cicero's age and was regarded among the 
 most illustrious of the old Romans who had contributed 
 to the upbuilding of the mighty Republic and its great 
 prestige as a world power. This was the popular concep- 
 
CICERO'S METHOD xiii 
 
 tion of Cato's character, and Cicero did not venture to 
 shatter an accepted ideal, or to dispel the illusion. It is 
 evident that Cicero was not critical in the composition 
 of his Caio Maior. Moreover, it is not improbable that 
 there was some political reason for his idealization of 
 Cato. For Cicero was himself, no doubt, disgusted with 
 the political situation which existed at Rome at that 
 time. Csesar was endeavoring to usurp all power and 
 make himself supreme, — a circumstance which was a 
 source of untold distress to the supporters of the repub- 
 lican form of government. Perhaps it was this reason 
 that led Cicero to hark back to the good old times of the 
 RepubUc and to select as the leading character of his 
 dialogue a statesman of that golden age, who exemplified 
 in his conduct the ideal Roman virtues of simplicity, 
 unwavering devotion to principle and unquestioned 
 patriotism. Cicero chose Cato as the representative states- 
 man of that age just as he had previously made Afri- 
 canus the Younger the chief character inliis De Re Publica 
 and as he later made Lselius the hero of his essay on friend- 
 ship. Now in portraying Cato as the representative states- 
 man of the period of the Punic War, which is set forth 
 in sharp contrast with his own existing age, Cicero was 
 naturally enough tempted to exaggerate the virtues of 
 his hero and to be rather blind to his faults. 
 
 But the political purpose of the Cato Maior is not made 
 obtrusive; it is rather held in abeyance. The ostensible 
 purpose of the essay, it is true, was the application of 
 the principles of philosophy to the relief of the increasing 
 burdens of old age. The dialogue therefore is primarily 
 and really a treatise on ethics. The author himself 
 acknowledges the genuine comfort he derived from the 
 arguments brought forward in the essay, and in the dedi- 
 cation he expresses the hope that Atticus may likewise 
 derive benefit from the discourse. There is no reason 
 
xiv INTRODUCTION 
 
 to doubt Cicero's sincerity in his expressed wish. Fur- 
 thermore, we learn from his letters (Ad Att., 16, 3, 1 ; 16, 
 11, 3; 14, 21, 3) that Atticus did find the Cato Maior 
 a source of comfort to him in those troublous political 
 times and acknowledged his debt of gratitude to Cicero 
 for the composition of the essay. 
 
 4. THE SOURCES OF THE CATO MAIOR 
 
 The Cato Maior, like all of Cicero philosophical writings, 
 is based on Greek originals to a greater or less extent. For, 
 after all, Cicero's purpose was simply to interpret Greek 
 philosophy to the Roman world, and he was himself in no 
 sense a philosopher by instinct. This is evident from the 
 fact that he devoted himself to philosophy only after his 
 enforced retirement from political life. Yet he accom- 
 plished a vast deal in his self-assumed r61e of interpreter 
 of Greek philosophy to the Roman mind. Incidentally he 
 placed the Romans under lasting obligation to him for his 
 valuable s,ervice in enriching the Latin tongue by the 
 creation of a philosophical vocabulary, — an enrichment 
 by which not only all the Rorhanic languages, but also 
 our own English speech has greatly profited. For during 
 the Middle Ages when these several languages were 
 developing and extending their respective spheres of in- 
 fluence, Cicero was recognized by the learned world as the 
 leading exponent of Greek thought and learning, and 
 scholars eagerly studied his works and their native 
 tongues were enriched not a little by his philosophical 
 vocabulary. 
 
 But to be more explicit, Cicero drew chiefly upon 
 Xenophon's CEconomicus, of which § 59 and §§ 79-82 of 
 the Cato Maior are almost a literal translation. He also 
 made drafts upon Plato's Phaedo (67 D), Cratylus (400 C), 
 Phaedrus (245 C seq.), as for example §§ 77 and 78 of the 
 Cato Maior setting forth the doctrine of the divine origin 
 
CATO , XV 
 
 and destiny of the soul. The conversation in the early- 
 part of the dialogue {Cato Maior, §§ 4-8) bears a close 
 resemblance to the dialogue between Socrates and Ce- 
 phalus in the opening of Plato's Republic. 
 
 It cannot be affirmed that there was any specific Greek 
 treatise on old age upon which Cicero based his Cato 
 Maior, or which he used as a model. It is true, however, 
 that he does make cursory mention {Cato Maior, § 3) 
 of Aristo Ceus's work on old age, but as the writings of 
 that peripatetic philosopher have all long since perished, 
 it cannot be established that Cicero made use of that 
 treatise. Nor can it be proved that Cicero was indebted 
 to Theophrastus or Demetrius Phalereus, each of whom 
 wrote a formal discourse on old age. Yet it is quite prob- 
 able that Cicero made use of some Greek work on old age 
 which he took as his model, adapting the arguments and 
 examples to his own purpose, although this cannot be 
 definitely determined. 
 
 5. CATO 
 
 Marcus Porcius Cato was born at Tusculum in Latium, 
 not far from Rome, in the year 234 b. c.^ His family 
 was plebeian and owned a small patrimony in the rocky 
 Sabine country, where Marcus Porcius passed his boy- 
 hood, engaged in hard work on the farm.^ The Sabines 
 were a people of severe simplicity of manners, and among 
 
 1 Livy (.39, 40, 12) and Plutarch {Colo, 15, end) speak of Cato as 90 years 
 old at the time of his death, which would argue for 239 as the date of his 
 birth. The date of Cato's death, 149 B. c, is well attested by Cicero (Brutus, 
 61 and 80, Cato Maior, 14), Pliny (N'. H., 29, 15, DC V anno urbis nostrae . '. . 
 LXXXV suo) and Velleius Paterculus (1, 12, Ante triennium quam Carthago 
 deleretur M. Cato perpetuus dlcendae eius auctor L. Censorino, M. Manitio 
 consulibus mortem obiit). It appears from the evidence then that 234 B. c. ia 
 the date of Cato's birth. 
 
 2 Festus, p. 281 M, says, Cato in ea quam scribit de suis virtutibus contra 
 Thervfium : Ego lam aprincipio in parsimonia atque m duritia atque mdustria 
 omnem adolescentiam meam abstinui agro colendo, saxis Sabinis, siticibus repas- 
 tinandis, atque conserendis. 
 
xvi INTRODUCTION 
 
 them Cato, no doubt, imbibed as a boy that love of the 
 austere virtues which he practiced throughout his, long 
 life. He delighted to return to his farm during his fur- 
 loughs, or when not occupied with public business, and 
 with eagerness and alacrity he would enter into the 
 simple rustic life. As to his personal appearance history 
 is silent except that Plutarch {Cato, 1) remarks upon his 
 red hair and grey-green eyes.' As for his education it may 
 be assumed that he received the best that his provincial 
 town afforded, but there is no evidence that he went to 
 Rome to complete his education. His boyhood was passed 
 in the peaceful interval between the First and Second 
 Punic Wars.^ 
 
 Cato entered upon his career as a soldier early in the 
 Hannibalic war, after the defeat at Lake Trasimenus in 
 217 B. c, when he was seventeen years old (Nepos, Caio, 
 1,2; Plutarch, Cato, 1). There is every reason to believe 
 that he saw hard service as a private. The first action in 
 which he is thought to have been engaged was the cam- 
 paign of Q. Fabius Maximus Cunctator against Hannibal 
 in Campania, in 214 b. c. {Cato Maior, § 10). Cato enter- 
 tained only the highest esteem for his commander as a 
 man and statesman and refers to his record with admiring 
 approval. Plutarch {Cato, 1) speaks in terms of com- 
 mendation of Cato's military service and we may readily 
 believe that as a soldier Cato acquitted himself with credit 
 in whatever campaigns he served. 
 
 By dint of his own manly character Cato early won 
 the esteem and friendship of the eminent statesman M. 
 Valerius Flaccus, who was of the same poHtical school as 
 the conservative Fabius Cunctator. It was through the in- 
 
 1 Plutarch (cap. 1) quotes the epigram in reference to Cato: 
 "Ked-haired, grey-eyed, savage-tusked as well, 
 Porcius will find no welcome e'en in hell.'* 
 li For a more detailed sketch of Cato, see Oskar Jager, Marcus Porcius Cato, 
 Gijtersloh, 1892, Cortese, De M. Porct Catonis vita, etc., Savona, 1882. 
 
CATO xvii 
 
 fluence of these two powerful patrons that Cato was pro- 
 moted from the ranks to the military tribuneship under 
 Marcellus in Sicily, in 214 b. c. (Nepos, Cato, 1, 2). He 
 served under Fabius at the fall of Tarentum, in 209 b. c. 
 (Cato Maior, 10), and also under C. Claudius Nero, two 
 years later, at the battle at the Metaurus in which he 
 achieved great distinction as a soldier (Nepos, Cato, 1, 2). 
 This battle was memorable as the battle in which Hasdru- 
 bal, the brother of Hannibal, was defeated by Livius Sali- 
 nator and Claudius Nero, and Cato, despite his fatigue 
 from Nero's forced marches from Apulia to Umbria, 
 contributed no insignificant part to the famous victory. 
 
 In 204 B. c. Cato was made quaestor, which was the 
 first step in his political career. The fact that as a novus 
 homo, without the aid of family influence or fortune, he 
 forged his way to the front and attained to this office at 
 the age of thirty, is altogether to his credit and proves 
 that he, like Cicero later, felt the stirrings of an early 
 .ambition to make his name illustrious. Cato had already 
 acquired an enviable reputation as an orator, first in the 
 provincial courts and later in Rome. Plutarch (Cato, 2) 
 says that Cato, at the age of 30, had won such a name 
 for himself as a speaker that he was spoken of as "the 
 Roman Demosthenes." It was probably the influence of 
 his powerful patron and life-long friend L. Valerius Flaccus 
 that helped to elevate Cato to the first post in his politi- 
 cal career (cf. Plutarch, Cato, 3). For Flaccus owned 
 an estate near Cato's Sabine farm and no doubt early 
 became interested in this young man of such unusual 
 promfse, rendering him freely the aid of his counsel as 
 opportunity offered. 
 
 It is not known just when Cato removed from Tusculum 
 to Rome, but it was evidently prior to his election to 
 the qusestorship. As quaestor he was assigned to duty on 
 the staff of Scipio, then in Sicily, on his way to Africa. 
 
xviii • INTRODUCTION 
 
 The appointment, however, was not happy because the 
 quaestor and consul were so diametrically opposite in 
 taste and temperament that Cato and Scipio could find 
 but little congeniality in their official relations (Plutarch, 
 Cato, 11). Moreover, Cato was associated with the 
 party in the Roman senate that was opposed to Scipio 
 and that preferred charges of excessive cruelty against 
 his command in Southern Italy (Plutarch, Cato, 3). It 
 is not surprising therefore that Cato saw much to com- 
 plain of and censure in Scipio's prodigal habits as com- 
 mander of the Roman army in Africa (Livy, 29, 19, 11-12). 
 This was the beginning of the life-long enmity between 
 Cato and Scipio (Nepos, Cato, 1, 3). Cato was allowed 
 to return to Rome, coming by way of Sardinia, and he 
 brought with him the poet Ennius (Nepos, Cato, 1, 4). 
 It is not established whether Cato sailed from Sicily or 
 from Africa, but the evidence favors the latter, since he 
 certainly sailed to Africa with Scipio's fleet (Livy^ 29, 
 25, 10). 
 
 In 199 B. c. Cato was elected plebeian aedile (Nepos, 
 Cato, 1, 4) and he administered the office with character- 
 istic severity. The following year he was chosen praetor and 
 given Sardinia as his province. His administration of 
 that province was of course severe, but at the same time 
 in sharp contrast with the lavish and corrupt precedent 
 set by former governors (Livy, 32, 27, 3-4). Yet Plu- 
 tarch {Cato, 6) tells us that the provincials were pleased 
 because Cato maintained a strict discipline over the 
 troops and kept his lynx eye on the extortionate money- 
 lenders and all other violators of the law, and was not 
 accompanied by a 'vast retinue of attendants in his offi- 
 cial visits through the province. It is related that his 
 retinue as prastor representing the great Roman Republic 
 consisted of one lone servant. 
 
 In 195 B. c. Cato entered upon office as consul with his 
 
CATO xix 
 
 friend Valerius Flaccus as colleague. Among his first 
 services as consul Cato endeavored to prevent the re- 
 peal of the Oppian law (passed during the gloomy times 
 of the Second Punic War), which made extravagance in 
 dress and feminine adornment a criminal offense. De- 
 spite Cato's vigorous speech and his strong plea for sim- 
 plicity, economy and frugality (Livy, 34, 1-8), the law 
 was repealed, but only after a great demonstration on 
 the part of the Roman matrons. Cato succeeded in carry- 
 ing the lex Porcia designed to protect the provincials 
 from extortion by unjust officials (cf. Corpus Inscrip- 
 tionum Latinarum, 1, 204; ii, 1. 16). It fell to his lot as 
 consul to pacify affairs in the two provinces of Spain. 
 Accordingly, setting out from Rome with five servants 
 as his retinue to take command of the consular army in 
 Spain,' he soon arrived on the scene of action and sent 
 back home most encouraging reports of his success as 
 a general. He displayed marked ability and courage in this 
 campaign and succeeded in reducing the entire province 
 — both Hispania Citerior and Hispania Ulterior — to 
 peace and order (Livy, 34, 13, 8; ih., 14-16; Plutarch, 
 Cato, 10). He maintained rigid discipline in the army and 
 practiced the strictest economy in his expenditures, at 
 the same time giving careful attention to increasing the 
 revenues of the State from the mines and other public 
 properties. All the captured goods of the enemy went 
 to swell the exchequer, not to the personal aggrandize- 
 ment of the general and his legions. The result was, when 
 Cato returned to Rome to celebrate his triumph, immense 
 quantities of gold and silver bullion and of money were 
 exhibited in the procession through the streets of the city, 
 and substantial sums of money were distributed as gifts 
 
 1 It is related that Cato left his house with onl}' three servants for his jour- 
 ney, but on arriving at the Forum, he reflected tliat his retinue was hardlj' 
 worthy of a Roman consul, and so he bought two more slaves on the spot 
 (Val. Max., 4, 3, H; Plut., Cato, 4; Apul., Apal., 17). 
 
XX INTRODUCTION 
 
 among the soldiers who had helped their leader to achieve 
 his triumph (Livy, 34, 46, 2 ; Plut., Cato, 11 ; Nepos, Cato, 
 2, 1). It proved a great triumph and fitly signalized 
 Cato's brilliant consulship. 
 
 After this achievement Cato returned to private life, 
 spending a good part of his time, as we may suppose, on 
 his Sabine farm. On the outbreak of the war against 
 Antiochus, the stern old Roman offered 'his services, 
 along with his friend Valerius Flaccus, to his country and 
 accepted the humble commission as tribune of the sol- 
 diers, under the command of Manius Acilius Glabrio, the 
 consul of the year 191 b. c. (cf. Cato Maior, 32 ; also Plut., 
 Cato, 12).' Cato conducted a division of the army over 
 the mountains, through the pass at Thermopylae, along 
 the historic route followed by the Persians centuries be- 
 fore, and attacked the rear-guard of Antiochus, utterly 
 routing the entire army of the enemy. Thus by a daring 
 feat Cato helped to win the notable battle of Thermopylse, 
 which compelled Antiochus to retire from Greece (Livy, 
 36, 18, 8; Plut., Cato, 13-14). Cato was thereupon de- 
 spatched to Rome to carry the glad tidings of the victory 
 and he made the journey in a remarkably short time. 
 Plutarch {Cato, 14) says that the trip from Brundisium to 
 Rome was made in five days. This was probably the last 
 expedition in which Cato engaged. From this time to 
 the end of his life he figured as one of the leading char- 
 acters in the arena of Roman politics. 
 
 Cato had hardly settled in Rome before he began to 
 interest himself in politics. He began in the conventional 
 way by attacking certain abuses in pubhc affairs. The 
 custom had long been established for the magistrates to 
 seek lucrative posts of honor as governors of provinces. 
 Most of these provincial governors were corrupt and bent 
 
 * Livy (36, 17, 1) says that Cato was consularis lerjatus^ which statement 
 conflicts with the foregoing. But see Frontinus, Strat., 2, i, 4. 
 
CATO xxi 
 
 on self-aggrandizement, and they did not hesitate to 
 exasperate the long-suffering provincials to the point 
 of rebellion and then suppress the mimic war, simply in 
 order to have the senate decree them a triumph in honor 
 of a sham victory alleged to have been won by Roman 
 valor. Cato saw in such practices a flagrant abuse of 
 privilege and resolved to correct it. Accordingly, in the 
 year 190 b. c. he vigorously opposed the proposal to 
 grant a triumph to Q. Minucius Thermus and carried his 
 point, the senate refusing to grant the triumph. In the 
 following year, Cato as a candidate for the censorship 
 with his colleague Valerius Flaccus appeared as a witness 
 against his recent commander M'. Acilius Glabrio (who 
 was now his rival for office), who was charged with mis- 
 appropriation of money during his expedition in Thessaly ; 
 and Glabrio was forced to retire from the field as a can- 
 didate (Livy, 37, 57, 10; Jordan, p. 45, Cato's speech 
 against Glabrio). After all, however, Cato and Flaccus 
 were defeated and Marcellus and Flaminius were the 
 successful candidates. 
 
 Nothing daunted by this defeat, Cato continued his 
 reform work in politics. He spoke against the proposal to 
 grant a triumph to the two consuls of the year 189 b. c, 
 M. Fulvius Nobilior and Cn. Manlius Vulso. Nobilior, it 
 is true, had won a few minor victories from the .iEtolians; 
 but Vulso had actually exceeded the authority of his 
 office in making war upon the Gauls of Asia Minor with- 
 out the approval or consent of the Roman senate. Yet 
 Cato's opposition was unavailing to deprive these con- 
 suls of their meed of honor, and a triumph was granted 
 them by the senate. 
 
 But notwithstanding the defeat of his reform measures, 
 Cato was growing more and more influential in the State, 
 and as representative of the popular party he was des- 
 tined soon to become the recognized leader of the oppo- 
 
xxii INTRODUCTION 
 
 sition to the aristocratic rule. He next ventured to select 
 the Scipios as the objects of his drastic reform measures, 
 and upon them he made a bitter attack. The charge was 
 made in the senate that L. Scipio Asiaticus had misap- 
 propriated pubHc money during his campaign against 
 Antiochus. The great Africanus was also involved, and 
 Cato made a virulent attack upon him. The trial lasted 
 almost two years (187-185 b. c), and the result of the 
 matter was that Lucius Scipio (Asiaticus) had to pay 
 an enormous fine and Africanus withdrew from Rome. 
 Africanus retired to his country estate near Liternum, 
 in the vicinity of Naples, where he spent the brief residue 
 of his days, and never again returned to Rome (Livy, 38, 
 53, 8; 38, 54, 11 ; Plut., Cato, 15). Livy (38, 54, 1) speaks 
 of Cato as entertaining an inveterate animosity toward 
 Africanus and characterizes his merciless nagging, as 
 barking at Scipio's greatness (Quint., 8, 6, 9). Thus Cato 
 at last gloated over his illustrious victim and forced the 
 famous conqueror of Hannibal into voluntary exile. 
 
 Cato now stood for the censorship again, and this time 
 was successful, with Valerius Flaccus his colleague. 
 From 184-183 Cato filled this important office with which 
 his name was ever afterward to be inseparably asso- 
 ciated in Roman history. Flaccus lent all the authority 
 and influence at his command to render Cato's trenchant 
 reform of manners and morals a thorough success (Livy, 
 39, 41, 4). On entering upon office Cato resolved to hew 
 to the line, no matter where the chips fell. He first sig- 
 nalized his administration by dropping seven senators 
 from the list (Livy, 39, 42, 5-7) — among them L. Quinc- 
 tius Flaminius an ex-consul and brother of the distin- 
 guished Flaminius and the ex-praetor Manilius (Cato 
 Maior, 42). He appointed his colleague Valerius Flaccus 
 leader of the senate in place of Scipio Africanus (Livy, 
 38, 56, 1; also 39, 52, 1). He endeavored'to keep down 
 
CATO xxiii 
 
 extravagance by Increasing the tax on articles of luxury; 
 he looked carefully after the public works and did not 
 allow the contractors to exact too great a margin of pro- 
 fit. He farmed out all the public revenues, to the highest 
 bidder. He denounced the degeneracy of the times in nu- 
 merous speeches and strove to win the nation back to the 
 old paths of plain and austere manners and simple living. 
 
 As a result Rome was placed under obligation to Cato's 
 censorship for many civic improvements including better 
 harbor facilities, superior sewerage system, more abun- 
 dant water supply and more equable distribution of 
 public utilities. Moreover, Cato inaugurated a new era 
 of municipal art decoration by erecting the first exchange 
 building at Rome — the Basilica Porcia, located near the 
 senate house adjoining the Forum — and various other 
 public improvements (Livy, 39, 44, 7; Plut., Cato, 19). 
 His example stimulated his successors and so the city was 
 subsequently embellished with additional basilicas, thus 
 greatly enhancing the architectural beauty of ancient 
 Rome. At the conclusion of his tenure of the censorship 
 Cato delivered a speech reviewing his services to the 
 State and the public improvements he had made in the 
 city; and a statue ' of the famous censor (henceforth 
 styled "censonits") was erected in the temple of Salus, 
 with an inscription dwelling in detail upon his achieve- 
 ments as a reformer of the manners and customs of the 
 Roman people (Plut., Cato, 19). 
 
 But Cato's reforms were not all destined to be per- 
 manent and lasting. He was soon compelled to experience 
 the chagrin of witnessing some of his senatorial victims 
 rise to positions of great prominence and receive the flat- 
 tering attentions of public favor. Luxury and extrava- 
 
 1 Up to this time Cato had alwa}-s affected to despise statues, affirming that 
 he preferred to live in the memory of his people and to have men ask win' no 
 statue was erected to him rather than why he had a statue (Plut., loc. cit.; 
 Ammian., 14, 6, 8). 
 
xxiv INTRODUCTION 
 
 gance had only been checked for a brief period by the 
 vigilance of the austere censor, and after his retirement 
 from power they again manifested their presence in a 
 variety of ways. For the new fashion of luxurious living 
 which ScipiQ had introduced from the East had come to 
 be recognized as an essential part of Roman civilization. 
 Even Cato himself must have realized in his opposition 
 thereto that he was following a forlorn hope, and fighting 
 a losing battle, though he won a nominal victory. 
 
 Cato, after his retirement from the censorship, contin- 
 ued to hold his place as the leader of the opposition to the 
 senatorial oligarchy. He supported a number of measures 
 intended to curb bribery, individual extravagance and 
 the dissipation of family property, such as the lex Orchia, 
 the lex Baebia de amhitu and the lex Furia and the lex 
 Voconia. He never failed to champion the cause of the 
 provinces whenever they were oppressed by corrupt and 
 immoral governors, and such men he invariably de- 
 nounced in most vehement and scathing language. In 
 the year 171 b. c. he served on a commission of five to 
 prosecute certain ex-praetors who were guilty of malfea- 
 sance of office in Spain (Livy, 43, 2, 5). He was most in- 
 fluential in the senate in shaping the foreign policy of the 
 Republic. In 167 b. c. he ardently espoused the cause cf 
 the Rhodians and saved them from severe punishment 
 when probably the Romans had just reasons for meting 
 out to that feeble nation the full penalty their alleged of- 
 fense called for (Livy, 45, 25, 2-3). He stoutly opposed 
 the annexation of Macedonia at the conclusion of the 
 Third Macedonian War and his counsel prevailed. 
 
 Cato was recognized as the uncompromising enemy of 
 Greek culture and learning.' It excites but little surprise 
 therefore that he expressed much concern at the favor- 
 
 1 Jordan, p. 2T, thinks Cato, however, did not despise the Greelj nation as 
 a whole. 
 
CATO XXV 
 
 able reception accorded the famous Athenian embassy 
 of philosophers — Carneades, Critolaus and Diogenes — 
 on the occasion of their visit to Rome in 155 b. c, and 
 that, moreover, he exerted his utmost influence to have 
 them leave the city forthwith lest they corrupt the Ro- 
 man youth by their new doctrine (Plut., Cato, 22; Pliny, 
 N. H., 7, 112'). Cato was likewise an implacable enemy 
 of Carthage. So, when about 153 b. c, the relations between 
 that great rival power and Rome were strained almost to 
 the acute stage and the Roman senate despatched an 
 embassy to Africa to report upon the condition of Car- 
 thage, Cato was selected for the mission,^ and since he saw 
 in Carthage's supremacy upon the Mediterranean a con- 
 stant menace to Rome's increasing influence, he advo- 
 cated on his return from Africa the utter destruction of 
 that prosperous nation. It is a familiar story that Cato 
 made a stirring speech in the Roman senate, closing with 
 the words ceterum censeo delendam esse Carthaginem 
 (Plut., Cato, 27; Pliny, A'^. H., 15, 74), and that whenever 
 thereafter he had occasion to speak in that body, he in- 
 variably added these words at the end of his speech.' 
 But Publius Scipio Nasica, the son-in-law of Africanus 
 and the able exponent of the policy that noble Roman 
 stood for, it is alleged, always advocated the opposite 
 sentiment, pointing out that the Romans might grow 
 insolent and indifferent as a result of their prosperity 
 (see quotation from Florus below). It need hardly be 
 
 1 Pliny, N. ff., 7, 112, Cato censnrius in ilia nohili trium sapientiae 
 procet'um ab Athenis legatione audita Cartieade quam primum legatos eos cen- 
 suit dimittendos quomam illo viro argumentante quid veri esset haud facile dis- 
 cerni posset. Cf. also De Orat., 2, 155 seq. ; Ad Att., 12, 23, 2; Acad., 2, 137, etc. 
 
 2 Jager, Marcus Porcius Cato, pp. 68-fi9, discredits tile legend of Cato's 
 bringing back and exhibiting in the senate a couple of fresh figs as indicat- 
 ing Carthage's nearness to Rome and is disposed to regard the entire story as 
 legendary. 
 
 8 hiyy, Per., 48-49 ; Florus 1, 31 (= 2, 15), Cato inexpiabili odio delendam esse 
 Carthaginem et cum de alio consuleretur, pronuntiabat, Scipio Nasica servan- 
 dam, ne metu ablato aemulae luxuriari felicitas urbis inciperet. 
 
xxvi INTRODUCTION 
 
 remarked that Cato's advice was ultimately followed and 
 Carthage was blotted out in 146 b. c, thoughthe rugged 
 old Censor never lived to see the day. 
 
 Among Cato's last public acts was the prosecution of 
 Ser. Sulpicius Galba, who, it was alleged, had violated his 
 pledge to the Lusitanians and treated them with ex- 
 cessive cruelty (Livy, Per., 49; Cicero, Brutus, 89; Plut., 
 Cato, 15). This activity of Cato's in the pubHc service 
 was in the year 149, when he was over four score years 
 old and his faculties were naturally somewhat impaired. 
 Yet such was the old Censor's influence as a prosecutor 
 that Galba, though rated by Cicero the foremost orator 
 of that age {Brutus, 82), surrendered his case, commend- 
 ing himself to the mercy of the people {ih., 90). Cato 
 retained his vigor and activity as a public man to the 
 very end, dying in 149 b. c, at the ripe old age of 85. He 
 had passed through stormy times and had made for him- 
 self many enemies by his keen tongue, his rough wit, 
 his personal acrimony, and his self-trumpeted austerity. 
 He had attacked many a man in public life and was him- 
 self, in turn, accused 44 times (Pliny, A^. H., 7, 100, quater 
 et quadragiens, cf. Val. Max., 3, 7, 7), but was invariably 
 vindicated. Even in his eighty-first year he was arraigned 
 on a public charge, when he complained of the difficulty 
 of defending himself before another generation (Plut., 
 Cato, 15). A man of striking personality, he made a deep 
 and abiding impression upon his own age and left be- 
 hind him a memory and a record which posterity cherished 
 among the most valuable heritages from those early times 
 when Rome was but little more than an Italian state. 
 
 6. CATO'S WRITINGS 
 
 Notwithstanding Cato's ceaseless and varied political 
 activities from the close of his military career to the end 
 of his life, he seems to have found no little time to devote 
 
CATO'S WRITINGS xxvii 
 
 to literature. His writings were held in high esteem by 
 the following generations. His speeches were numerous 
 and are reputed to have been read even down to the 
 fourth century of the Christian era. The Emperor Ha- 
 drian, according to his biographer Spartianus (Hadr., 
 16, 6), professed to prefer Cato's orations to Cicero's, 
 but we may presume that this was a mere affectation. 
 Cicero himself, however, was free to acknowledge his 
 profound admiration of Cato's style and tells us {Brutus, 
 65) that more than 150 of Cato's orations were extant in 
 his day. Fragments of eighty-four others have been pre- 
 served (Jordan, p. 33 seq.). 
 
 Cato's magnum opus was his Origines, which is said to 
 have engaged his attention for at least twenty years. 
 This work contributed much to its author's fame and 
 enjoys the. distinction of being the first Roman history 
 written in the Latin language. It really marks the begin- 
 ning of Latin prose. Cato's predecessors in the field of 
 history were mere compilers — annalists — who chronicled 
 the important events of each year and wrote their chron- 
 icles in Greek, and not good Greek at that. Cato, who was 
 intensely patriotic and cordially hated everything Greek, 
 made a radical departure from the traditional practice 
 no less in the medium than in the style and method of 
 his history. So rejecting the current vogue of the annals 
 of his day, he determined to make his work a genuine his- 
 tory of Rome based on the results of painstaking in- 
 vestigation into the sources, and accordingly he entitled 
 it Origines. This work is not extant. 
 
 According to Nepos's summary (Cato, 3 seq.), the Ori- 
 gines comprised the history of Rome from the beginning 
 down to the year 150 b. c, in seven books. But the scope 
 of the work included other Italian -cities as well as Rome. 
 Indeed, of the first three books only the first is devoted 
 to Rome, the second and third treating of other Italian 
 
xxviii INTRODUCTION 
 
 cities. The fourth book contains the history of the First 
 Punic War and of the Second, down to the battle of 
 Cannse. The fifth book concluded that war and brought 
 the history of Rome down to the conquest of Macedonia, 
 while the two remaining books dealt with the subsequent 
 events down to the year 150 b. c, with which the work 
 ends. Cato incorporated a number of his speeches into 
 the sixth and seventh books. There is a tradition that he 
 passed over certain periods of Roman history with very 
 slight notice and utterly disregarded the period from the 
 expulsion of kings in 509 to the year 266 b. c. Another 
 striking feature of the Origines which critics commented 
 upon was Cato's failure in his account of the Punic wars 
 to mention the names of the commanders in the various 
 battles described (Nepos, Cato, 3, 4 '). No doubt the 
 work had some glaring defects as a result of its author's 
 idiosyncrasies. Yet it was highly esteemed by the later 
 Roman historians as an authoritative account of the early 
 period of Roman history. 
 
 Unlike the Origines, Cato's treatise on agriculture, de 
 Agri Cultura or de Re Rustica, has been preserved. It 
 was the first book of its kind written in Latin and was 
 not in imitation of the existing Greek models. It was 
 an original work dealing with almost every conceivable 
 subject pertaining to farming and it made no claim to 
 order or logical sequence. It is a collection of maxims and 
 suggestions about farming, which Cato pursued with ab- 
 sorbing interest and pleasure. The book gives a promi- 
 nent place of course to the olive and the vine as staples. 
 It also contains all sorts of receipts, remedies for diseases, 
 incantations, superstitions, estimates, contracts, direc- 
 tions for buildings and a variety of other matters not re- 
 
 ^ Nepos, Cato, 3, 4, atque horum bellorum duces non nominavit, sed sine 
 nominibus res notavit. Gellius, 3, 7, quoting from Cato, uses such expressions 
 as imperator Poenm, consul, tribunus. Cf . Jordan, p. 18 seq. 
 
CATO'S WRITINGS xxix 
 
 lated to farming. As might be expected, Cato lays stress 
 on the expense account, enjoining strict attention to put 
 agriculture on a paying basis. 
 
 Cato furthermore composed a kind of encyclopedia 
 intended for the instruction of his son ^ — Prcecepta ad 
 Filium (Plut., Cato, 20; Jordan, pp. 78-79) — and a col- 
 lection of wise saws treating of ancient customs — Car- 
 men de Moribus (Gellius, 11, 2; Jordan, pp. 82-83) — and 
 still another collection of witty sayings culled from Greek 
 and Roman sources, which he called by the Greek title 
 'Kiro<j>diyiixLTa (Plut., Cato, 2 ; Cic, de Off., 1, 104 ; Jordan, p. 
 83). Plutarch {Cato, 8, 9) records a few selections from 
 Cato's own pungent sayings, for which the Censor enjoyed 
 a considerable reputation and in consequence of which 
 he received the cognomen "sapiens." Cato is also sup- 
 posed to have written works on law, but no title of such 
 a treatise has been preserved to us. Of the foregoing com- 
 pilations attributed to Cato only fragments survive and 
 these are handed down to us through the writings of other 
 authors who quoted him. Pliny (iV. H., .29, 14 and 15) 
 refers to a collection of household remedies compiled by 
 Cato for his son, but the title is not known. Nor do we 
 know the title of a collection of historical stories the Censor 
 made for his son, alluded to by Plutarch {Cato, 20). 
 
 In this meager outline of Cato*'s writings perhaps it 
 may not be deemed out of place to make a brief comment 
 on his antipathy to Hellenism. There is a time-honored 
 tradition that Cato began the study of Greek in his old 
 age and worked sedulously to overcome the disadvan- 
 tage which his prejudice had entailed upon him. From 
 this it used to be inferred that the gri^ old Censor, 
 despite his resolute animosity to Greek learning,^ at last 
 
 1 Cato's son whom he loved so fondly died when prsetor-elect {Cato Maior, 
 §§ 68 and 84; Livy, Per., 48). 
 
 2 Cf. Pliny, A^. H., 7, 112; ib., 29, 14; Plut., Cato, 22. 
 
XXX INTRODUCTION 
 
 yielded to the permeating charm of Hellenism and in his 
 old age was a diligent student of that civilization. But 
 this is, in all probability, simply a beautiful illusion, a 
 romantic myth. For there can hardly be any doubt that 
 Cato, during his entire life, was an uncompromising advo- 
 cate of the pristine Roman simplicity of life -and manners 
 which he maintained Greek culture and learning tended 
 to undermine and ultimately to destroy. It does not seem 
 at all probable then that a man of such strong convic- 
 tions and deep-seated prejudices, as the famous Censor 
 was known to be, should have changed his views so radi- 
 cally toward the end of his days and should have surren- 
 dered the principles that he had stood for throughout his 
 public career. His whole life was a vigorous protest 
 against Greek civilization and culture. However, it is 
 quite possible that Cato may have studied Greek as a 
 means of facilitating his work in the composition of his 
 Origines, and this perhaps is the foundation for the tradi- 
 tion as to his learning Greek in his old age (Cato Maior, 
 § 26'; Acad., 2, 5 %• Quintilian, 12, 11, 23 '). Certainly 
 there does not seem to be any sufficient warrant in fact 
 for the notion that Cato possessed any keen appreciation 
 of the ideal beauty of Greek literature and art, or that 
 he manifested any special enthusiasm for the noble crea- 
 tions of the Greek geilius. All of his instincts as a man 
 were practical and utilitarian, and art and beauty did 
 not therefore make any very strong appeal to him. His 
 attitude toward Hellenism consequently was not likely 
 to undergo any very radical change, even if he did 
 take up the study of Greek in his old age, and it is not 
 
 1 Cato Maior, § 26, egof^ci qui Utteras Graecas senex didici, 
 
 2 Acad. J 2, 5, cum Graecas Utteras M. Catonem in senebtute didicisse acce- 
 perim. 
 
 8 Quint., 12, 11, 23, Utteras Graecas aetafe iam declinata didicit, ut esset 
 hominibus documento, ea gttoque percipi posse, quae senes concupiasent. 
 
SCIPIO xxxi 
 
 probable that at the end of his days he renounced 
 the convictions he had steadfastly entertained all 
 through life.' 
 
 7. SCIPIO 
 
 Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus, one of the interlocu- 
 tors in the Cato Maior, was born about 185 b. c, and 
 was thirty-five years old at the time of this fictitious 
 dialogue. He was the natural son of Lucius ./Emilias 
 Paulus who subjugated Macedonia, and the adopted son 
 of Publius Cornelius Scipio whose father, the great Afri- 
 canus, conquered Hannibal. He took the surname of 
 .^milianus to denote his real descent from ^Emilius 
 Paulus and was called the younger (minor) to distinguish 
 him from his adoptive grandfather Africanus the elder 
 (maior). Scipio was brought into intimate relation with 
 Cato, because Cato's son had married his sister, a daughter 
 of Paulus. Despite the old enmity existing between their 
 families, Scipio entertained a warm admiration for Cato's 
 homely virtues and sturdy character. 
 
 When young Scipio was only seventeen years of age, 
 he won distinction by his daring exploits at the battle of 
 Pydna. In the dark days of 151 b. c, when men and even 
 officers were loth to enlist for service in Spain, in conse- 
 quence of the many defeats the Roman arms had suffered 
 in that quarter, Scipio went as a volunteer and made a 
 brilliant record as military tribune. Likewise in Africa, 
 in the Third Punic War, he increased his fame as a soldier, 
 occupying the same rank. On his return to Rome in 148 
 B. c, he offered himself as a candidate for the sedileship, 
 but was elected consul. As consul in 147 and again in 146 
 he pressed the war against Carthage with resolute vigor 
 and courage and at length brought the war to a success- 
 
 1 See, however, Ricci, Catone nelV opposizione alia cultura greca e ai grecheg- 
 gianti, Palermo, 1895. 
 
xxxii INTRODUCTION. 
 
 ful close by blotting out that quondam formidable rival 
 of Rome. It is related that the fate of Carthage was a 
 source of constant regret to him afterward, however, be- 
 cause he feared it boded ill ,to Rome's greatness and 
 prestige as a nation to expand farther. 
 
 In the year 143 b. c. Scipio was elected censor and he 
 administered that important office with almost as much 
 severity as Cato had done years before. .Such was the 
 people's unbounded confidence in Scipio's ability and 
 efficiency that he was elected consul in the year 134 b. c. 
 when he did not even stand for the office, and was sent 
 to Spain to take control of the Roman army then besieging 
 Numantia. This war had been dragging on for several 
 years and the Roman arms had sustained many severe 
 reverses. But Scipio, on'taking charge, inspired fresh hope 
 and courage into the legions, with the result that Nu- 
 mantia was captured in 133 b. c. and the war speedily 
 brought to an end. But an incident occurred while he 
 was before Numantia which cost him the favor of the Ro- 
 man people. When tidings were received by him there 
 of the murder of Tiberius Gracchus whose sister Scipio 
 had married, he let fall a remark indicating that he did 
 not approve of the principles Gracchus stood for. Scipio 
 simply uttered his convictions, for, though he may have 
 received overtures from the democratic party, still he 
 did not believe in the policy the democrats represented 
 in the government. A striking illustration of his waning 
 popularity was furnished by the fact that when two 
 years later Scipio offered himself for the command of the 
 war against Aristonicus, he received the support of barely 
 twelve tribes of the thirty-five. 
 
 In the year 129 b. c. Scipio strenuously opposed in the 
 senate the plan of carrying out the agrarian law of Tiberius 
 Gracchus and ardently championed the cause of certain 
 Italians whose interests the execution of that law threat- 
 
SCIPIO xxxiii 
 
 ened. After his ringing speech, which was followed by 
 a violent scene in the senate, he was escorted home by a 
 host of his clients and admirers. On the following morn- 
 ing he was found dead in bed, and there was a suspicion 
 that he had been murdered. It was never determined 
 whether he died a natural death or by violence, and pub- 
 lic sentiment was divided. Cicero in the Lodius (§§ 12, 
 41, etc.) implies that Scipio's death was from natural 
 causes, but elsewhere (de Orat., 2, 170; Ad Fam., 9, 21, 
 3; Qu. Fr., 2, 3, 3) he inclines to the view that Carbo or 
 some partisan secured his death. Carbo's subsequent 
 course, it is true, seemed to invite suspicion, for he took 
 his own life presumably to forestall prosecution. 
 
 Scipio was a man of literary tastes and training, a patron 
 of arts and letters, and a devoted follower of the new 
 learning. He was on terms of intimacy with Polybius the 
 Greek historian, Panaetius the Stoic, and the Roman poets 
 Lucilius and Terence, all of whom together with others 
 he gathered about him in his Hellenistic circle. Indeed, 
 it was rumored that Scipio either himself actually wrote 
 or collaborated with Terence in the composition of his 
 plays. Yet notwithstanding Scipio's ardent devotion to 
 Hellenism, he was, unlike Africanus the Elder, a man of 
 simple life, with no love for ostentation or display. On 
 the contrary, in the simplicity of his outward life he even 
 resembled Cato, whom he is reputed to have taken as his 
 model. It is not surprising then that the stern Censor 
 found so much in noble young Scipio to call forth 
 his admiration and profound respect. Cicero in his De 
 Re Puhlica 2, 1, makes Cato speak of young Scipio's 
 virtues in extravagant terms of praise. But whether 
 the friendship of Cato and Scipio ever reached the 
 degree of intimacy Cicero represents must of course 
 remain undetermined. 
 
xxxiv INTRODUCTION 
 
 8. QUINTUS ENNIUS 
 
 Quintus Ennius, the first of the great Roman poets, 
 was born at Rudise in Calabria, 239 b. c. He served in 
 the Roman army in Sardinia during the Second Punic 
 War when he met Cato, and the two men became fast 
 friends. Upon Cato's return to Rome in the year 204 b. c. 
 he brought Ennius with him (Nepos, Cato, 1, 4). Here 
 Ennius undertook to teach Greek and translate Greek 
 plays for a livelihood (Teuffel, Geschichte Rom. Lit., 100), 
 until his poetic talent won for him admission into the 
 influential circle of the Elder Scipio. Ennius wrote a num- 
 ber of comedies, prsetextse and tragedies which were held 
 in high repute by his contemporaries. He also wrote sa- 
 tires — miscellaneous poems in various metres. But it 
 was as an epic poet that he attained his greatest renown. 
 His most celebrated work was the Annates, a historical 
 epic which set forth in eighteen books the achievements 
 of the Roman people from ^neas's arrival in Italy down 
 to Ennius's own day. The book was designed as a pen- 
 dant to Homer and was so regarded by the Romans, 
 though its artistic merit is small (Teuffel, Geschichte. 
 Rom. Lit., 101). But the Annates was important as intro- 
 ducing the Greek epic to the Romans. 
 
 Ennius's poems have all been lost, and only fragments 
 have come down to us preserved in the works of later 
 Roman authors. Ennius was the greatest of the early 
 Roman writers and his works were extensively read. 
 Cicero was very fond of Ennius and quotes him again and 
 again, and we are indebted to Cicero for a large number 
 of the fragments which survive. Ennius was a missionary 
 of culture and free thought and he turned the Latin lan- 
 guage and poetry into the paths in which they continued 
 to grow and develop centuries afterwards (Teuffel, Gesch. 
 Rom. Lit., 104). 
 
ATTICUS XXXV 
 
 9. ATTICUS 
 
 Titus Pomponius Atticus, to whom the treatises on 
 Old Age and Friendship were dedicated, was a native of 
 Rome, being born in 109 b. c. and consequently Cicero's 
 senior by three years. He passed his early life, up to his 
 twenty-fourth year, in Rome, in intimate association with 
 Cicero. In85 b. c, after the proscriptions of Sulla, Atticus 
 left Rome for Athens, ostensibly to study there, but in 
 reality for his own safety because he feared that his for- 
 tune might become an object of envy. He possessed an 
 immense fortune which he had inherited from his father 
 and uncle. In Athens he remained for twenty years, in- 
 teresting himself in the study of Greek philosophy and 
 literature and at the same time conducting a large busi- 
 ness as a banker and capitalist. His return to Rome in 65 
 B. c. was a matter of general regret to the cultured Athe- 
 nians to whom he had endeared himself during his long 
 residence in Greece. He was famiUar with the entire 
 range of Greek and Latin literature, and literary men 
 esteemed his scholarship so highly that they frequently 
 invited his criticism of their productions. 
 
 Atticus was greatly interested in books and conducted 
 at Rome a large publishing business. He maintained a 
 large number of slaves for making copies of books both 
 for his own extensive private library and also for sale. 
 It is not improbable that through his agency most of 
 Cicero's books were first published. Though a man of ^i^^i , 
 scholarly tastes and pursuits, _Atticus himself never wrote i^.i-j^ I 
 ajDook; at least so far as we are informed. For a quarter ;, -t— - 
 of a century or longer he carried on a voluminous corre-^j^ , ' 
 spondence with his bosom friend Cicero. Of the intimacy a >,^j^^^^- 
 and sincerity of their life-long friendship, however, only ci-fa^ ;^ ^gj 
 Cicero's letters (EpistulcB adAiticum) bear ample evidence, N por' i\tl 
 for Attieus's letters are all lost. Atticus survived his friend "~ 
 
 eleven years, dying in 32 b. c. 
 
xxxvi INTRODUCTION 
 
 In philosophy Atticus leaned toward the Epicurean 
 school, although he probably did not accept the tenets 
 even of that school without qualification. He perhaps 
 preferred not to identify himself too closely with any one 
 system. He always held himself aloof from factions and 
 parties, and he took absolutely no part in politics. For 
 this reason, as well as on account of his wealth and culture, 
 he was sought out by the distinguished men of all parties. 
 He lived on terms of intimacy with such leading men as 
 Sulla, Pompey, Ciesar, Brutus, Antony and Octavianus. 
 
 10. L.SLIUS 
 
 Gaius Lselius, the intimate friend of Scipio Africanus 
 Miilor, just as his father before him, Gaius Lselius the 
 elder, had been the bosom companion of Scipio Africanus 
 Maior, was a distinguished soldier and statesman and an 
 enthusiastic patron of letters who gathered about him a 
 coterie of brilliant writers including the dramatist Ter- 
 ence. Lselius was born about 186 b. c. At thirty-five he 
 was plebeian tribune and brought forward certain measures 
 for the improvement of the condition of the plebeians. A 
 little later he changed his political views and associated 
 himself with the aristocratic party. As prajtor in 145 b. c, 
 he defeated a measure which had for its object the election 
 of the augurs by popular vote. In the year 141 he was a 
 candidate for the consulship, but was defeated although 
 he had the support of Scipio. The following year, however, 
 he stood again for the same office and was successful. He 
 served as augur and left behind him a fine record, Cicero 
 tells us, as a bonus augur. 
 
 Lselius also had a brilliant career as a soldier. He served 
 with distinction under Scipio in the third Punic War, per- 
 forming several heroic exploits. As praetor he led a suc- 
 cessful expedition against Viriathus in Spain. Yet his 
 renown as a statesman and philosopher surpassed even 
 
LiEIilUS xxxvii 
 
 his fame as a soldier. He was a forceful and deliberate 
 speaker, although his oratory was not of the style termed 
 impassioned. His language was copious, chaste and polished 
 and reflected his high culture. Some of his speeches were 
 extant in Cicero's time and were read by the prince of 
 Roman orators with admiring interest. Cicero refers to 
 one of Laelius's orations as a little gem of a speech {aureola 
 oratiuncula, Nat. Deo., 3, 43), though he employs less com- 
 plimentary terms in referring to another {vetustior et hor- 
 ridior, Brut., 83). 
 
 Lselius was a notable patron of letters and is reputed to 
 have revised some of his friend Terence's plays. In fact, it 
 was once believed in ancient times that he actually wrote 
 the plays attributed to that dramatist, so pure was his La- 
 tinity (cf. Cic, Ad Atticum, 7, 3, 10). He was widely read 
 in literatlire, both Greek and Latin. He was recognized as 
 the foremost exponent and champion of Greek culture, 
 which had been introduced into Rome while he was yet in 
 his prime. At first, Greek was unpopular; but the per- 
 meating influence of Hellenic literature gradually over- 
 came the innate prejudice of the Romans. At last, so 
 bitter and uncompromising an opponent as Cato even 
 yielded to the charm and is said to have begun the study of 
 Greek after he had reached old age. 
 
 In philosophy Lffilius inclined to stoicism, and he was a 
 pupil of Diogenes and later of Pansetius of Rhodes. 
 
 Lselius's character appears to have been worthy of un- 
 qualified admiration. Cicero everywhere speaks of him in 
 the highest terms and all writers who mention him com- 
 ment on his inflexible integrity and unfailing self-control. 
 Horace speaks of his gentleness, {mitis sapientia Lceli) and 
 his cheerfulness was well known. It is not surprising then 
 that even during his lifetime Lselius was surnamed sa- 
 piens, "the wise," for he combined in his character, as 
 very few men ever did, that ripe culture and those ideal 
 
xxxviii INTRODUCTION 
 
 Roman virtues which served to make that people 
 famous the world over for their exhibition of practical 
 wisdom. 
 
 Cicero.not only introduces Laelius in the De Senectute, 
 but he also represents him as an interlocutor in two other 
 of his works, De Amicitia and De Repuhlica. In the De 
 Amicitia, however, he invites attention especially to 
 LiElius's friendship for Scipio. This is one of the most 
 notable examples of friendship to be found anywhere in 
 the ancient world. Scipio reverenced Laelius as a father, 
 says Cicero, and Lselius, on his part, regarded Scipio as 
 almost a god (cf. De Republica, 1, 18). The thoughts upon 
 friendship which Lselius gives us in the essay on that 
 theme, he himself tells us, are, for the most part, those 
 entertained by Scipio. 
 
 II. MANUSCRIPTS OF THE CATO MAIOR 
 
 There are numerous manuscripts of the Cato Maior 
 as "there are likewise of the Lalius, in the various J]uro- 
 pean libraries. The most valuable are those in Paris and 
 Leyden. Of the large number contained in the libraries of 
 Italy few have any independent value. The oldest manu- 
 scripts of the Cato Maior are believed not to antedate 
 the ninth /century. In latter times an examination into 
 some of the hitherto neglected manuscripts of the Cato 
 Maior has thrown considerable light upon the text and 
 led to its modification in not a few instances. 
 
 Of the more irnportant manuscripts of the Cato Maior 
 the following deserve special mention: 
 
 (L) Leidensis (Voss. F. 12), Leyden, 10th century. This manu- 
 script was formerly esteemed of small importance, but after Momm- 
 sen's collation in 1863, it has been given precedence in authority 
 in determining the text, — at least by Mueller. 
 
 (P) Parisinus, 6332, 9th or 10th century. This Paris manus-iript 
 ends with section 78. Before Mommsen's collation established the 
 
MANUSCRIPTS OF THE CATO MAIOR xxxix 
 
 high value of L, this manuscript was regarded superior to all others. 
 A peculiar feature of this manuscript, so we are informed, is the 
 division of the text into verses after the manner of the Scriptures. 
 Halm rated this manuscript first in his edition (Zurich, 1861). 
 
 (B) Benedictoburanus, Munich, 4611, about the 12th century. 
 
 (E) Erfurtensis (originally at Erfurt), Berlin, Royal Library, 
 252, 12th century. 
 
 (I) Indersdorfiensis, Munich, 7809, 13th century. 
 
 (R) Rhenaugiensis (originally at Rheingau), Zurich, 127, 12th 
 century (according to Halm, but Chatelain dates it 11th century, 
 and Baiter, 15th century). 
 
 (S) Salisburgensis, Munich, 15, 964, 11th century. 
 
 (Q) Rhenaugiensis (originally at Rheingau), Zurich, 126, 12th 
 century. 
 
 (N) A fragment at Berne, containing only §§ 80-85, 13th cen- 
 tury. 
 
 It is upon the foregoing manuscripts that the standard 
 text editions of the Cato Maior have been based. Halm's 
 editionin the OrelU-Baiter-Halm Cicero (vols. I-IV, Zurich, 
 1861) did not of course include L and Q, since Mommsen 
 did not publish the results of his collation of these manu- 
 scripts till 1863. But the Baiter-Kayser Cicero (Leipzig, 
 1864) profited by the readings of L and Q. C. F. W. 
 Mueller, in his edition of Cicero (Teubner, Leipzig, "1879), 
 accepted as the standard text, accorded the primacy to 
 L, thus degrading P somewhat, which up to that time was 
 believed to be the most authoritative manuscript for the 
 text of the Cato Maior. Since Mueller's edition of the 
 Teubner text, other collations have been made of newly- 
 discovered or neglected manuscripts in Paris and Leyden 
 and elsewhere and a new recension of P has been published, 
 with the result that the text of the Cato Maior has been 
 emended in not a few places. But the relative rating of 
 the two best manuscripts L and P has not undergone much 
 modification. 
 
 Of the manuscripts more recently brought to notice 
 it may be worth while to mention the following : 
 
xl INTRODUCTION 
 
 (pa) Parisinus, 5752 [Puteanus], 10th century, which agrees oftener 
 with P than with L and is declared to be derived from P. 
 
 (Pb) Parisinus, 6364, 14th century, which contains many omis- 
 sions and transpositions. 
 
 (V') Victorinus, 14,699 (from the abbey of St. Victor), 11th 
 century, which agrees now with P and now with L. 
 
 (SB) Sangermanensis, 13,340, 12th century, unimportant, with 
 but few readings. 
 
 Note. — The above four manuscripts are all in Paris and were collated b_v 
 Dahl {Zur Hajidschriftenkunde und Kriiik des Ciceronischen Caio MaioVj 
 Chrisliania, 1885-1886). 
 
 (V) Voss. Lat. O. 79, 10th century (9th, according to Ch^telain), 
 more nearly related to P than to L. This is in two distinct hands, 
 the first to § 42, the second (in a different colored ink) to end, and 
 is reputed a very important manuscript. 
 
 (v) Voss. Lat. F. 104, 13th (Dahl), 14th century (GemoU), re- 
 lated to L. 
 
 Note. — These two manuscripts are in Levden and were collated bj' Dahl 
 and GemoU (Zuiei neue Hds^. zu Ciceros Onto Maior, /Termes^ Vol. 20 (1885), 
 p. 331 seq.). de Groot also collated V (see Hermes, Vol. 25 (1890), p. 293 jey.). 
 
 (A) Ashburnhamensis (now in Paris), 9th century, related to L, 
 an important manuscript. 
 
 Note. — This was collated hy ieyiiea(ExerciiationesPalaeographicae, Ley- 
 den, 1889). 
 
 (Ma) Laurentianus L. 45, 11th century, related to P and V. 
 
 Note. — This manuscript, together with two others — (Mb), 14th century 
 and (Mc), 12th century — in the Laurentian Library in Florence, was collated 
 by Ramorino (see Hivista di Filologia, 15 (1886-1887), p. 247 seq.). 
 
 (H) Harleianus, 2682, 11th century (formerly in the Cologne 
 Cathedral Library, now in the British Museum), written in two 
 different hands the first of which usually supports P, the second L. 
 
 Note. — This was collated by Clark (Collations from the Harleian MS. of 
 Cicero 2682, Anecdota Oxoniensia (year 1882), classical series I, pt. 7). 
 
 (Ad) Admontensis, 383 (in the Benedictine library at Admont in 
 Styria), 12th century. This manuscript is related to Halm's BIS. 
 
 Note. — This was collated with Mueller's text by Petschenig ( Codex monas- 
 terii Admontensis 383, Wiener Studien, Jg. 12, 1890, pp. 321-326). 
 
 Vat. Reg. Suec, 1762 (Hadoardus's collection of excerpts from 
 Cicero including Cato Maior from §§ 2-82), 9th century. 
 
 Note. — This was published by Schwenke (Der Presbyter Hadnnrdus Cicero- 
 Excerpte nach E. Narducei's Abschrift des Cod. Vat. Reg. 1762, Philologui, 
 Suppl. 5, p. 551). 
 
CRITICISM, INTERPRETATION xU 
 
 12. CRITICISM. INTERPRETATION, etc. 
 
 P. O. Bahrendt, Query on Cicero, Cato Maior 28, Class. Rev., 13, 
 p. 402; ib., 14, p. 356. 
 
 C. H. de Groot, Zur Handschriftenkunde des Cato Maior, Hermes, 
 Bd. 25, 1890, pp. 293-300. 
 
 S. G. de Vries, de codice Ciceronis Cat. Mai. Ashhurnhamensi nunc 
 Parisino, Exerdtationes Palaeographicae, Leyden, 1889 (45 pages, 
 8vo). 
 
 W. GemoU, Zwei Neue Handschriften zu Ciceros Cato Maior. 
 Hermes, 20, p. 331 seq. 
 
 L. Havet, Acad, des Inscr. et belles Lettres comptes rendus, 1900, 
 p. 148. Summarized in Berliner Jahresberichte d. Philog. Vereins, 
 29, p. 90. 
 
 C. Knapp, Notes on Cato Maior, §§ 15, 28, 34, 38, Class. Rev., 14, 
 pp. 214-216. 
 
 F. G. Moore, Notes on Cato Maior (28, 20, 5), Amer. Jour. Phil., 
 23, pp. 436-442. 
 
 I. Mueller, Reid's Caio Maior and other editions reviewed, with 
 emendations, Bursian's J ahresbericht, 126, 2, p. 122 seq. 
 
 A. Otto, Die Interpolationen in Ciceros Cato Maior. Philolo- 
 gische .AbharuUungen, Martin Hertz dargebracht. Berlin, 1888. Pp. 
 94-104. 
 
 M. Petschenig, Codex monasterii Admontensis 383 saec. XII, 
 ad Ciceronis Catonem Maiorem et Lwlium collatus cum editione 
 C. P. W. Muelleri (Lips. 1879), Wiener Studien, Jg. 12, 1890, pp. 
 321-326. 
 
 Fel. Ramorino, Notizia di alcuni m,anoscritti ilaliani del Cato 
 Maior e del Lcelius di Cicerone, Rivista di Filologia, Ann. 15, 1887, 
 pp. 247-262. 
 
 Th. Schiche, Ciceros philosophischen Schriften, Jahresberichte 
 des philologischen Vereins zu Berlin, 29, p. 67 seq. 
 
 J. Schneider, Das Platonische in §§ 77 u. 78 von Ciceros Cato 
 Maior, Ztschr. f. d. Gym., 33, pp. 689-707. 
 
 H. Steuding, Cato Maior § 58, Jahrbuecher f. Philologie, 137, 
 1888, p. 862. 
 
 P. Schwenke, Der Presbyter Hadoardus Cicero-Excerpte nach 
 E. Narducei's Abschrift des Cod. Vat. Reg. 1762, Philologus, Suppl. 
 5, p. 551. 
 
 ■p. Schwenke, Ciceros philosophischen Schriften, Bursian's Jahres- 
 berichte, 76, 233. 
 
 J. Sommerbrodt, Zu Ciceros Cato Maior, Pleckeisen's Neue 
 Jahrbuecher, 123, p. 139. 
 
 B. Dahl, Zur Handschriftenkunde und Kritik des Ciceronischen Cato 
 
xlii INTRODUCTION 
 
 Maior. I Codices Leidenses, Christiania, 1885. II Codices Parisini, 
 Christiania, 1886. Reviewed by W. Friedrich, Wochenschrift filr 
 Klassische Philologie, 4, p. 880. 
 
 13. RECENT EDITIONS OF THE CATO MAIOR 
 
 Lahmeyer, 4th ed., Leipzig, 1877. 
 Stickney, New York, 1887. 
 
 F. Ramorino, in the Hoepli series, Milan, 1893. 
 M. Schneidewin, Hamburg, 1893. 
 
 J. S. Reid, 2d ed., Cambridge, 1894. 
 
 Rockwood, New York, 1895. 
 
 Reid-Kelsey, 8th impression, Boston and Chicago, 1896. 
 
 J. Sommerbrodt, 12th ed., Berhn, 1896. 
 
 H. Anz, 2d ed., Gotha, 1897. 
 
 C. E. Bennett, Boston, 1897. 
 
 G. Long, London, 1897. 
 Shuckburgh-Egbert, New York, 1897. 
 R. Novak, 2d ed., Prague, 1899. 
 
 A. Kornitzer, 3d ed., Vienna, 1903. 
 
 J. Ley, 2d ed., Halle, 1903. 
 
 O. Weiszenfels, Leipzig and Berlin, 1903. 
 
 H. Deiter, Hannover, 1904. 
 
 F. G. Moore, New York, Cincinnati, Chicago, 1904. 
 
 T. Schiche, 3d ed., Leipzig and Vienna, 1904. 
 
 O. Drehckhahn, Berlin, 1905. 
 
 C. Meissner;-G. Landgraf, 5th ed., Leipzig and Berlin, 1907. 
 
M. TULLI CICERONIS 
 
 CATO MAIOR DE SENECTUTE LIBER 
 
 AD T. POMPONIUM ATTICUM 
 
 I. 1 Tite, si quid ego adiuero curamve levasso, 
 Quae nunc te coquit et versat in pectore fixa, 
 I Ecquid erit praemi ? 
 Licet enim raihi versibus eisdem adfari te, Attice, quibus 
 adfatur Flamininum 5 
 
 llle vir haud magna cum re, sed plenus fidei; 
 quamquam certo sclo non, ut Flamininum, 
 
 Sollicitari te, Tite, sic noctesque diesque; 
 novi enim moderationem animi tui et aequitatem teque 
 non cognomen solum Athenis deportasse, sed humani-10 
 tatem et prudentiam intellego. Et tamen te suspicor 
 eisdem rebus quibus me ipsum interdum gravius com- 
 moveri, 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 is 
 commune tecum est, aut iam urgentis aut certe adven- 
 tantis senectutis et te et me etiam 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, 20 
 quo uterque nostrum communiter uteretur. Mihi quidem 
 ita iucunda huius libri confectio fuit, ut non modo omnes 
 absterserit senectutis molestias, sed effecerit mollem 
 
 1 
 
2 M. TULLI CICERONIS 
 
 etiam et iucundam senectutem. Numquam igitur digne 
 
 25 satis laudari 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 Ceus (parum enim 
 
 aoesset auctoritatis in fabula), sed M. Catoni seni, quo 
 maiorem auctoritatem haberet oratio; apud quern Lae- 
 lium et Scipionem facimus admirantes, quod is tam facile 
 senectutem ferat, eisque eum respondentem. Qui si 
 eruditius videbitur disputare, quam consuevit ipse in 
 
 36suis libris, id tribuito litteris Graecis, quarum constat 
 eum perstudiosum fuisse in senectute. Sed quid opus est 
 plura? lam enim ipsius Catonis sermo explicabit nostram 
 omnem de senectute sententiam. 
 
 II. 4 Sci-pio. Saepe numero admirari soleo cum hoc C. 
 
 4oLaelio cum ceterarum rerum tuam excellentem, M. Cato, 
 perfectamque sapientiam, turn vel maxima, quod num- 
 quam tibi senectutem gravem esse senserim, quae pleris- 
 que senibus sic odiosa est, ut onus se Aetna gravius dicant 
 sustinere. 
 
 45 Cato. Rem baud sane difficilem, Scipio et Laeli, ad- 
 mirari videmini. Quibus enim nihil est in ipsis opis ad 
 bene beateque vivendum, eis omnis aetas gravis est; 
 qui autem omnia bona a se ipsi petunt, iis nihil potest 
 malum videri, quod naturae necessitas adferat. Quo 
 
 50 in genere est iii primis senectus; quam ut adipiscantur 
 omnes optant, eandem accusant adeptam; tanta est 
 stultitiae inconstantia atque perversitas. Obrepere aiunt 
 eam eitius, quam putassent. Primum quis coegit eos 
 falsum putare? qui enim eitius adulescentiae senectus 
 
DE SENECTUTE 3 
 
 quam pueritiae adulescentia obrepit? Deinde qui minus 55 
 gravis esset iis senectus, si octingentesimum annum 
 agerent quam si octogesimum?>^raeterita enim aetas 
 quamvis longa cum effluxisset, nulla consolatio permulcere 
 posset stultam senectutem. 5 Quocirca si sapientiam 
 meam admirari soletis (quae utinam digna esset opinioneeo 
 vestra nostroque cognomine!), in hoc sumus sapientes, 
 quod naturam optumam ducem tamquam deum seqiiimur 
 eique paremus; a qua non veri simile est, cum ceterae 
 partes aetatis bene discriptae sint, extremum actum 
 tamquam ab inerti poeta esse neglectum. Sed tamenes 
 necesse fuit esse aliquid extremum et tamquam in ar- 
 borum bacis terraeque fructibus maturitate tempestiva 
 quasi vietum et caducum, quod ferundum est moUiter 
 sapienti. Quid est enim aliud Gigantum modo bellare 
 cum dis nisi naturae repugnare? 70 
 
 6 Laelius. Atqui, Cato, gratissimum nobis, ut etiam 
 pro Scipione pollicear, feceris, si, quoniam speramus, 
 volumus quidem certe senes fieri, multo ante a te didiceri- 
 mus, quibus facillime rationibus ingravescentem aetatem 
 ferre possimus. 75 ■ 
 
 Cato. Faciam vero, Laeli, praesertim si utrique vestrum, 
 ut dicis, gratum futurum est. 
 
 Laelius. Volumus sane, nisi molestum est, Cato, tam- 
 quam longam aliquam viam confeceris, quam nobis quo- 
 que ingrediundum sit, istuc, quo pervenisti, videre quale so 
 sit. 
 
 III. 7 Cato. Faciam, ut potero, Laeli. Saepe enim 
 interfui querelis aequalium meorum (pares autem vetere 
 proverbio cum paribus facillime congregantur), quae 
 C. Salinator, quae Sp. Albinus, homines consulares nostri 85 
 
4 M. TULLI CICERONIS 
 
 fere aequales, deplorare solebant, turn quod voluptatibus 
 carerent, sine quibus vitam nullam putarent, turn quod 
 spernerentur ab iis, a quibus essent coli soliti. Qui mihi 
 non id videbantur accusare, quod esset accusandum. Nam 
 
 90 si id culpa senectutis accideret, eadem mihi usu venirent 
 reliquisque omnibus maioribus natu, quorum ego mul- 
 torum cognovi senectutem sin^ querela, qui se et libidinum 
 vinculis laxatos esse non moleste ferrent nee a suis despi- 
 cerentur. Sed omnium istius modi querelarum in moribus 
 
 95 est culpa, non in aetate. Moderati enim et nee diflficiles 
 
 ■•nee inhumani senes tolerabilem senectutem agunt, in- 
 
 portunitas autem et inhumanitas omni aetati molesta est. 
 
 8 Laelius. Est, ut dicis, Cato ; sed fortasse dixerit 
 
 quispiam tibi propter opes et copias et dignitatem tuam 
 
 100 tolerabiliorem senectutem videri, id autem non posse 
 multis contingere. 
 
 Cato. Est istud quidem, Laeli, aliquid, sed nequaquam 
 in isto sunt omnia. Ut Themistocles fertur Seriphio cui- 
 dam in iurgio respondisse, cum ille dixisset non eum sua, 
 
 106 sed patriae gloria splendorem adsecutum : Nee hercule, 
 inquit, si ego Seriphius essem, nee tu si Atheniensis, clarus 
 umquam fuisses. Quod eodem modo de senectute dici 
 potest. Nee enim in summa inopia levis esse senectus 
 potest ne sapienti quidem nee insipienti etiam in summa 
 
 uocopia non gravis. 9 Aptissima omnino sunt, Scipio et 
 Laeli, arma senectutis artes exercitationesque virtutum, 
 quae in omni aetate cultae, cum diu multumque vixeris, 
 mirifieos ecferunt fructus, non solum quia numquam 
 deserunt ne extremo quidem tempore aetatis(quamquam 
 
 115 id quidem maximum est), verum etiam quia conscientia 
 bene actae vitae multorumque bene factorum recordatio 
 
DE SENECTUTE 5 
 
 iucundissima est. IV. 10 Ego Q. Maximum, eum qui 
 Tarentum recepit, senem adulescens ita dilexi, ut aequa- 
 lem; erat enim in illo viro comitate condita gravitas, nee 
 senectus mores mutaverat ; quamquam eum colere coepi 120 
 non admodum grandem natu, sed tamen iam aetate pro- 
 vectum. Anno enim post consul primum fuerat, quam 
 ego natus sum, cumque eo quartum consule adulescentu- 
 lus miles ad Capuam profectus sum quintoque anno post 
 ad Tarentum. Quaestor delude quadriennio post factus 125 
 sum, quem magistratum gessi consulibus Tuditano et 
 Cethego, cum quidem ille admodum senex suasor legis 
 Cinciae de donis et muneribus fuit. Hie et bella gerebat 
 ut adulescens, cum plane grandis esset, et Hannibalem 
 iuveniliter exultantem patientia sua moUiebat ; de quo i30 
 praeclare familiaris noster Ennius: 
 
 Unus homo nobis cunctando restituit rem. 
 Noenum rumores ponebat ante salutem. 
 Ergo plusque magisque viri nunc gloria claret. 
 11 Tarentum vero qua vigilantia, quo consilio recepit! i35 
 cum quidem me audiente Salinatori, qui amisso oppido 
 fuerat in arce, glorianti atque ita dicenti: Mea opera, 
 Q. FaM, Tarentum recepisti : Certe, inquit ridens, nam 
 nisi tu amisisses, numquam recepissem. Nee vero in armis 
 praestantior quam in toga ; qui consul iterum Sp. Carvilio i40 
 coUega quiescente C. Flaminio tribuno plebis, quoad 
 potuit, restitit agrum Picentem et Gallicum viritim contra 
 senatus auctoritatem dividenti; augurque cum esset, 
 dieere ausus est optimis auspiciis ea geri, quae pro rei pub- 
 licae salute gererentur; quae contra rem publicam ferrentur, 145 
 contra auspicia ferri. 12 Multa in eo viro praeclara cog- 
 novi ; sed nihil admirabilius, quam quo modo ille mortem 
 
6 M. TULLI CICERONIS 
 
 filii tulit, clari viri et consularls. Est in manibus laudatio, 
 quam cum legimus, quem philosophum non contemni- 
 
 150 mus? Nee vero ille in luce modo-atque in oculis civium 
 magnus, sed intus domique praestantior. Qui sermo, quae 
 praecepta, quanta notitia antiquitatis, scientia iuris au- 
 guvii! Multae etiam, ut in homine Romano, litterae; 
 omnia memoria tenebat non domestica solum, sed etiam 
 
 155 externa bella. Cuius seripone ita tum cupide fruebar, 
 quasi iam divinarem, id quod evenit, illo extincto fore, 
 unde discerem, neminem. iV. 13 Quorsus igiturhaec tam 
 multa de Maximo? Quia profecto videtis nefas esse dictu 
 miseram fuisse talem senectutem. Nee tamen omnes 
 
 leopossunt esse Scipiones aut Maximi, ut urbium expugna- 
 tiones, ut pedestres navalesve pugnas, ut bella a se gesta, 
 ut triumphos recordentur. Est etiam quiete et pure atque 
 eleganter actae aetatis placida ae lenis seneetus, qualem 
 aecepimus Platonis, qui uno et octogesimo anno seribens 
 
 165 est mortuus, qualem Isocratis, qui eum librum, qui Pan- 
 athenaieus inscribitur, quarto et nonagesimo anno serip- 
 sisse se dicit vixitque quinquennium postea; cuius ma- 
 gister Leontinus Gorgias centum et septem complevit 
 annos neque umquam in suo studio atque opere cessavit. 
 
 170 Qui, cum ex eo quaereretur, eur tam diu vellet esse 
 in vita: Nihil habeo, inquit, quod accusem senectutem. 
 Praeelarum responsum et docto homine dignum. 14 Sua 
 enim vitia insipientes et suam culpam in senectutem con- 
 ferunt; quod non faciebat is, cuius modo mentionem feci, 
 
 175 Ennius : 
 
 Sicut jortis equos, spatio qui saepe supremo 
 Vicit Olympia, nunc senio confectus quiescit. 
 Equi fortis et victoris senectuti comparat suam. Quem 
 
DE SENECTUTE 7 
 
 quidem probe meminisse potestis; anno enim undevi- 
 cesimo post eius mortem hi consules, T. Flamininus et iso 
 M'. Acilius, facti sunt, ille autem Caepione et Philippo 
 iterum consulibus mortuus est, cum ego quinque et sexa- 
 ginta annos natus legem Voconiam magna voce et bonis 
 lateribus suasissem. Sed annos septuaginta natus (tot 
 enim vixit Ennius) ita ferebat duo, quae maxima pu- iss 
 tantur, onera, paupertatem et senectutem, ut eis paene 
 delectari videretur. , 
 
 15 Etenim, cum conplector animo, quattuor reperio 
 causas, cur senectus misera videatur, unam, quod avocet 
 a rebus gerendis, alteram, quod corpus faciat infirmius, i90 
 tertiam, quod privet omnibus fere voluptatibus, quartam, 
 quod haud procul absit a morte. Earum, si placet, cau- 
 sarum quanta quamque sit iusta una quaeque, videamus. 
 
 VI. A rebus gerendis senectus abstrahit. Quibus? an 
 iis, quae iuventute geruntur et viribus? nullaene igitur 195 
 res sunt seniles, quae vel infirmis corporibus animo tamen 
 administrentur? nihil ergo agebat Q. Maximus, nihil L, 
 Paulus, pater tuus, socer optimi viri, filii mei? ceteri 
 senes, Fabrieii, Curii, Coruncanii, cum rem publicam 
 consilio et auctoritate defendebant, nihil agebant? 16 Ad200 
 Appi Claudi senectutem accedebat etiam, ut caecus esset; 
 tamen is, cum sententia senatus inclinaret ad pacem cum 
 Pyrrho foedusque faciendum, non dubitavit dicere ilia, 
 quae versibus persecutus est Ennius : 
 
 Quo vobis mentes, rectae quae stare solebant 205 
 
 Antehac, dementis sese flexere viaif 
 ceteraque gravissime; notum enim vobis carmen est; 
 et tamen ipsius Appi extat oratio. Atque haec ille egit 
 septimo decimo anno post alterum consulatum, cum inter 
 
8 M. TULLI CICERONIS 
 
 210 duos consulatus anni decern interfuissent censorque ante 
 superiorem consulatum fuisset ; ex quo intellegitur Pyrrhi 
 bello grandem sane fuisse ; et tamen sic a patribus accepi- 
 mus. 17 Nihil igitur adferunt, qui in re gerunda versari 
 senectutem negant, similesque sunt, ut si qui guberna- 
 
 2istorem in navigando nihil agere dicant, cum alii malos 
 scandant, alii per fores cursent, alii sentinam exhauriant, 
 ille autem clavum tenens quietus sedeat in puppi, non 
 facit ea, quae iuvenes, at.vero multo maiora et meliora 
 facit. Non viribus aut velocitate aut celeritate corporum 
 
 220 res magnae geruntur, sed consilio, auctoritate, sententia; 
 quibus non modo non orbari, sed etiam augeri senectus 
 solet. 18 Nisi forte ego vobis, qui et miles et tribunus et 
 legatus et consul versatus sum in vario genere bellorum, 
 cessare nunc videor, cum bella non gero ; at senatui, quae 
 
 225 sint gerenda, praescribo, et quo modo Karthagini, male 
 iam diu cogitanti bellum multo ante denuntio ; de qua 
 vereri non ante desinam, quam illam excisam esse cog- 
 novero. 19 Quam palmam utinam di inmortales, Scipio, 
 tibi reservent, ut avi reliquias persequare! cuius a morte 
 
 230sextus hie et tricesimus annus est, sed memoriam illius 
 viri omnes excipient anni consequentes. Anno ante me 
 censofem mortuus est, novem annis post meum consula- 
 tum, cum consul iterum me consule creatus esset. Num 
 igitur, si ad centesimum annum vixisset, senectutis eum 
 
 235 suae paeniteret? nee enim excursione nee saltu nee eminus 
 
 hastis aut comminus gladiis uteretur, sed consilio, rq,tione, 
 
 sententia. Quae nisi essent in senibus, non summum 
 
 '^ consilium maiores nostri appellassent senatum. 20 Apud 
 
 ' Lacedaemonios quidem ii, qui amplissimum magistratum 
 
 240gerunt, ut sunt, sic etiam nominantur senes. Quodsi 
 
DE SENECTUTE 9 
 
 legere aut audire voletis externa, maximas res publicas 
 ab adulescentibus labefactatas, a senibus sustentatas et 
 restitutas reperietis. 
 
 Cedo, qui vestram rem publicam tantam dmisistis tdm 
 
 cito? 
 Sic enim percontantur in Naevi poetae Ludo; responden- 24s 
 tur et alia et hoc in primis : 
 
 Proveniebant orator es novi, stulti adulescintuli. 
 Temeritas est videlicet florentis aetatis, prudentia se- 
 nescentis. 
 
 VII. 21 At memoria minuitur. Credo, nisi earn exer- 250 ^"^ 
 ceas, aut etiam si sis natura tardior. Themistocles om- 
 nium civium perceperat nomina ; num igitur censetis eum, 
 cum aetate processisset, qui Aristides esset, Lysimachum 
 salutare solitum? Equidem non modo eos novi, qui sunt, 
 sed eorum patres etiam et avos, nee sepulcra legens vereor, 255 
 quod aiunt, ne memoriam perdam ; his enim ipsis legendis 
 in memoriam redeo mortuorum. Nee vero quemquam se- 
 nem audivi oblitum, quo loco thesaurum obruisset; om- 
 nia, quae curant, meminerunt, vadimonia constituta, quis 
 sibi, cui ipsi debeant. 22 Quid iuris consulti? quid ponti-260 
 fices? quid augures? quid philosophi senes? quam multa 
 meminerunt! Manent ingenia senibus, modo permaneat 
 studium et industria, neque ea solum in claris et honoratis 
 viris, sed in vita etiam privata et quieta. Sophocles ad 
 summam senectutem tragoedias fecit; quod propter stu-265 
 dium cum rem neglegere familiarem videretur, a filiis in 
 indicium vocatus est, ut, quem ad modum nostro more 
 male rem gerentibus patribus bonis interdici solet, sic 
 ilium quasi desipientem a re familiari removerent iudices. 
 Turn senex dicitur earn fabulam, quam in manibus habe- 270 
 
10 M. TULLI CICERONIS 
 
 bat et proxime scripserat, Oedipum Coloneum, recitasse 
 iudicibus quaesisseque, num illud carmen desipientis 
 videretur. Quo recitato sententiis iudicum est liberatus. 
 23 Num igitur hunc, num Homerum, num Hesiodum, 
 
 275 Simonidem, Stesichorum, num, quos ante dixi, Isocraten, 
 Gorgian, num philosophorum principes, Pythagoram, De- 
 mocritum, num Platonem, num Xenocraten, num postea 
 Zenonem, Cleanthem aut eum, quern vos etiam vidistis 
 Romae, Diogenem Stoicum, coegit in suis studiis ob^- 
 
 28omutescere senectus? an in omnibus his studiorum agi- 
 tatio vitae aequalis fuit? 24 Age, ut ista divina studia 
 omittamus, possum nominare ex agro Sabino rusticos 
 Romanes, vicinos et familiares meos, quibus absenti- 
 bus numquam fere ulla in agro maiora opera fiunt, 
 
 285 non serendis, non percipiendis, non condendis fructibus. 
 Quamquam in aliis minus hoc mirum es ; nemo enim est 
 tam senex, qui se annum non putet posse vivere; sed 
 idem in eis elaborant, quae sciunt nihil ad se omnino 
 pertinere", 
 
 290 -Ser^ 
 
 Arhoris, quae ulteri saeculo prosient, 
 ut ait Statius noster in Synephebis. 25 Nee vero dubitat 
 agricola, quamvis sit senex, quaerenti, cui serat, respon- 
 dere: Dis inmortalihus, qui me non accipere modo haec a 
 
 29& maioribus voluerunt, sed etiam posteris prodere. VIII. Et 
 meUus Caecilius de sene alteri saeculo prospiciente quam 
 illud idem : 
 
 Edepdl, senectus, si nil quicquam aliud viti 
 Adpdrtes tecum, quom ddvenis, unum id sat est, 
 
 300 Quod diu vivendo multa, quae non v6lt, videt. 
 
 Et multa f ortasse, quae volt ! atque in ea, quae non volt, 
 
DE SENECTUTE 11 
 
 saepe etiam adulescentia incurrit. Illud vero idem Caecil- 
 ius vitiosius : 
 
 Turn equidem in senecta hoc d^puto misirrimum, 
 Sentlre ea aetate eilmpse esse odiosum dlteri. 305 
 
 lucundum potius quam odiosum. 26 Ut enim adulescen- 
 tibus bona indole praeditis sapientes senes delectantur 
 leviorque fit senectus eorum, qui a iuventute coluntur 
 et diliguntur, sic adulescentes senum praeceptis gaudent, 
 quibus ad virtutum studia ducuntur; nee minus intellegosio 
 me vobis quam mihi vos esse iucundos. Sed videtis, ut 
 senectus non modo languida atque iners non sit, verum 
 etiam sit operosa et semper agens aliquid et moliens, 
 tale scilicet, quale cuiusque studium in superiore vita 
 fuit. Quid? qui etiam addiscunt aliquid? ut et Solonemsis 
 versibus gloriantem videmus, qui se cotidie aliquid addis- 
 centem dicit senem fieri, et ego feci, qui litteras Graecas 
 senex didici ; quas quidem sic avide arripui quasi diutur- 
 nam sitim explere cupiens, ut ea ipsa mihi nota essent, 
 quibus me nunc exemplis uti videtis. Quod cum fecisse320 
 Socratem in fidibus audirem, vellem equidem etiam illud 
 (discebant enim fidibus antiqui), sed in litteris certe 
 elaboravi. 
 
 IX. 27 Nee nunc quidem vires desidero adulescentis 
 (is enim erat locus alter de vitiis senectutis), non plus, 325 
 quam adulescens tauri aut elephant! desiderabam. Quod 
 est, 80 decet uti et, quicquid agas, agere pro viribus. 
 Quae enim vox potest esse contemptior quam Milonis 
 Crotoniatae? qui cum iam senex esset athletasque se 
 exercentes in curriculo videret, aspexisse lacertos suossao 
 dicitur inlacrimansque dixisse : At hi quidem mortui iam 
 
12 M. TULLI CICERONIS 
 
 sunt. Non vero tarn isti quam tu ipse, nugator! neque 
 enim ex te umquam es nobilitatus, sed ex lateribus et 
 lacertis tuis. Nihil Sex. Aelius tale, nihil multis annis 
 
 335 ante Ti. Coruncanius, nihil modo P. Crassus, a quibus 
 iura civibus praescribebantur; quorum usque ad extre- 
 mum spiritum est provecta prudentia. 28 Orator metuo 
 ne languescat senectute; est enim munus eius non ingenii 
 solum, sed laterum etiam et virium. Omnino canorum 
 
 34oillud in voce splendescit etiam nescio quo pacto in senec- 
 tute, quod equidem adhuc non amisi, et videtis annos; 
 sed tamen est decorus senis sermo quietus et remissus, 
 facitque persaepe ipsa sibi audientiam diserti senis cocta 
 et mitis oratio. Quam si ipse exequi nequeas, possis tamen 
 
 345Scipioni praecipere et Laelio. Quid enim est iucundius 
 senectute stipata studiis iuventutis? 29 An ne illas qui- 
 dem vires senectuti relinquimus, ut adulescentes doceat, 
 instituat, ad omne officii munus instruat? quo quidem 
 opere quid potest esse praeclarius? Mihi vero et Cn. et 
 
 350 P. Scipiones et avi tui duo, L. Aemilius et P. Africanus, 
 comitatu pobilium iuvenum fortunati videbantur, nee 
 ulli bonarum artium magistri non beati putandi, quamvis 
 consenuerint vires atque defecerint. Etsi ista ipsa defectio 
 virium aduiescentiae vitiis efficitur saepius quam senec- 
 
 355 tutis ; libidinosa enim et intemperans adulescentia effetum 
 corpus tradit senectuti. 30 Cyrus quidem apud Xeno- 
 phontem eo sermone, quem moriens habuit, cum admo- 
 dum senex esset, negat se umquam sensisse senectutem 
 suam imbecilliorem factam, quam adulescentia fuisset. 
 
 360 Ego L. Metellum memini puer, qui cum quadriennio post 
 alterum consulatum pontifex maximus factus esset, vi- 
 ginti et duos annos ei sacerdotio praefuit, ita bonis esse 
 
DE SENECTUTE 13 
 
 viribus extreme tempore aetatis, ut adulescentiam non 
 requireret. Nihil necesse est miiii de me ipso dicere, 
 quamquam est id quidem senile aetatique nostrae conce- ses 
 ditur. X. 31 Videtisne, ut apud Homerum saepissime 
 Nestor de virtutibus suis praedicet? lam enim tertiam 
 aetatem hominum videbat, nee erat ei verendum, ne 
 vera praedicans de se nimis videretur aut insolens aut 
 loquax. Etenim, ut ait Homerus, ex eius lingua melle 370 
 dulcior fluebat oratio, quam ad suavitatem nullis egebat 
 corporis viribus. Et tamen dux ille Graeciae nusquam 
 optat, ut Aiacis similes habeat decem, sed ut Nestoris; 
 quod si sibi acciderit, non dubitat, quin brevi sit Troia 
 peritura. 32 Sed redeo ad me. Quartum ago annum etsTs 
 octogesimum ; vellem equidem idem possem gloriari, quod 
 Cyrus, sed tamen hoe queo dicere, non me quidem iis esse 
 viribus, quibus aut miles bello Punico aut quaestor eodem 
 hello aut consul in Hispania fuerim aut quadriennio post, 
 eum tribunus militaris depugnavi apud Thermopylas M'. 380 
 Acilio Glabrione consule, sed tamen, ut vos videtis, non 
 plane me enervavit, non adflixit senectus, non curia vires 
 meas desiderat, non rostra, non amici, non clientes, non 
 hospites. Nee enim umquam sum adsensus veteri illi 
 laudatoque proverbio, quod monet mature fieri senem,3Sa 
 si diu velis senex esse. Ego vero me minus diu senem esse 
 mallem quam esse senem, ante quam essem. Itaque nemo 
 adhuc eonvenire me voluit, cui fuerim occupatus. 33 At 
 minus habeo virium quam vestrum utervis. Ne yOs qui- 
 dem T. Ponti centurionis vires habetis; num idcirco est 390 
 ille praestantior? Moderatio modo virium adft, et tan- 
 tum, quantum potest quisque, nitatur; ne illrnon magno 
 desiderio tenebitur virium. Olympiae peii' stadium in- 
 
14 M. TULLI CICERONIS 
 
 gressus esse Milo dicitur, cum humeris sustineret bovem. 
 
 395 Utrum igitur has corporis an Pythagorae tibi malis vires 
 ingenii dari? Denique isto bono utare, dum adsit, cum 
 absit, ne requiras, nisi forte adulescentes pueritiam, 
 paululum aetate progressi adulescentiam debent requirere. 
 Cursus est certus aetatis et una via naturae, eaque sim- 
 
 40oplex, suaque cuique parti aetatis tempestivitas est data, 
 ut et infirmitas puerorum et ferocitas iuvenum et gravitas 
 iam constantis aetatis et senectutis maturitas naturale 
 quiddam habeat, quod suo tempore percipi debeat. 34 
 Audire te arbitror, Scipio, hospes tuus avitus Masinissa 
 
 405 quae faciat hodie nonaginta natus annos; cum ingressus 
 iter pedibus sit, in equum omnino non ascendere, cum 
 autem equo, ex equo nori descendere, nullo imbri, nullo 
 frigore adduci, ut capite operto sit, summam esse in eo 
 siccitatem corporis, itaque omnia exequi regis ofEcia et 
 
 4iomunera. Potest igitur exercitatio et temperantia etiam 
 in senectute conservare aliquid pristini roboris. 
 
 XI. Ne sint in senectute vires. Ne postulantur quidem 
 vires a senectute. Ergo et legibus et institutis vacat 
 aetas nostra muneribus iis, quae non possunt sine viribus 
 
 415 sustineri. Itaque non modo, quod non possumus, sed ne 
 quantum possumus quidem cogimur. 35 At multi ita 
 sunt inbecilli senes, ut nullum officii aut omnino vitae 
 munus exsequi possint. At id quidem non proprium se- 
 nectutis vitium est, sed commune valetudinis. Quam fuit 
 
 420 inbecii\us P. Africani filius, is qui te adoptavit, quam 
 tenui aut nulla potius valetudine! Quod ni ita fuisset, 
 alterum ill'd extitisset lumen civitatis; ad paternam enim 
 magnitudin m animi doctrina uberior accesserat. Quid 
 mirum igitur 'n senibus, si infirmi sint aliquando', cum id 
 
DE SENECTUTE 15 
 
 ne adulescentes quidem effugere possint? Resistendum, 425 
 Laeli et Scipio, senectuti est, eiusque vitia diligentia com- 
 pensanda sunt; pugnandum tamquam contra morbum sic 
 contra senectutem, habenda ratio valetudinis, utendum 
 exercitationibus modicis, tantum cibi et potionis adhiben- 
 dum, ut reficiantur vires, non opprimantur. 36 Nee vero430 
 corpori solum subveniendum est, sed menti atque animo 
 multo magis; nam haec quoque, nisi tamquam lumini 
 oleum instilles, extinguuntur senectute. Et corpora qui- 
 dem exercitationum defatigatione ingravescunt, animi 
 autem se exercendo levantur. Nam quos ait Caecilius435 
 comicos stultos senes, hos significat credulos, obliviosos, 
 dissolutos, quae vitia sunt non senectutis, sed inertis, 
 ignavae, somniculosae senectutis. Ut petulantia, ut libido 
 magis est adulescentium quam senum, nee tamen omnium 
 adulescentium, sed non proborum, sic ista senilis stultitia, 440 
 quae deliratio appellari solet, senum levium est, non om- 
 nium. 37 Quattuor robustos filios, quinque filias, tantam 
 domum, tantas clientelas Appius regebat et caecus et 
 senex ; intentum enim animum tamquam arcum habebat 
 nee languescens succumbebat senectuti ; tenebat non modo 445 
 auctoritatem, sed etiam imperium in suos, metuebant 
 servi, verebantur liberi, carum omnes habebant; vigebat 
 in ilia domo mos patrius et disciplina. 38 Ita enim senec- 
 tus honesta est, si se ipsa defendit, si ius suum retinet, 
 si nemini emancipata est, si usque ad ultimum spiritum450 
 dominatur in suos. Ut enim adulescentem, in quo est 
 senile aliquid, sic senem, in quo est aliquid adulescentis, 
 probo; quod qui sequitur, corpora senex esse poterit, 
 animo numquam erit. Septimus mihi liber Originum est 
 in manibus, omnia antiquitatis monumenta coUigo, causa- 455 
 
16 M. TULLI CICERONIS 
 
 rum inlustrium, quascumque defendi, nunc cum maxime 
 conficio orationes, ius augurium, pontificium, civile tracto, 
 multum etiam Graecis litteris utor Pythagoreorumque 
 more exercendae memoriae gratia, quid quoque die dix- 
 
 46oerim, audierim, egerim, commemoro vesperi. Haec sunt 
 exercitationes ingenii, haec curricula mentis, in his desu- 
 dans atque elaborans corporis vires non magno opere de- 
 sidero. Adsum amicis, venio in senatum frequens ultroque 
 adfero res multum et diu cogitatas easque tueor animi, 
 
 465 non corporis viribus. Quas si exequi nequirem, tamen me 
 lectulus meus oblectaret ea ipsa cogitantem, quae iam 
 agere non possem; sed ut possim, facit acta vita. Semper 
 enim in his studiis laboribusque viventi non intellegitur 
 quando obrepat senectus. Ita sensim sine sensu aetas 
 
 470 senescit nee subito f rangitur, sed diuturnitate extinguitur. 
 
 XII. 39 Sequitur tertia vituperatio senectutis, quod 
 earn carere dicunt voluptatibus. O praeclarum munus 
 aetatis, siquidem id aufert a nobis, quod est in adulescen- 
 tia vitiosissimum ! Accipite enim, optimi adulescentes, 
 
 475veterem orationem Archytae Tarentini, magni in primis 
 et praeclari viri, quae mihi tradita est, cum essem adules- 
 cens Tarenti cum Q. Maximp. Nullam capitaliorem pestem 
 quam voluptatem corporis hominibus dicebat a natura 
 datam, cuius voluptatis avidae libidines temere et ec- 
 
 48ofrenate ad potiendum incitarentur. 40 Hinc patriae 
 proditiones, hinc rerum publicarum eversiones, hinc cum 
 hostibus clandestina coUoquia nasci, nullum denique 
 scelus, nullum malum facinus esse, ad quod suscipiendum . 
 non libido voluptatis inpelleret, stupra vero et adulteria 
 
 485 et omne tale flagitium nuUis excitari aliis inlecebris nisi 
 
DE SENECTUTE 17 
 
 voluptatis ; cumque homini sive natura sive quis deus nihil 
 mente praestabilius dedisset, huic divino muneri ac dono 
 nihil tam esse inimicum quam voluptatem. 41 Nee enim 
 libidine dominante temperantiae locum esse, neque om- 
 nino in voluptatis regno virtutem posse consistere. Quod 490 
 quo magis intellegi posset, fingere animo iubebat tanta 
 incitatum aliquem voluptate corporis, quanta percipi 
 posset maxima; nemini censebat fore dubium, quin tam 
 diu, dum ita gauderet, nihil agitare mente, nihil ratione, 
 nihil cogitatione consequi posset. Quocirca nihil esse tam 495 
 detestabile tamque pestiferum quam voluptatem, siqui- 
 dem ea, cum maior esset atqua longior, omne animi 
 lumen extingueret. Haec cum C. Pontic Samnite, patre 
 eius, a quo Caudino proelio Sp. Postumius, T. Veturius 
 consules superati sunt, locutum Archytam Nearchussoo 
 Tarentinus, hospes noster, qui in amicitia populi Romani 
 permanserat, se a maioribus natu accepisse dicsbat, cum 
 quidein ei sermoni interfuisset Plato Atheniensis, quem 
 Tarentum venisse L. Camillo, Ap. Claudio consulibus 
 reperio. 42 Quorsus hoc? Ut intellegeretis, si voluptatem 505 
 aspernari ratione et sapientia non possemus, magnam 
 habendam esse senectuti gratiam, quae efficeret, ut id 
 non liberet, quod non oporteret. Impedit enim consilium 
 voluptas, rationi inimica est, mentis, ut ita dicam, prae- 
 stringit oculos nee habet ullum cum virtute commereium. 510 
 Invitus feci, ut fortissimi viri T. Flaminini fratrem, L. 
 Flamininum, e senatu eicerem septem annis post, quam 
 consul fuisset, sed notandam putavi libidinem. Ille enim, 
 cum esset consul in Gallia, exoratus in convivio a seorto 
 est, ut securi feriret aliquem eorum, qui in vinculis essent sis 
 damnati rei capitalis. Hie Tito fratre suo censore, qui 
 
18 M. TULLI CICERONIS 
 
 proximus ante me fuerat, elapsus est ; mihi vero et Flacco 
 neutiquam probari potuit tam flagitiosa et tam perdita 
 libido, quae cum probro privato coniungeret imperii de- 
 
 520 decus. XIII. 43 Saepe audivi ex maioribus natu, qui se 
 porro pueros a senibus audisse dicebant, mirari solitum 
 C. Fabricium, quod, cum apud regem Pyrrhum legatus 
 asset, audisset a Thessalo Oinea esse quendam Athenis, 
 qui se sapientem profiteretur, eumque dicere omnia, quae 
 
 525 faceremus, ad voluptatem esse referenda. Quod ex eo 
 audientes M'. Curium et Ti. Coruncanium optare solitos, 
 ut id Samnitibus ipsique Pyrrho persuaderetur, quo 
 facilius vinci possent, cum se voluptatibus dedissent. 
 Vixerat M'. Curius cum P. Decio, qui quinquennio ante 
 
 630 eum consulem se pro re publica quarto consulatu devo- 
 verat; norat eundem Fabricius, norat Coruncanius; qui 
 cum ex sua vita, turn ex eius, quem dico, Deci facto 
 iudicabant esse profecto aliquid natura pulchrum atque 
 praeclarum, quod sua sponte peteretur, quodque spreta 
 
 535 et contempta voluptate optumus quisque sequeretur. 
 44 Quorsus igitur tam multa de voluptate? Quia non 
 modo vituperatio nulla, sed etiam summa laus senectutis 
 est, quod ea voluptates nullas magnopere desiderat. 
 Caret epulis extructisque mensis et frequentibus poculis, 
 
 540 caret ergo etiam vinulentia et cruditate et insomniis. 
 Sed §i aliquid dandum est voluptati, quoniam eius blandi- 
 tiis non facile obsistimus (divine enim Plato escam ma- 
 lorum appellat voluptatem, quod ea videlicet homines 
 capiantur ut pisces), quamquam inmoderatis epulis caret 
 
 545senectus, modicis tamen conviviis delectari potest. C. 
 Duellium M. f., qui Poenos classe primus devicerat, re- 
 deuntem a cena senem saepe videbam puer; delectabatur 
 
DE SENECTUTE 1» 
 
 cereo funali et tibicine, quae sibi nullo exemplo privatus 
 sumpserat; tantum licentiae dabat gloria. Sed quid ego 
 alios? ad me ipsum iam revertar. 45 Primum habuisso 
 semper sodales. Sodalitates autem me quaestore consti- 
 tutae sunt sacris Idaeis Magnae Matris acceptis. Epula- 
 bar igitur cum sodalibus omnino modice, sed erat quidam 
 fervor aetatis ; qua progrediente omnia fiunt in dies miti- 
 ora. Neque enim ipsorum conviviorum delectationem 555 
 voluptatibus corporis magis quam coetu amicorum et 
 sermonibus metiebar. Bene enim maiores accubitionem 
 epularem amicorum, quia vitae coniunctionem haberet, 
 convivium nominaverunt, melius quam Graeci, qui hoc 
 idem turn coinpotationem, turn concenationem vocant, ut, seo 
 quod in eo genere minimum est, id maxirne probare 
 videantur. XIV. 46 Ego vero propter sermonis delecta- 
 tionem tempestivis quoque conviviis delector, nee cum 
 aequalibus Solum, qui pauci admodum restant, sed cum 
 vestra etiam aetate atque vobiscum, habeoque senectutises 
 magnam gratiam, quae mihi sermonis aviditatem auxit, 
 potionis et cibi sustulit. Quodsi quem etiam ista delec- 
 tant (ne omnino bellum indixisse videar voluptati, cuius 
 est fortasse quidam naturalis modus), non intellego ne in 
 istis quidem ipsis voluptatibus carere sensu senectutem. 570 
 Me vero et magisteria delectant a maioribus instituta et 
 is sermo, qui more maiorum a summo adhibetur in poculo, 
 et pocula, sicut in Symposio Xenophontis est, minuta 
 atque rorantia et refrigeratio aestate et vicissim aut sol 
 aut ignis hibernus ; quae quidem etiam in Sabinis persequi 575 
 soleo conviviumque vicinorum cotidie compleo, quod ad 
 m^iltam noctem, quam maxime possumus, vario sermone 
 proaucimus. 47 At non est voluptatum tanta quasi 
 
20 M. TULLI CICERONIS 
 
 titillatio in senibus. Credo, sed ne desideratio quidem; 
 
 580 nihil autem est molestum, quod non desideres. Bene 
 Sophocles, cum ex eo quidam iam adfecto aetate quae- 
 reret, utereturne rebus veneriis : Di meliora ! inquit ; 
 libenter vero istinc sicut ah domino agresti ac furioso pro- 
 fugi. Cupidis enim rerum talium odiosum fortasse et 
 
 585 molestum est carere, satiatis vero et expletis iucundius 
 est carere quam frui. Quamquam non caret is, qui non 
 desiderat; ergo hoc non desiderare dico esse iucundius. 
 48 Quodsi istis ipsis voluptatibus bona aetas fruitur 
 libentius, primum parvulis fruitur rebus, ut diximus, 
 
 sgodeinde iis, quibus senectus etiamsi non abunde potitur, 
 non omnino caret. Ut Turpione Ambivio magis delecta- 
 tur, qui in prima cavea spectat, delectatur tamen etiam, 
 qui in ultima, sic adulescentia voluptates propter intuens 
 magis fortasse laetatur, sed delectatur etiam senectus 
 
 695procul eas spectans tantum, quantum sat est. 49 At ilia 
 quanti sunt, animum tamquam emeritis stipendiis libidi- 
 nis, ambitionis, contentionum, inimicitiarum, cupiditatum 
 omnium secum esse secumque, ut dicitur, vivere! Si vero 
 habet aliquod tamquam pabulum studii atque doctrinae, 
 
 600 nihil est otiosa senectute iucundius. Vivere videbamus 
 in studio dimetiendi paene caeli atque terrae C. Galium, 
 familiarem patris tui, Scipio; quotiens ilium lux noctu 
 aliquid describere ingressum, quotiens nox oppressit, cum 
 mane coepisset! quam delectabat eum defectiones solis et 
 
 605 lunae multo ante nobis praedi cere! 50 Quid in levioribus 
 studiis, sed tamen acutis? quam gaudebat bello suo Punico 
 Naevius! quaih Truculento Plautus, quam Pseudolo! 
 Vidi etiam senem Livium; qui cum sex annis ante, qua.pi 
 ego natus sum, fabulam docuisset Centone TuditanuGue 
 
DE SENECTUTE 21 
 
 consulibus, usque ad adulescentiam meam processit aetate. eio 
 Quid de P. Licini Crassi et pontificii et civilis iuris studio 
 loquar aut de huius P. Scipionis, qui his paucis diebus 
 pontifex maximus factus est? Atque eos omnes, quos 
 commemoravi, his studiis flagrantes senes vidimus; M. 
 vero Cethegum, quern recte Suadae medullam dixit eis 
 Ennius, quanto studio exerceri in dicendo videbamus 
 etiam senem! Quae sunt igitur epularum aut ludorum 
 aut scortorum voluptates cum his voluptatibus compa- 
 randae? Atque haec quidem studia doctrinae; quae 
 quidem prudentibus et bene institutis pariter cum aetate 620 
 crescunt, ut honestum illud Solonis sit, quod ait versiculo 
 quodam, ut ante dixi, senescere se muita in dies addiscen- 
 tem, qua voluptate animi nulla certe potest esse maior. 
 
 XV. 51 Venio nunc ad voluptates agricolarum, quibus 
 ego incredibiliter delector; quae nee uUa impediuntur 625 
 senectute et mihi ad sapientis vitem proxime videntur 
 accedere. Habent enim rationem cum terra, quae num- 
 quam recusat imperium nee umquam sine usura reddit, 
 quod accepit, sed alias minors, plerumque maiore cum 
 faenore. Quamquam me quidem non fructus modo, sed 630 
 etiam ipsius terrae vis ac natura delectat. Quae cum 
 gremio moUito ac subacto sparsum semen excepit, pri- 
 mum id occaeeatum cohibet, ex quo occatio, quae hoc 
 efficit, nominata est, dein tepefactum vapore et com- 
 pressu suo diffundit et elicit herbescentem ex eo viridita-635 
 tern, quaemM^bris stirpium sensim adulescit culmoque 
 erecta geniculate) vaginis iam quasi pubescens ineluditur; 
 ex quibus cum emersit, fundit frugem spici ordine struc- 
 tam et contra avium minorum morsus munitur vallo 
 aristarum. f>2 Quid ego vitium ortus, satus, incrementa 640 
 
22 M. TULLI CICERO NIS 
 
 commemorem? Satiari delectatione non possum, ut meae 
 senectutis requietem oblectamentumque noscatis. Omitto 
 enim vim ipsam omnium, quae generantur e terra; quae 
 ex fici tantulo grano aut ex acini vinaceo aut ex ceter- 
 
 645 arum frugum aut stirpium minutissimis seminibus tantos ' 
 truncos ramosque procreet. Malleoli, plantae, sarmenta, 
 viviradices, propagines nonne efficiunt, ut quemvis cum 
 admiratione delectent? Vitis quidem, quae natura caduca 
 est et, nisi fulta est, fertur ad terram, eadem, ut se erigat, 
 
 650 claviculis suis quasi manibus, quicquid est naeta, complec- 
 titur; quam serpentem multiplici lapsu et erratico ferro 
 amputans coercet ars agricolarum, ne silvescat sarmentis, 
 et in omnes partes nimia fundatur. 53 Itaque ineunte 
 vere in iis, quae relicta sunt, existit tamquam ad articulos 
 
 655 sarmentorum ea, quae gemma dicitur, a qua oriens uva 
 se ostendit, quae et suco terrae et calore solis augescens 
 primo est peracerba gustatu, dein maturata dulcescit 
 vestitaque pampinis nee modico tepore caret et nimios solis 
 defendit ardores. Qua quid potest esse cum fructu laetius, 
 
 660 tum aspectu pulchrius? Cuius quidem non utilitas me 
 solum, ut ante dixi, sed etiam cultura et natura ipsa delec- 
 tat, adminiculorum ordines, capitum iugatio, religatio et 
 propagatio vitium, sarmentorum ea, quam dixi, aliorum 
 amputatio, aliorum inmissio. Quid ego irrigationes, quid 
 
 665fossiones agri repastinationesque proferam, quibus fit 
 multo terra fecundior? 54 Quid de utilitate loquar ster- 
 corandi? dixi in eo libro, quem de rebus rusticis scripsi; 
 de qua doctus Hesiodus ne verbum quidem fecit, cum de 
 cultura agri scriberet. At Homerus, qui multis, ut mihi 
 
 670 videtur, ante saeculis fuit, Laertam lenientem desiderium, 
 quod capiebat e filio, colentem agrum et eum^tercorantem 
 
■ DE SENECTUTE 23 
 
 facit. Nee veto segetibus solum et pratis et vineis et ar- 
 bustis res rusticae laetae sunt, sed hortis etiam et pomariis, 
 turn pecudum pastu, apium examinibus, florum omnium 
 varietate. Nee consitiones modo deleetant, sed etiam 675 
 insitiones, quibus nihil invenit agri eultura sollertius. 
 XVI. 55 Possum persequi permulta oblectamenta rerum 
 rusticarum, sed haee ipsa, quae dixi, sentio fuisse longiora. 
 Ignoscetis autem; nam et studio rusticarum rerum pro- 
 veetus sum, et seneetus est natura loquaeior, ne ab omni- eso 
 bus earn vitiis videar vindieare. Ergo in hae vita M'. 
 Curius, eum de Samnitibus, de Sabinis, de Pyrrho trium- 
 phavisset, eonsumpsit extremum tempus aetatis. Cuius 
 quidem ego villam eontemplans (abest enim non longe 
 amea) admirari satis non possum vel hominis ipsius con- ess 
 tinentiam vel temporum disciplinam. Curio ad focum 
 sedenti magnum auri pondus Samnites cum attulissent, 
 repudiati sunt; non enim aurum habere praeelarum sibi 
 videri dixit, sed eis, qui haberent aurum, imperare. Pote- 
 ratne tantus animus effieere non iucundam senectutem?69o 
 56 Sed venio ad agricolas, ne a me ipso reeedam. In 
 agris erant tum senatores, id est senes, siquidem aranti 
 L. Quinctio Cincinnato nuntiatum est eum dictatorem 
 esse factum; cuius dictatoris iussu magister equitum C. 
 Servilius Ahala Sp. Maelium regnum adpetentem oecupa- 695 
 tum interemit. A villa in senatum arcessebatur et Curius 
 et ceteri senes, ex quo, qui eos arcessebant, viatores nomi- 
 nati sunt. Num igitur horum seneetus miserabilis fuit, 
 qui se agri eultione oblectabant? Mea quidem sententia 
 haud scio an nulla beatior possit esse, neque solum officio, 700 
 quod hominum generi universo eultura agrorum est salu- 
 taris, sed et delectatione, quam dixi, et saturitate eopia- 
 
24 M. TULLI CICERONIS 
 
 que rerum omnium, quae ad victum hominum, ad cultum 
 etiam deorum pertinent, ut, quoniam haec quidam de- 
 
 705 siderant, in gratiam iam cum voluptate redeamus. Sem- 
 per enim boni assiduique domini referta cella vinaria, 
 olearia, etiam penaria est, villaque tota locuples est, 
 abundat porco, haedo, agno, gallina, lacte, caseo, melle. 
 Iam hortum ipsi agricolae succidiam alteram appellant. 
 
 710 Conditiora facit haec supervacaneis etiam operis aucu- 
 pium atque venatio. 57 Quid de pratorum viriditate aut 
 arborum ordinibus aut vinearum olivetorumve specie 
 plura dicam? brevi praecidam: Agro bene culto nihil 
 potest esse nee usu uberius nee specie ornatius; ad quem 
 
 715 fruendum non modo non retardat, verum etiam invitat 
 atque adlectat senectus. Ubi enim potest ilia aetas aut 
 calescere vel apricatione melius vel igni aut vicissim um- 
 bris aquisve refrigerari salubrius? 58 Sibi habeant igitur 
 arma, sibi equos, sibi hastas, sibi clavam et pilam, sibi 
 
 720 natationes atque cursus, nobis senibus ex lusiopibus mul- 
 tis talos relinquant et tesseras, id ipsum uwum lubebit, 
 quoniam sine iis beata esse senectus potest. XVII. 59 
 Multas ad res perutiles Xenophontis libri sunt ; quos legite, 
 quaeso, studiose, ut facitis. Quam copiose ab eo agri cul- 
 
 725tura laudatur in eo libro, qui est de tuenda re familiari, 
 qui Oeconomicus inscribitur! Atque ut intellegatis nihil 
 ei tam regale videri quam studium agri colendi, Socrates 
 in eo libro loquitur cum Critobulo Cyrum minorem, Per- 
 sarum regem, praestantem ingenio atque imperii gloria, 
 
 730 cum Lysander Lacedaemonius, vir summae virtutis, venis- 
 set ad eum Sardis eique dona a sociis adtulisset, et ceteris 
 in rebus comem erga Lysandrum atque humanum fuisse et 
 ei quendam consaeptum agrum diligenter consitum os- 
 
DE SENECTUTE 25 
 
 teridisse. Cum autem admiraretur Lysander et proceri- 
 tates arborum et directos. in quincuncem ordines etrss 
 humum subactam atque puram et suavitatem odorum, 
 qui adflarentur ex floribus, turn eum dixisse mirari se 
 non modo diligentiam, sed etiam sollertiam eius, a quo 
 essent ilia dimensa atque discripta; et Cyrum respondisse: 
 Atqui ego ista sum omnia dimensus ; mei sunt ordines, mea 740 
 discriptio, multae etiam istarum arborum mea manu sunt 
 satae. Turn Lysandrum intuentem purpuram eius et ni- 
 torem corporis ornatumque Persicum multo auro multis- 
 que gemmis dixisse: Rite vera te, Gyre, beatum ferunt, 
 quoniam, virtuti tuae fortuna coniuncta est. 60 Hac igitur745 
 fortuna frui Jicet senibus, nee aetas impedit, quo minus 
 et ceterarum rerum et in primis agri colendi studia tenea- 
 mus usque ad ultimum tempus senectutis. M. quidem 
 Valerium Corvinum accepimus ad centesimum annum 
 perduxisse, cum asset acta iam aetate in agris eosquerso 
 coleret; cuius inter primum et sextum consulatum sex 
 et quadraginta anni interfuerunt. Ita, quantum spatium 
 aetatis maiores ad senectutis initium esse voluerunt, tan- 
 tus illi cursus honorum fuit; atque huius extrema aetas 
 hoc beatior quam media, quod auctoritatis habebat plus, 755 
 laboris minus; apex est autem senectutis auctoritas. 61 
 Quanta fuit in L. Caecilio Metello, quanta in A. Atilio 
 Calatino! in quem illud elogium: 
 
 Hunc unum plurimae consentiunt gentes 
 
 Populi primarium fuisse virum. 760 
 
 Notum est totum carmen incisum in sepulcro. lure igitur 
 gravis, cuius de laudibus omnium asset fama consentiens. 
 Quem virum nuper P. Crassum, pontificem maximum, 
 quem postea M. Lepidum, eodem sacerdotio praaditum, 
 
26 M. TULLI CICER.ONIS 
 
 765 vidimus! Quid de Paulo aut Africano loquar aut, iam 
 ante, de Maximo? quorum non in sententia solum, sad 
 etiam in nutu residebat auctoritas. Habet senectus ho- 
 norata praesertim tantam auctoritatem, ut ea pluris sit 
 quam omnes adulescentiae voluptates. XVIII. 62 Sed 
 
 770 in omni oratione mementote earn me senectutem laudare, 
 quae fundamentis adulescentiae constituta sit. Ex quo 
 efficitur, id quod ego magno quondam cum assensu om- 
 nium dixi, miseram esse senectutem, quae se oratione 
 defenderet. Non cani nee rugae repente auctoritatem 
 
 775 arripere possunt, sed honeste acta superior aetas fructus 
 capit auctoritatis extremos. 63 Haec enim ipsa sunt 
 honorabilia, quae videntur levia atque communia, salu- 
 tari, adpeti, decedi, adsurgi, deduci, reduci, consuli; quae 
 et apud nos et in aliis civitatibus, ut quaeque optime mo- 
 
 780 rata est, ita diligentissime observantur. Lysandrum Lace- 
 daemonium, cuius modo feci mentionem, dicere aiunt 
 solitum Lacedaemonem esse honestissimum domicilium 
 senectutis; nusquam enim tantum tribuitur aetati, nus- 
 quam est senectus honoratior. Quin etiam memoriae pro- 
 
 785 ditum est, cum Athenis ludis quidam in theatrum grandis 
 natu venisset, magno consessu locum nusquam ei datum 
 a suis civibus; cum autem ad Lacedaemonios accessisset, 
 qui legati cum essent, certo in loco consederant, consurrex- 
 isse omnes illi dicuntur et senem sessum recepisse. 64 
 
 79oQuibus cum a cuncto consessu plausus esset multiplex 
 datus, dixisse ex iis quendam Athenienses scire, quae recta 
 essent, sed facere nolle. Multa in vestro collegio praeclara, 
 sed hoc, de quo agimus, in primis, quod, ut quisque aetate 
 antecedit, ita sententiae principatum tenet, neque solum 
 
 795 honore antecedentibus, sed iis etiam, qui cum imperio 
 
DE SENECTUTE 27 
 
 sunt, maiores natu augures anteponuntur. Quae sunt igi- 
 tur voluptates corporis cum auctoritatis praemiis com- 
 parandae? quibus qui splendide usi sunt, ii mihi videntur 
 fabulam aetatis peregisse nee tamquara inexercitati his- 
 triones in extremo actu corruisse. goo 
 
 65 At sunt morosi et anxii et iracundi et difficiles senes. 
 Si quaerimus, etiam avari; sed haec morum vitia sunt, 
 non senectutis. Ac morositas tamen et ea vitia, quae dixi, 
 habent aliquid excusationis non illius quidem iustae, sed 
 quae probari posse videatur ; contemni se putant, despici, so:. 
 inludi ; praeterea in fragili corpore odiosa omnis offensio 
 est. Quae tamen omnia dulciora fiunt et moribus bonis et 
 artibus, idque cum in vita, tum in scaena intellegi potest 
 ex iis fratribus, qui in Adelphis sunt. Quanta in altero 
 diritas, in altero comitas! Sic se res habet: ut enim nonsio 
 omne vinum, sic non omnis natura vetustate coacescit. 
 Severitatem in senectute probo, sed eam, sicut alia, modi- 
 cam, acerbitatem nullo modo. 66 Avaritia vero senilis 
 quid sibi velit, non intellego; potest enim quicquam esse 
 absurdius quam, quo viae minus restet, eo plus viaticisia 
 quaerere? 
 
 XIX. Quarta restat causa, quae maxime angere atque 
 sollicitam habere nostram aetatem videtur, adpropin- 
 quatio mortis, quae certe a senectute non potest esse 
 longe. miserum senem, qui mortem contemnendam 820 
 esse in tam longa aetate non viderit ! quae aut plane negle- 
 genda est, si omnino extinguit animum, aut etiam op- 
 tanda, si aliquo eum deducit, ubi sit futurus aeternus; 
 atqui tertium certe nihil inveniri potest. 67 Quid igitur 
 timeam, si aut non miser post mortem aut beatus etiam 825 
 
28 M. TULLI CICERONIS 
 
 futurus sum? Quamquam quis est tam stultus, quamvis 
 sit adulescens, cui sit exploratum se ad vespemm esse 
 victurum? Quin etiam aetas ilia multo plures quam nostra 
 casus mortis habet; facilius in morbos incidunt adules- 
 
 830 centes, gravius aegrotant, tristius curantur. Itaque pauci 
 veniunt ad senectutem; quod ni ita accideret, melius et 
 prudentius viveretur. Mens enim et ratio et consilium in 
 seriibus est; qui si nuUi fuissent, nullae omnino civitates 
 fuissent. Sed redeo ad mortem inpendentem. Quod est 
 
 ssoistud crimen senectutis, cum id ei videatis cum adules- 
 centia esse commune? 68 Sensi ego in optimo filio, tu in 
 expectatis ad amplissimam dignitatem fratribus, Scipio, 
 mortem omni aetati esse communem. At sperat adules- 
 cens diu se victurum, quod sperare idem senex non potest. 
 
 840 Insipienter sperat. Quid enim stultius quam incerta pro 
 certis habere, falsa pro veris? At senex ne quod speret 
 quidem habet. At est eo meliore condicione quam adules- 
 cens, cum id, quod ille sperat, hie consecutus est; ille vult 
 diu vivere, hie diu vixit. 69 Quamquam, o di boni! quid 
 
 845 est in hominis natura diu? Da enim supremum tempus, 
 expectemus Tartessiorum regis aetatem (fuit enim, ut 
 scriptum video, Arganthonius quidam Gadibus, qui octo- 
 ginta regnavit annos, centum viginti vixit) — sed mihi ne 
 diuturnum quidem quicquam videtur, in quo est aliquid 
 
 ssoextremum. Cum enim id advenit, turn illud, quod prae- 
 teriit, effluxit; tantum remanet, quod virtute et recte 
 factis consecutus sis ; horae quidem cedunt et dies et men- 
 ses et anni, nee praeteritum tempus umquam revertitur, 
 nee, quid sequatur, sciri potest; quod cuique temporis ad 
 
 866 vivendum datur, eo debet esse contentus. 70 Neque enim 
 histrioni, ut placeat, peragenda fabula est, modo, in quo- 
 
DE SENECTUTE 29 
 
 cumque fuerit actu, probetur, neque sapienti usque ad 
 'Plaudite' veniendum est. Breve enim temp.us aetatis 
 satis longum est ad bene honesteque vivendum; sin pro- 
 cesserit longius, non magis dolendum est, quam agricoiaeseo 
 dolent praeterita verni temporis suavitate aestatem au- 
 tumnumque venisse. Ver enim tamquam adulescentiam 
 significat ostenditque fructus futuros, reliqua autem tem- 
 pera demetendis fructibus et percipiendis accommodata 
 sunt. 71 Fructus autem senectutis est, ut saepe dixi,865 
 ante partorum bonorum memoria et copia. Omnia autem, 
 quae secundum naturam fiunt, sunt habenda in bonis. 
 Quid est autem tarn secundum naturam quam senibus 
 emori? quod idem contingit adulescentibus adversante et 
 repugnante natura. Itaque adulescentes mihi mori sic87o 
 videntur, ut cum aquae multitudine flanimae vis opprimi- 
 tur, senes autem sic, ut cum sua sponte nulla adhibita vi 
 consumptus ignis extinguitur ; et quasi poma ex arboribus, 
 cruda si sunt, vix evelluntur, si matura et cocta, decidunt, 
 sic vitam adulescentibus vis aufert, senibus maturitas ; 875 
 quae quidem mihi tam iucunda est, ut, quo propius ad 
 mortem accedam, quasi terram videre videar aliquandoque 
 in portum ex longa navigatione esse venturus. XX. 72 
 Senectutis autem nullus est certus terminus, recteque in 
 ea vivitur, quoad munus officii exsequi et tueri possissso 
 mortemque contemnere; ex quo fit, ut animosior etiam 
 senectus sit quam adulescentia et fortior. Hoc illud est, 
 quod Pisistrato tyranno a Solone responsum est, cum illi 
 quaerenti, qua tandem re fret^s sibi tam audaciter obsis- 
 teret, rfespondisse dicitur : Senectute. Sed vivendi est finis sss 
 optimus, cum integra mente certisque sensibus opus ipsa 
 suum eadem, quae coagmentavit, natura dissolvit. Ut 
 
30 M. TULLI CICERONIS 
 
 iiavem, ut aedificium idem destniit facillime> qui con- 
 struxit, sic hominem eadem optime, quae conglutinavit, 
 
 89onatura dissolvit. lam omnis conglutinatio recens aegre, 
 inveterata facile divellitur. Ita fit, ut illud breve vitae 
 reliquum nee avide adpetendum senibus nee sine causa 
 deserendum sit; (73) vetatque Pythagoras iniussu impe- 
 ratoris, id est dei, de praesidio et statione vitae decedere. 
 
 895 Solonis quidem sapientis elogium est, quo se negat velle 
 suam mortem dolore amicorum et lamentis vacare. Volt, 
 credo, se esse carum suis ; sed baud scio an melius Ennius : 
 Nemo me dacrumis decoret neque funera fletu 
 Faxit. 
 
 900 Non censet lugendam esse mortem, quam inmortalitas 
 consequatur. 74 lam sensus moriendi aliquis esse potest, 
 isque ad exiguum tempus, praesertim seni, post mortem 
 quidem sensus aut optandus aut nullus est. Sed hoc medi- 
 tatum ab adulescentia debet esse, mortem ut neglegamus; 
 
 905 sine qua meditatione tranquillo animo esse nemo potest. 
 Moriendum enim certe est, et incertum an hoc ipso die. 
 Mortem igitur omnibus horis inpendentem timens qui 
 poterit animo consistere? De qua non ita longa disputa- 
 tione opus esse videtur, cum recorder non L. Brutum, qui 
 
 910 in liberanda patria est interfectus, (75) non duos Decios, 
 qui ad voluntariam mortem cursum equorum incitaverunt, 
 non M. Atilium, qui ad supplicium est profectus, ut fidem 
 hosti datam conservaret, non duos Scipiones, qui iter 
 Poenis vel corporibus suis obstruere voluerunt, non avum 
 
 915 tuum L. Paulum, qui morte luit collegae in Cannensi igno- 
 minia temeritatem, non M. Marcellum, cuius interitum 
 ne orudelissimus quidem hostis honore sepulturae carere 
 passus est, sed legiones nostras, quod scrips! in Originibus 
 
DE SENECTUTE 31 
 
 in eum locum saepe profectas alacri animo et erecto, unde 
 se redituras numquam arbitrarentur. Quod igitur adules- 920 
 centes, et ii quidem non solum indocti, sed etiam rustic!, 
 contemnunt, id docti senes extimescent? 76 Omnino, ut 
 mihi quidem videtur, studiorum omnium satietas vitae 
 facit satietatem. Sunt pueritiae studia carta; num igitur 
 ea desiderant adulescentes? sunt ineuntis adulescentiae ; 925 
 num ea constans iam requirit aetas, quae media dicitur? 
 sunt etiam eius aetatis; ne ea quidem quaeruntur in se- 
 nectute; sunt extrema quaedam studia senectutis; ergo, 
 ut superiorum aetatum studia occidunt, sic occidunt etiam 
 senectutis ; quod cum evenit, satietas vitae tempus matu- 930 
 rum mortis adfert. XXI. 77 Equidem non video, cur, 
 quid ipse sentiam de morte, non audeam vobis dicere, quod 
 eo cernere mihi melius videor, quo ah ea propius absum. 
 Ego vestros patres, tuum, Scipio, tuumque, Laeli, viros 
 clarissimos mihique amicissimos, vivere arbitror, et eamgss 
 quidem vitam, quae est sola vita nominanda. Nam, dum 
 sumus inclusi in his compagibus corporis, munere quodam 
 necessitatis et gravi opere perfungimur ; est enim animus 
 caelestis ex altissimo domicilio depressus et quasi demersus 
 in terram, locum divinae naturae aeternitatique contra- 940 
 rium. Sed credo deos inmortales sparsisse animos in 
 corpora humana, ut essent, qui terras tuerentur, quique 
 caelestium ordinem contemplantes imitarentur eum vitae 
 modo atque constantia. Nee me solum ratio ac disputatio 
 impulit, ut ita crederem, sed nobilitas etiam summorum945 
 philosophorum et auctoritas. 78 Audiebam Pythagoram 
 Pythagoreosque, incolas paene nostros, qui essent Italici 
 philosophi quondam nominati, numquam dubitasse, quin 
 ex universa mente divina delibatos animos haberemus. 
 
32 M. TULLI CICERONIS 
 
 950 Demonstrabantur mihi praeterea, quae Socrates supremo 
 vitae die de inmortalitate animorum disseruisset, is qui 
 esset omnium sapientissimus oraculo Apollinis iudicatus. 
 Quid multa? sic persuasi mihi, sic sentio, cum tanta celeri- 
 tas animorum sit, tanta memoria praeteritorum futuro- 
 
 956 rumque prudentia, tot artes, tantae scientiae, tot inventa, 
 non posse earn naturam, quae res eas contineat, esse mor- 
 talem, cumque semper agitetur animus nee principium 
 motus habeat, quia se ipse moveat, ne finem quidem ha- 
 biturum esse motus, quia numquam se ipse sit relicturus, 
 
 960 et, cum simplex animi esset natura neque haberet in se 
 quicquam admixtum dispar sui atque dissimile, non posse 
 eum dividi; quod si non posset, non posse interire; mag- 
 noque esse argumento homines scire pleraque ante, quam 
 nati sint, quod iam pueri, cum artes difficiles di^cant, ita 
 
 965 celeriter res innumerabiles arripiant, ut eas non tum pri- 
 mum accipere videantur, sed reminisci et recordari. Haec 
 Platonis fere. XXII. 79 Apud Xenophontem autem 
 moriens Cyrus maior haec dicit: Nolite arbitrari, o mihi 
 carissimi filii, me, cum a vobis discessero, nusquam aut nul- 
 
 970 lum fore. Nee enim, dum eram vobiscum, animum meum 
 videbatis, sed eum esse in hoc corpore ex iis rebus, quas gere- 
 bam, intellegebatis. Eundem igitur esse creditote, etiamsi 
 nullum videbitis. 80 Nee vero clarorum, virorum post mor- 
 tem honores permanerent, si nihil eorum ipsorum animi 
 
 975 efficerent, quo diutius memoriam sui teneremus. Mihi 
 quidem numquam persuaderi potuit animos, dum in cor- 
 poribus essent mortalibus, vivere, eum excessissent ex eis, 
 emori, nee vero tum animum esse insipientem, cum ex 
 insipienti corpore evasisset, sed cum omni admixtione cor- 
 
 980 poris liberatus purus et integer esse coepisset, tum esse sapi- 
 
DE SENECTUTE 33 
 
 entem. Atque etiam cum hominis natura morte dissolvitur, 
 ceterarum rerum perspicuumest quo quaeque discedat; abeunt 
 enim illuc omnia, unde orta sunt, animus autem solus, nee 
 cum adest nee cum discessit, apparet. 81 lam vera videtis 
 nihil esse morti tam simile quam somnum. Atqui dormien- 085 
 Hum animi maxime declarant divinitatem suam; multa 
 enim, cum remissi et liberi sunt, futura prospiciunt. Ex quo 
 intellegitur, quales futuri sint, cum se plane corporum vin- 
 culis relaxaverint. Quare, si haec ita sunt, sic me colitote, 
 inquit, ut deum ; sin una est interiturus animus cum cor- 990 
 pore, vos tamen decs verentes, qui hanc omnem pulchritu- 
 dinem tuentur et regunt, memoriam nostri pie inviolateque 
 servabitis. 
 
 Cyrus quidem haec moriens; nos, si placet, nostra 
 videamus. XXIII. 82 Nemo umquam mihi, Scipio, 995 
 persuadebit aut patrem tuum Paulum aut duos avos, 
 Paulum et Africanum, aut Africani patrem aut patruum 
 aut multos praestantes viros, quos enumerare non est 
 necesse, tanta esse conatos, quae ad posteritatis memo- 
 riam pertinerent, . nisi animo cernerent posteritatem ad 1000 
 se ipsos pertinere. An censes, ut de me ipse aliquid 
 more senum glorier, me tantos labores diurnos nocturnos- 
 que domi militiaeque suscepturum fuisse, si isdem finibus 
 gloriam meam, quibus vitam, essem terminaturus? Nonne 
 melius multo fuisset otiosam aetatem et quietam sine uUo 1005 
 aut labore et contentione traducere? Sed nescio quo modo 
 animus erigens se posteritatem ita semper prospiciebat, 
 quasi, cum excessisset e vita, tum denique victurus esset. 
 Quod quidem ni ita se haberet, ut aninai inmortales essent^ 
 haud optimi cuiusque animus niaxirae''iad inmortalitatem 1010 
 et gloriam niteretur. 83 Quid? quod sapientissimus quis- 
 
34 M. TULLI CICERONIS 
 
 que aequissimo animo moritur, stultissimus iniquissimo, 
 nonne vobis videtur is animus, qui plus cernat et longius, 
 videre se ad meliora proficisci, ille autem, cuius obtusior 
 
 1015 sit acies, non videre? Equidem efferor studio patres ves- 
 tros, quos colui et dilexi, videndi, neque vero eos solos 
 convenire aveo, quos ipse cognovi, sed illos etiam, 
 de quibus audivi et legi et ipse conscripsi. Quo quidem 
 me proficiscentem haud sane quis facile retraxerit nee 
 
 1020 tamquam Peliam recoxerit. Et si quis deus mihi largiatur, 
 ut ex hac aetate repuerascam et in cunis vagiam, valde 
 recusem nee vero velim quasi decurso spatio ad earceres a 
 calce revocari. 84 Quid habet enim vita commodi? quid 
 non potius laboris? Sed habeat sane, habet certe tamen 
 
 1025 aut satietatem aut modum. Non lubet enim mihi deplo- 
 rare vitam, quod multi, et ii docti, saepe fecerunt, neque 
 me vixisse paenitet, quoniam ita vixi, ut non frustra me 
 natum existumem, et ex vita ita discedo tamquam ex 
 hospitio, non tamquam e domo. Commorandi enim natura 
 
 1030 devorsorium nobis, non habitandi dedit. O praeclarum 
 diem, cum in illud divinum animorum concilium coetum- 
 que proficiscar cumque ex hac turba et conluvione disce- 
 dam! Proficiscar enim non ad eos solum viros, de quibus 
 ante dixi, verum etiam ad Catonem meum, quo nemo vir 
 
 1035 melior natus est, nemo pietate praestantior ; cuius a me 
 corpus est crematum, quod contra deeuit, ab illo meum, 
 animus vero non me deserens, sed respectans in ea profecto 
 loca discessit, quo mihi ipsi cernebat esse veniendum. 
 Quem ego meum casum fortiter ferre visus sum, non quo 
 
 1040 aequo animo ferrem, sed me ipse consolabar existumans 
 non longinquum inter nos digressum et discessum fore. 
 85 His mihi rebus, Scipio, (id enim te cum Laelio admirari 
 
DE SENECTUTE 35 
 
 solere dixisti) levis est senectus, nee solum non molesta, 
 sed etiam iucunda. Quod si in hoc erro, qui animos 
 hominum inmortales esse credam, libenter erro nee mihi 1045 
 hune errorem, quo delector, dum vivo, extorqueri volo; 
 sin mortuus, ut quidam minuti philosophi eensent, nihil 
 sentiam, non vereor, ne hunc errorem meum philosophi 
 mortui irrideant. Quodsi non sumus inmortales futuri, 
 tamen extingui homini suo tempore optabile est. Nam loso 
 habet natura ut aliarum omnium rerum, sic vivendi 
 modum. Senectus autem aetatis est peractio tamquam 
 fabulae, cuius defatigationem fugere debemus, praesertim 
 adiuneta satietate. 
 
 Haec habui, de seneetute quae dicerem ; ad quam uti- 1055 
 nam perveniatis! ut ea, quae ex me audistis, re experti 
 probare possitis. 
 
Occasional references are made to the grammars of Gil- 
 dersleeve (G.); Allen and Greenough (A. & G.); Bennett 
 (B.); Harkness (H.); and Lane (L.). 
 
COMMENTARY 
 
 CHAPTER I 
 
 § I. I. O Tite: these hexameter verses are quoted from the 
 Annales of Ennius (Bk. 10, Vahlen's edition; Bk. 11, Miiller's). 
 The allusion is to an incident in early Roman history. In 198 b. c. 
 the consul Titus Quinctius Flaminius, who had undertaken the 
 direction of the campaign against Philip of Macedon," encountered 
 much embarrassment on landing in Epirus, on account of the 
 rough mountainous character of the country. After wasting much 
 valuable time in a futile effort to force Philip's army from a moun- 
 tain pass in which it was entrenched, the Roman consul at length 
 received an offer of help from Charopus, an Epirote chief, who placed 
 at his disposal a native shepherd to act as guide. The shepherd 
 wishes to know what is to be his reward if he conducts the Roman 
 army to a commanding height from which Pliilip's army may be 
 dislodged. (Cf. Livy, 32, 11.) Cicero here adopts the shepherd's 
 words, cleverly applying them to his lifelong friend, Titus Pom- 
 ponius Atticus, to whom he dedicates the Cato Maior. si quid 
 
 ego adiuero : " if I help you at £tll"; quid is used to define or modify 
 the substantive notion implied in adiuero (cf. G. 333); adiuero is 
 an archaic form (sigmatic aorist) for the regular oAiuvero, with the 
 shortened u before a vowel after the loss of v. levasso : an ar- 
 
 chaic future perfect, equivalent to the regular levavero. G. 131 , 4, (6) 1 . 
 
 2. coquit: "vex, harass" — a figurative sense which was con- 
 fined to poetry in Cicero's time. versat : with the original quan- 
 tity of the termination, -at (cf . ponebat, 1. 133) , which even in Ennius's 
 day was tending to become short. A few sporadic cases of the ori- 
 ginal quantity of the termination occur in classic Latin. 
 
 3. praemi : stems in -io have the Gen. Sing, for the most part in 
 -i until the first century a. d., without change of accent. — G. 33, 
 R. 1. 
 
 4. licet enim: "for I may"; enim is elliptical in explanation of 
 the unusual manner in which Atticus is here addressed. versibus 
 . . . eisdem : "in the very same lines"; eisdem is especially em- 
 phatic, as indicated by its unusual position after the substantive. 
 The verses are from Ennius's Annaks (Vahlen's ed., Bk. 10; MuUer's' 
 ed., Bk. 11). 
 
 6. Ille vir : i. e., the shepherd mentioned in note on 1. 1 . magna 
 
 37 
 
38 DE SENECTUTE 
 
 cum re: re here has the force of re familiari, "property." Cf. Pro 
 Caelio, 78, hominem sine re. planus fidei : a form of the Gen. 
 
 with the original quantity (-ei), which occurs frequently in early 
 Latin. The e in this termination was later shortened (-el). The ter- 
 mination s (in pknus) was so slightly sounded that here, as often, it 
 failed to "make quantity." 
 
 7. (luamiiuani : corrective ' and yet,' ' however.' Cf. 1. 114, quant- 
 quam id quidem maximum est; 1. 120, Quamguam eum colere coepi, 
 etc. The Greek equivalent is Katroi. 
 
 9. moderationem animi tui et aeauitatem : " self-control and poise." 
 Cf. Horace, Car. 2, 3, 31, Aequam memento rebus in arduis Servare 
 mentem. 
 
 10. cognomen : viz., Atticus, which was the surname given Pom- 
 ponius in recognition of his familiarity with Greek literature ac- 
 quired during his twenty-two years' residence in Athens. Cogno- 
 men is the additional name bestowed upon a Roman citizen in 
 token of some personal characteristic, as "Cunctator," "Sapiens," 
 or of some foreign conquest, as " Africanus," or of some foreign resi- 
 dence, as " Atticus." humanitatem et prudentiam : " refinement 
 and common sense." Cf. Nepos, Atticus, 3, 3. 
 
 I2.'eisdem rebus: the reference is to the existing condition of 
 affairs, i. e., the unlimited power of Caesar which pointed to the de- ■ 
 struction of republican institutions and liberty. me ipsum: = 
 
 ego ipse,' with which supply comm,oveor. For the sake of balance 
 Cicero wrote me ipsum, with which supply suspicor. 
 
 13. quarum consolatio: an allusion to the political situation when 
 Caesar was threatening to usurp supreme authority and blot out the 
 Republic. The wise man must yield to the decrees of fate, Cicero 
 seems to imply. QtiantJre is Objective Genitive. maior:amore 
 laborious undertaking than Cicero now has time for. See Introduc- 
 tion on date of composition. 
 
 14. visum mihi est: " I have resolved." 
 
 15. aliquid ad te conscribere: "write you some treatise." This 
 introductory section passes as the dedication of the Cato Maior to 
 Atticus. Cf. Laelius, ^ i, ut de amidtia scriberem aliquid. 
 
 § 2. 16. aut jam . . . aut certe: "either already . . or at any 
 rate" — ^ common in Cicero. Cf. L. 1669. 
 
 17. senectutis : a rather elastic term. Cicero was now 62 years old 
 and Atticus 65. 
 
 18. etsi : corrective like quamquam above ; see note on 1. 7. te 
 quidem: " you at any rate " ; quidem is einployed for emphasis. Thus 
 Cicero places Atticus in sharp contrast with himself, implying that, 
 however he may bear old age, Atticus at all events will bear it philo- 
 sophically, modice ac sapienter: modice suggests moderationem 
 
COMMENTARY 39 
 
 in the phrase above and sapienter suggests aequitatem, inasmuch as 
 self-control and an even balance of mind were the result of sapientia. 
 Cf. De Oral. 1, 132, modice et scienter. 
 
 iQ. Sed mihi . . . tu occurrebas: there is a slight ellipsis in the 
 thought as if Cicero intended to say, " But though I know full well 
 that you do not stand in need of such consolation, still I have de- 
 termined to dedicate my book on Old Age to you." Translate: 
 " But it occurred to me that you were worthy," etc. 
 
 20. eo munere: i. e., the essay on Old Age, in reference to the idea 
 involved in ad te conscribere above. 
 
 21. quo . . . uteretiu-: "a gift which both of us may enjoy in 
 common"; Subjunctive of purpose. It was a pleasure to Cicero to 
 write the essay, and it will be a pleasure likewise to his friend Atticus 
 to peruse it. Mihi quidem: emphatic, — "to me at all events." 
 Cf. te quidem above. 
 
 22. libri: i. e., the essay on Old Age. confectio: " the com- 
 position." Cf. De Oral. 2, 52, annalium confectio. 
 
 23. absterserit: exceptional sequence denoting final result, as also 
 in effecerit. (G. 513.) Cicero elsewhere says in reference to this work, 
 Legendus mihi saepe est Cato maior ad te missus. Amariorem enimTne 
 senectus facit. stomachor omnia (Ad Att. 14, 21, 3). effecerit 
 mollem etiam . . . senectutem: " has rendered old age even a com- 
 fort and a delight." Cf. 1. 689, Poteratne tantus animus nan efficere 
 iucundam senectutem, etc. 
 
 24. digne satis laudari: "can never be praised as it deserves.'' 
 Cicero never tires of sounding the praises of philosophy to which 
 theme exclusively he devoted his famous work, the lost Hortensius. 
 
 25. cui qui: = cum qui ei, "since he who follows it," i. e., philo- 
 sophy. Such a juxtaposition is common enough in Latin, though 
 contrary to our English idiom, possit : subjunctive of chaiv 
 acteristic, and pareat, which is subordinate to possit, is subjunctive 
 by attraction. See G. 663; A. & G. 593; L. 1728; B. 324. 
 
 § 3. 27. ceteris: ^ de ceteris rebus: neuter substantival use of the 
 adjective, in reference to Cicero's philosophical discussions in his 
 De Naturd Deorum and his Tusculan Disputations. Cicero regularly 
 uses an adjective in agreement with res in such instances except in 
 the nominative and accusative cases. Cf. 1. 286, in aliis. dixi- 
 
 mus . . . dicemus : note the reversal of the order (chiasmus), 
 hunc librum: in sharp contrast with the works included in ceteris. 
 
 28. misimus: epistolaryperfect,withtheeditorial"we." om- 
 nem . . . sermonem: i. e., the entire dialogue in which Cato is the 
 chief speaker. 
 
 29. Tithono: "The son of Laomedon and Strymo, and brother of 
 Priam. By the prayers of Eos, who loved him, he obtained from the 
 
40 DE SENECTUTE 
 
 gods immortality, but not eternal youth, in consequence of which 
 he completely shrank together in his old age : whence a decrepit old 
 man was called Tithonus. Eos changed him into a cicada, or katy- 
 did." — Harper's Did. of Class. Lit. and Ariliq. (Cf. Tennyson's 
 beautiful poem, Tithonus.) Aristo Ceus: Aristo of Ceos was a 
 
 peripatetic philosopher who succeeded Lycon as head of that school 
 about 230 b. c. Among other things he wrote a treatise on Old Age 
 which has perished. Only fragments of his writings have survived. 
 For Cicero's estimate of him, see De Fin. 5, 5, 13. (He is not to be 
 confounded with Aristo of Chios, the Stoic, who flourished about 
 270 B. 0.) 
 
 30. fabula: "myth," i.e., mythical characters. M. Catoniseni: 
 Cato the Elder (234-149 b. c). See Introduction, 5. Seni distin- 
 guishes this Cato from his great-grandson Cato of Utica, a contem- 
 porary of Cicero. 
 
 31. maiorem auctoritatem: cf. Laelius, § 4, Sed ut in C atone maiore 
 Qui est scriptus ad te de senectute Catonem indtixi senem disputantem 
 quia nulla videbatur aptior persona Quae de ilia aetate loqueretur, etc. 
 apud queni: "at whose house." Laelium et Scipionem: see 
 Introduction, 7. Lajlius and Scipio take really a very slight part in 
 the discussion, the Cato Maior being only a nominal dialogue. 
 
 32. facimus admirantes: "I portray as expressing their admira- 
 tion." This use of facere in the sense " to represent " is quite common. 
 Cf. 1. 669, At Homerus . . jacit. 
 
 34. eruditius: in reference to his familiarity with Greek philosophy. 
 
 35. suis libris: for the life of Cato see Introduction, 5. The only 
 work of Cato which has been preserved is the De Agri Cultura. This 
 exhibits no special literary excellence. Hence Cicero's apologetic tone 
 for Cato's elaborate discussion of old age. litteris Graecis: cf. 
 26, Qui litteras Graecas senex didici. 
 
 37. plura: sc. dicere, or some other verb of saying. Cf . 1. 953, Quid 
 multaf 
 
 CHAPTER II 
 
 § 4. 39. saepe numero: "very often"; numero ("by the count") 
 serves to strengthen saepe. The two words are often written together, 
 saepenumero. cum . . . turn: "both . . . and." hoc: "my 
 
 friend . . . here," perhaps with a wave of the hand. 
 
 40. ceterarum rerum: "in all other matters"; Objective Gen. 
 Cf. 1, Quarum consolatio. 
 
 41. velmaxime: tcHs here intensive, "especially." QUod sen- 
 serim : subjunctive of partial obliquity since admirari, upon which 
 the guod-clause depends, is here regarded as equivalent to a verb 
 of saying. Of course, the indicative is the rule in a causal clause 
 
COMMENTARY 41 
 
 expressing the reason of the speaker. Cf . 1. 32, admirantes quod . . . 
 ferat; also § 7. 
 
 43. Aetna gravius: a proverbial expression containing an allusion 
 to Enceladus, who, according to a well-known legend, was im- 
 prisoned under jEtna after the defeat of the Giants by Jupiter. Cf . 
 Vergil, Aen. 3, 554 fol. and the Greek proverb, ffapirepoy Afrvas. 
 See Euripides, Here. Fur. 637 fol. and Longfellow's poem Enceladu.s. 
 
 45. rem haud sane . . . admirari videmini: "it is surely by no 
 means a difficult thing which you seem to wonder at." Cf. 1. 1019, 
 haud sane facile. 
 
 46. Quibus enim, etc. : " for to those who have no resource in them- 
 selves " ; — Dat. of possession. Cf . Lael. § 79, quibus in ipsis. in 
 ipsis: the allusion is to the Stoic doctrine that the wise man does not 
 condition happiness on things outside himself and that virtue alone 
 is guaranty for a happy hfe. See Lael. § 7. 
 
 48. a se ipsi: the intensive, as usual, agrees with the subject, not 
 with the reflexive. Cf . 1. 958, se ipse moveat . se ipse sit relicturus; 
 also 1. 1040, me ipse consolabar. 
 
 50. est in primis: "belongs especially." For in primis we often 
 &nA' imprimis. 
 
 51. adeptam: here passive. Cf. 1. 739, dimensa ; also 1. 903, medi- 
 tatum. Note the chiasmus. 
 
 52. inconstantia: by contrast suggests consianiia, which is a charac- 
 teristic of the wise man. Cf . Lael. § 8, and also § 64. aiunt: sc. stulli. 
 
 53. putassent: subjunctive of partial obliquity, representing a 
 pluperfect Indie, {putaveram) in direct discourse. Prlmum: cf. 
 the following Deinde, both in answer to the objection which is first 
 shown to be false and then refuted. 
 
 54. falsum putare: "to entertain a mistaken notion"; falsum is a 
 neuter substantive. qui: "how." Q«i was originally an instru- 
 mental or an ablative and later became adverbial (cf . quicum equiva- 
 lent to quocum). See G. 105, N. 3; 106, N. 2. adulescentiae: 
 adulescentia is here loosely employed to denote the period from boy- 
 hood (pueritia) to old age (senectus). Strictly, adulescentia denotes 
 the period from 17 to 30, while iuventus denotes that from 30 to 45, 
 and aetas seniorum that from 45 to 60 and senectus that from 60 to 
 the end of life. 
 
 58. (iaaxD.'vis:=quamtumvis, "however." The idea is, "for a 
 past time, however long it might be, when once it is gone by, could 
 not possibly bring any consolation for the foolish old age of this 
 class of men." cum efHuxisset: subjunctive by attraction after 
 
 posset, and posset is the apodosis of an unreal condition the protasis 
 of which is implied in quamvis longa. 
 
 § 5. 60. utinam digna esset: " would it were worthy, as it is not " : 
 
42 DE SENECTUTE 
 
 — optative subjunctive implying that the speaker disclaims a preten- 
 sion to his cognomen, " the wise," which he bore even in his lifetime. 
 6i. cognomine: i. e.. Sapiens. in hoc summus sapientes: em- 
 
 phatic and explained by the following gwod-clause. There is a slight 
 ellipsis here. 
 
 62. -naturam optimam ducem sequimur: a cardinal doctrine of the. 
 Stoic system, which Cicero here makes Cato express. Cato was noted 
 for his practical wisdom and common sense rather than for any pro- 
 found knowledge of philosophy. See Laelius, § 6 and also § 19. 
 
 63. cum ceterae partes . . . sint: " seeing that all the other parts of 
 Ufe have been admirably allotted "; partes usually signifies " role," but 
 here father "parts," perhaps to avoid repetition of actus. Cf. 1. 800, 
 in extremo actu ; also 1. 1052. discriptae: distinguish between 
 discriptae, "planned," "mapped out," and descriptae, "composed." 
 
 64. actimi: the regular word for "act" of a play, whereas actio 
 corresponds to "scene." See Ad Fam. 5, 12, 6. 
 
 65. inerti: "inartistic," "unskilful," "awkward" {in + ars). 
 
 68. quasi vietum et caducum: a circumlocution for the wanting 
 abstract terms of the Latin; quasi here, as often, is apologetic, ex- 
 plained by the bold use of vietus as applied to old age. Vietus (viere) = 
 "bent together," "shriveled," "shrunken," is especially used of 
 wrinkled, shriveled fruit. Cf. Ter., Eun. 688, vietus veins veternosus 
 senex; Hor., Epod. 12, 7, Qui sudor vietis . . memhris. 
 
 69. Quid est enim: " for what else is the battle of the giants against 
 the gods but fighting against nature?" This is the interpretation of 
 Nauck and Bennett, which seems more satisfactory than the usual 
 interpretation (see Grit. App.). Cf. De Div. 2, 78, Quid est aliud nolle 
 moneri a Jove nisi efficere ut aut ne fieri possit auspicium aut, si fiat, 
 videri; also Pro Rose. 54, and Phil. 1, 22; 2, 7; 5, 5; 10, 5. For the 
 allusion to the battle of the giants, see Harper's Diet, of Class. Lit. 
 and Antiq. 
 
 §6. 71. Atqui: "but nevertheless"; i. e., granting that Cato's 
 statements are true, still Lselius wishes to learn how to bear the 
 increasing burden of old age. gratissimmn . . . feceris: "you 
 
 will do us a great favor." The future perfect tense (cf. didicerimus 
 below) is regular in the polite conversational formula gratis.iimum 
 (gratum) feceris, si . . , Ci.Lael.^ IS, pergratum feceris, si disputaris; 
 also Rep. 1, 34. ut . . . pollicear: "to speak for Scipio also," 
 
 as well as for myself. Cf . Brut. 1 22 , nobis vero placet, ut pro Bruto etiam 
 respondeam; Academ. 1, 33, nos vero volumus utpro Attica respondeam. 
 
 73. fieri: if the infinitive had depended upon speramus, it would 
 regularly have been future {nos futuros esse senes); but volumus, 
 which is added to correct speramus, determines the construction of 
 the infinitive {fieri). 
 
COMMENTARY 43 
 
 74. rationibus: "means."' 
 
 77. futurum est: note the force of est (not erit) representing the 
 matter on the point of fulfilment — " if it is going to be a pleasure 
 to you." The future (erit) would have put the matter in the future 
 and made it less certain of fulfilment. 
 
 78. Volumus sane: " we certainly do desire." nisimolestum 
 est: a familiar expression of courtesy, like sodes (si audes), si placet, 
 etc. tamquam longam aliquam viam confeceris: the thought 
 here suggests comparison with Plato, Rep. I, 328 E, which passage 
 Cicero must have had in mind. However, in that passage Socrates 
 inquires about the character of the road leading to old age, whereas 
 Cicero draws attention to the destination only. 
 
 79. quam . . . ingrediendum est: "which we too must enter 
 upon." This archaic impersonal use of the periphrastic conjugation 
 with a direct object occurs only in one other passage in Cicero (Pro 
 Scauro 13, oblivescendum vobis putatis matrum in liberos rirorum in 
 uxores seeleraf). The suggestion of some editors that Cicero used 
 this construction in imitation of the archaic style of Cato seems 
 wholly gratuitous since the construction does not occur once in the 
 extant writings of Cato. The construction does, however, occur in 
 Lucretius and in Varro (for a full list of examples see Roby's Latin 
 Gram., Pref. to Vol. 2, p. Ixxii). 
 
 80. istuc . . . videre quale sit: a familiar form of the indirect 
 question characteristic of the conversational style. See G. 468. 
 
 CHAPTER in 
 
 § 7. 82. ut potero: note the future where the English idiom re- 
 quires the present — "as well as I can." Cf. Rep. 1, 38, hie Scipio, 
 fadam quod voltis ut potero. Saepe enim: enim introduces the 
 
 reason for faciam, not for ut potero. 
 
 83. pares cum paribus congregantur: this proverb can be traced 
 back to Homer at least, — Odyss. 17, 218, ws ai'el Thv dfiuToy Stei Sths 
 as rhv o/uoioy. A Latin variant is similes similihus coniugi solent, simi- 
 lihus similia gaudent. The German runs, Gleich und Gleich gesellt sich 
 gem; and the French, Qui se ressemble s'assemble, with which com- 
 pare the English, " Birds of a feather flock together." 
 
 84. quae . . . deplorare solebant: a repetition of the thought 
 expressed in Saepe querellis aequaliiim and repeated because of the 
 intervening parenthesis. Quae is accusative of the inner object. See 
 G. 333, 1, N. 2; B. 176, 2; L. 1144; A. & G. 390, c. 
 
 85. C. Salinator: C. Livius Salinator (230-170 B. c.) was praetor 
 191 B. c. and consul 188.. He was commissioned to superintend the 
 equipment of the Roman fleet during the war against Ahtiochus. 
 
44 DE SENECTUTE 
 
 Sp. Albinus: Sp. Postumius Albinus was consul 186 b. c. and with 
 his colleague was appointed to investigate the Bacchanalian con- 
 spiracy of that year (see Livy, 39, 1). He died 180 b. c. 
 
 86. turn . . . turn: "at one time . . at another." Cf. 1.559, gm 
 hoc idem turn compotationem, turn concenationem vacant. 
 
 87. sine auibus ... putarent: "without which they thought, 
 as they said, that life was not life at all"; — subjunctive of partial 
 obliquity. vitam nullam: cf . Ad Fam. 7, 1, 4, hoc tempore vita 
 nullast; Ter., Phorm. 942, Nullus sum. 
 
 88. assent . . . soliti: subjunptive by attraction. Qui:=sed 
 hi, adversative asyndeton. 
 
 89. auod asset accusandum: subjunctive of partial obliquity, 
 equivalent to a subordinate clause in indirect discourse. 
 
 90. usu venirent: "would come by experience," "would happen." 
 
 91. quorum: depends upon multorum from which it is separated 
 just as multorum is separated from senectutem. 
 
 92. sine querela: a prepositional phrase used as an attribute of 
 senectutem. Cf. 1. 282, ex agro Sdbino rusticos Romanos; also 1. 481, 
 cum hostibus clandestina coUoquia. qui se at . . . ferrent: "who 
 were men of such character as not to regret"; se . . . laxatos esse 
 is the object of ferrent. 
 
 93. non moleste: understatement (litotes). But for this Cicero 
 would probably have written nee instead oi et . . . non. 
 
 95. Moderati:" men of self-control." difficiles: morose, surly, 
 hard to please. 
 
 96. inhumani: "churlish," lacking in culture (Jiumanitas) . 
 
 97. importunitas . . . inhumanitas: these two abstract sub- 
 stantives correspond to the adjectives difficiles and inhumani re- 
 spectively. The author uses no abstract term to repeat the thought 
 involved in ?reoderafo'. omni aetati molesta: "aj source of an- 
 noyance to every period of life." 
 
 § 8. 98. dixerit quispiam: an ideal objection, hence potential 
 Subjunctive (G. 257, 1). 
 
 99. opes et copias: "resources and wealth"; opes is more com- 
 prehensive than copias and connotes " influence," whether political 
 or social. dignitatem: " high social rank." 
 
 100. id . , . contingare: "such fortune cannot at any rate fall 
 to the lot of many." 
 
 103. isto: note the use of this neuter pronoun as a substantive. 
 Themistocles: the celebrated Athenian statesman and general (the 
 rival of Aristides) who conquered the Persians at the naval battle 
 of Salamis, 480 b. c. He was banished in 471 and spent the re- 
 mainder of his days in Persia and Asia Minor, dying about 460 b. c. 
 fertur: the story is variously told. Cicero here follows the version of 
 
COMMENTARY 45 
 
 Plato (Republic I, 329E). Herodotus (viii, 125) gives another ver- 
 sion. Seriphio cuidam: Seriphos was a small rock-bound island 
 of the Cyclades group which became a by-word for insignificance. Cf . 
 Nat. Dear. 1, 88. 
 
 104. ille: refers to Seriphio cuidam. 
 
 107. Quod: refers to the lesson of the story just told. 
 
 108. nee . . . levis . . . nee . . . nongravis: note the chiasmus. 
 On the thought see Plato, Rep. 330 A. 
 
 109. ne . . . quidem: here, as often, simply repeats the negative 
 idea. See G. 445; B. 347, 2; A. & G. 327; H. 656, 2. 
 
 §9. 110. Aptissima omnino . . . arma: "by all means the most 
 suitable weapons for old age." 
 
 111. seneetutis: Gen. of possession. artes exereitationesaue 
 virtutum: "the principle and the practice of virtues." Some editors 
 interpret artes as liberates artes ("liberal arts"). Observe the con- 
 crete effect of pluralizing the abstract term exercitationes. 
 
 112. cum diu multumnue vixeris: "when you have lived a long 
 and fruitful life"; — vixeris is potential subjunctive of the ideal 
 second person. Cf. 1. 327, quicquid agas; also: 1. 880, quoad munus 
 ofpci exsequi et tueri possis. 
 
 113. eeferunt: archaic form for efferunt, rarely employed even 
 in Cicero's time. See Neue, Formlehre der Lat. Sprache, 3rd ed., 2, 
 p. 870. 
 
 114. deserunt: the absolute use without an object, which is rather 
 unusual. 
 
 115. eonscientia bene aetae vitae: " the consciousness of a life well 
 spent." bene factorum: substantival use, as often, — " good deeds." 
 
 CHAPTER IV 
 
 § 10. 117. 0. Maximus: the hero of the Second Punic War, who 
 from his policy of avoiding a pitched battle with Hannibal, the 
 Carthaginian general, was surnamed " Cunctator" (217 B. c). His 
 full name was Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucosus Ovicula Cuncta- 
 tor. He was repeatedly elected consul (233, 228, 215, 214, and 209 
 B. c), was censor in 230 and dictator in 217 B. c. and died 203 B. c. 
 
 118. Tarentum reeepit: Tarentum was lost to Hannibal by the 
 Romans in 212 B. c, but recovered by Fabius — his crowning 
 achievement — in 209 B. c. (Livy, 27, 15-16). senem adules- 
 eens: note the. striking juxtaposition of these contrasted words, a 
 rhetorical device quite common in Latin. 
 
 119. eondita: "seasoned," "tempered" (condXta, not coruKta). 
 
 120. auamquam: corrective. See note on 1. 7. non admodum 
 grandem: " when not so very old." 
 
46 DE SENECTUTE 
 
 122. Anno: "a year after"; i. e., in the year 233 B. c. Cf. 1. 231, 
 
 Anno ante me censorem mortuus est. 
 
 123. Quartum consule: "consul for the fourth time." The date 
 is 214 B. c. adulescentulus: "when quite a young man." Cato 
 was 20 years old at the time. 
 
 124. miles: "as a private soldier"; predicative attribution. ad 
 Capuam: Capua was then in the hands of the enemy, and so Fabius 
 could go into the neighborhood of the city only (hence ad). 
 
 126. queni magistratuin: "an office which"; incorporation of the 
 antecedent into the relative clause. The date of Cato's quaestor- 
 ship is 204 B. c. 
 
 127. cum quidem: =tum guidem cum, "at the very time when"; 
 the indicative here indicates the point of time (cf. G. 580, 582; 
 B. 288, 2; A. & G. 545, a; L. 1868). suasor: used to d^ote one 
 who publicly supports a bill or measure, whereas one who speaks 
 against it is technically called dissuasor. legis Cinciae: so 
 called because the tribune M. Cincius Alimentus, brother of the his- 
 torian L. Cincius Alimentus, was the patron of the bill. The law 
 which was passed in 204 b. c. prohibited advocates from receiv- 
 ing fees for professional services. Certain restrictions were also 
 placed on gifts of property by private persons. The purpose of the 
 law was to prevent the rich from exacting tribute under the guise 
 of gifts from the poorer classes (see Cato's speech quoted in 
 Livy, 34, 4, 9). 
 
 129. plane grandis: sc. natu, "quite old." Fabius died the follow- 
 ing year (203 b. c). iuvenaliter: Hannibal's young manhood 
 is here contrasted with Fabius's advanced age {plane grandis). 
 When Hannibal entered Italy in 218 b. c, he was 29 years old; 
 and he was therefore only 32 at the time here referred to (215). 
 
 130. patientia: stronger than our "patience" and equivalent to 
 "persistence," "endurance." 
 
 131. praeclare: sc. dicit. Such omission before a quotation, espe- 
 cially a quotation from a poet, is quite common in Latin. fa- 
 miliaris noster: "my friend"; nostra for meus. Ennius: see 
 Introduction. 
 
 132. Unus homo, etc.: well-known lines in reference to Q. Fabius 
 Maximus from Ennius's Annates (Vahlen's ed., 12, 370; Mviller's 
 ed., 8, 286), the first of which attained the currency of a proverb. 
 Cf. De Off. 1, 84; Ad Ait. 2, 19, 2; Liv. 30, 26; Verg.,^4en. 6, 846; 
 Ovid, Fasti 2, 241; Sueton., Tib. 21. See Otto, Sprichworter der 
 Rimer, p. 101. cunctando: the year after the overwhelming 
 defeat at Cannse, when Fabius entered upon his second command, he 
 adopted his famous policy of delay. The Roman fortunes were then 
 at a very low ebb, but under Fabius's command a change for the 
 
COMMENTARY 47 
 
 better soon took place. See Mommsen, Hist, of Rome, III, Chap. 5. 
 rem: = rem publicam. 
 
 133. Noenum: an archaic negative, "not." The etymology of 
 noenum is not clear. Some explain it as compounded of no (a by-form 
 of ne) and the asseverative -ree (cf. the Plautine Tune). Other ety- 
 mologies have also been suggested. See Crit. Appendix. ru- 
 mores: in reference to the reports current that Fabius avoided a 
 pitched battle with Hannibal from sheer cowardice. ponebat: 
 note the original long vowel of the termination (-bat). Cf. 1. 2, 
 versat. 
 
 134. plusque magisque: the usual distinction between plus and 
 magis as a comparative formation and with verbs is that plus in- 
 tensifies the significance and mag^is widens the extent of application. 
 But Ennius probably did not observe any such distinction and 
 simply used both together for cumulative effect. clafet: poetic 
 and rare, according to Lexicon. 
 
 § II. 135. Tarentum: especially emphatic, as indicated by 
 position. 
 
 136. Salinatori: Cicero appears to be in error here. It was Titus 
 Livius Macatus, according to Livy, 27, 34, 7, who lost Tarentum, 
 not his kinsman Titus Livius Salinator. (The same error also occurs 
 in De Oral. II, 27-3. On the confusion see K. Allen's article in Ameri- 
 can Journal of Philology, 19, 437.) M. Livius Macatus defended 
 Tarentum from 214 to 212 B. c. and held the citadel from 212 to 
 209 when Fabius Maximus recovered the city. M. Livius Salinator 
 was consul in 219 B. c. and conquered the Illyrians, but was later 
 forced to go into exile because of misappropriation of public funds. 
 In 210 B. c. the senate permitted him to return, and three years 
 later he was elected consul and defeated Hasdrubal in the battle 
 of the Metaurus. In 204 he was censor and imposed a tax on salt, 
 in consequence of which the surname Salinator was given in ridicule. 
 
 137. Mea opera: with special emphasis on mea, "through my 
 aid." 
 
 140. praestantior: so. erat. toga: "civil life," "peacetimes." 
 
 In war times the sagum (the military cloak) replaced the toga. Cf. 
 De Orat. 3, 167, togam pro pace, arma ac tela pro hello. consul 
 
 itenim: "when consul a second time." The reference is to the year 
 228 B. c, when Fabius was consul. But Flaminius was tribune, not 
 consul in the year 232 B. c, according to Polybius (2. 21 , 7). Cicero 
 therefore errs here in making these men colleagues in the year 232 
 B. c. Sp. Carvilio: Sp. Carvilius Maximus was twice consul, 
 
 first in 234 B. c. and again in 228. During his first consulship he 
 defeated the Corsieans and Sardinians. In the year 216, just after 
 the battle of Caimae, he proposed that, in order to fill the_ vacancies 
 
48 DE SENECTUTE 
 
 in the senate caused by that disastrous defeat, two members from 
 each of the Latin communities be selected. (This proposition was 
 a close approach to modern representative government.) 
 
 141. quiescente: i. e., he took no part in the political strife of the 
 classes. C. Flaminio: the lex Flaminia, passed in 232 b. c, was 
 the first agrarian law enacted and was in direct opposition to the 
 established policy of the Roman senate. The law provided that cer- 
 tain lands in northern Italy should be distributed among the citizens 
 of Rome (cf. Brutus, 14, 57 and Val. Max. 5, 45). The agrarian 
 agitation began with Spurius Cassius's proposition in 486 b. c. 
 (Livy, 2, 41, ,3), and the lex Icilia in 456 B. c. (Livy, 3, 31, 1) and the 
 leges Liciniae in 367 b. c. were notable milestones in the history of 
 this agitatioa Cf . Abbott, Roman Political Institutions, §§29 and 36. 
 
 142. agrum Picentum et Gallicum: the Gallic lands here men- 
 tioned lay along the Adriatic between Ancona and Ariminum and 
 the Picene lands were somewhat to the south of these. Colonies 
 had been established in the territory of the Gallic Senones about 
 fifty years before, and the distribution here referred to was not to 
 the new colonists, but to individuals {viritim). 
 
 143. senatus auctoritatem: senatus auctoritas denotes an opinion 
 of the senate expressed in a formal resolution, while senatus con- 
 sultum denotes a formal decree. dividenti: with conative force, 
 "while he endeavored to divide." The participle is here equivalent 
 to CMTO-I- the imperfect indicative. Cf. \. 670, lenientem. augur: 
 Fabius was augur for 62 years (Livy, 30, 26, 7) and his disregard of 
 omens was only surpassed by Flaminius's scandalous record. No 
 doubt these men did not hesitate to manipulate the auspicia to suit 
 their political aims. See Mommsen, Hist, of Rome, IV, Chap. 12. 
 
 145. ferrentur: legem ferre is the technical term for proposing a law. 
 § 12. 146. Multa: especially emphatic, as indicated by position. 
 
 147. admirabilius: sc. cognovi, "I, have known nothing more 
 worthy of admiration." quam quo modo: =eum modum quo, 
 "than the manner in which " ; case of incorporated antecedent in the 
 relative clause, hence the indie, and not the subjunctive mood. Cf. 
 10, guem magistratum gessi. 
 
 148. filii: this son, also called Q. Fabius Maximus, was consul in 
 213 B. c. and died in 205 b. c, before his aged father. in 
 manibus: "at hand, " " in circulation." Cf. Laelius, § 96, in manibus 
 est oratio. In addition to this meaning, the phrase signifies: 1, "to 
 have in hand, be occupied with " {esse or habere, as in 1. 270, quam in 
 manibus habebat); 2, "to be close at hand,'present." laudatio: 
 sc. funebris, the funeral oration. This speech was in existence as late 
 as Plutarch's time (see Plutarch, Fabius 24). 
 
 149. quam cum legimus: "and when we read it." contem- 
 
COMMENTARY 49 
 
 nimus: "value little, esteem lightly." Cato had only contempt for 
 Greek philosophy. When the celebrated Athenian embassy of philos- 
 ophers lectured at Rome in 155 b. c, he urged that they be requested 
 to return to Athens immediately for fear they should corrupt the 
 Roman youth {DeOrat.2, 155; Acad. 2, 137; Ad Att.12,23, 2, etc.). 
 
 150. in luce . . . civium: " in public and before the gaze of his 
 fellow-countrymen," in luce is quite a common figure in Cicero (cf. 
 Ad Qu. Fr. 1, 1,7, in luce Asiae, in oculis provindae) . 
 
 151. intus domique: hendiadys. praestantior : sc. erat. Cf. 
 1. 140, praestantior. 
 
 152. notitia: "acquaintance," "familiarity." scientia: "know/- 
 ledge"; i. e., expert knowledge of the principles, in contrast with 
 notitia, which signifies " general knowledge " only. 
 
 153. ut in homine Romano: "considering the fact that he was a 
 Roman," "for a Roman," restrictive ut (see G. 642,4; L. 1942). 
 Cf. Livy, 30, ZZ, Alexander vir ut inter Aetolos facundv^. litterae: 
 sc. erant, "acquaintance with literature." 
 
 154. omnia: in agreement with bella. memoria: Abl. of 
 means, hence in is not employed. domestica : wars in which the 
 Romans engaged , not simply civil wars, which is the usual meaning. 
 
 155. externa: the wars which other nations waged, though the 
 term ordinarily signifies foreign wars in which Rome engaged. Cf. 
 Leg. Agr. 2, 90, omnibus domesticis externisque bellis. Cuius : 
 = ef eijis. ita: looks forward to qua^i and qualifies fruebar, 
 not cupide. Cf. 1. 318, sic avide arripui quasi, etc. 
 
 156. illoexstincto: Fabius died 203 B. c. foreimde . . . ne- 
 minem: " there would be no one for me to Iparn from." 
 
 157. unde: = a quo. Cf. G. Gil, Rem. 1; L. 1793. 
 
 CHAPTER V 
 
 § 13- 157- haec tammulta: sc. dm, or some other verb of saying. 
 
 158. Quia profecto videtis: "because you of course see." 
 
 159. fuisse: depends upon the supine dictu. 
 
 160. Scipiones: " men like Scipio"; a generic plural which is quite 
 common with proper names. Cicero's reference here to Scipio im- 
 plies a degree of cordiality between Scipio and Cato which did not 
 exist as a matter of fact. It is well attested that Cato during the 
 greater part of his life was an avowed bitter opponent of Scipio (see 
 Introduction, p. xxii). 
 
 161. ut: note the repetition of the particle for emphasis (ana- 
 phora), pedestres: for terrestres, " on land " — a common usage. 
 So far as is known, neither Scipio nor Fabius ever engaged person- 
 ally in a naval battle. 
 
 162. quiete et pure ataue eleganter: quiete, "in quiet," as opposed 
 
50 DE SENECTUTE 
 
 to the bustle, and stir of a public life; pure, " sinleesly, " implies moral 
 blamelessness, while eleganter, "in a refined manner," denotes dainti- 
 ness in union with good taste and judgment. Reid maintains tliat 
 pure and eleganter are to be taken together as forming one branch 
 of the enumeration, the other branch being quiete; and that the two 
 are connected by et. This principle, however, appears to be con- 
 travened by examples cited in Merguet's Lexicon, and it is probably 
 better to regard the enumeration as a climax, with ataue=a7id also. 
 
 163. placida ac lenis senectus: "a quiet and gentle old age"; 
 placida referring to the outward circumstances and Unis to the tem- 
 per and disposition. qualem accepimus Platonis: sc. fuisse 
 senectutem. Plato, the celebrated philosopher who lived 427-347 b. c. 
 
 164. uno et octogesimo: in such combinations unus is frequently 
 employed instead of the regular primus, as "one and eightieth" in 
 English. scribens: whether to be taken hterally, "with pen in 
 hand," or in the sense "still engaged in writing books" cannot be 
 definitely determined. Valerius Maximus (8, 73) follows this tradi- 
 tion. However, another tradition informs us that Plato died at a 
 wedding feast (Diog. Laert. 3, 2). Isocrati: Isocrates, the fa- 
 mous orator and rhetorician, lived from 436 to 338 b. c. He is reputed 
 to have trained more orators than any other rhetorician of antiquit}'. 
 He starved himself to death, pining for the loss of Greek freedom 
 through the battle of Ohaeronea. Cf. Milton, Sonnet X, "Broke 
 him, as that dishonest \ictory At Chaeronea, fatal to liberty, Killed 
 with report that old man eloquent." 
 
 165. Panathenaicus: a noted speech, still extant, delivered at the 
 Panathenaic festival eulogizing Athens and Attica (339 B. c). 
 
 168. Leontinus Gorgias: Gorgias, the greatest of the sophists, was 
 born at Leohtini in Sicily about 485 b. c. and died 378 b. c. Iff his 
 old age he lived in Thessaly and there met and studied with Iso- 
 crates. 
 
 169. neqiie umQuam . . . cessavit: " without ever relaxing in his 
 enthusiasm for literary work." Cf . 1. 658, nee modico caret et nimios 
 soils defendit ar dares. Quaererentur : historical sequence be- 
 cause inguit is a historical present. See G. 511, R. 1; A. & G. 485; 
 H. 546; B. 268, 3. 
 
 170. cur tain diu vellet esse in vita: regarded by some, perhaps 
 without sufficient reason, as a hint at suicide which the Stoics and 
 Epicureans held to be justifiable under certain circumstances. 
 
 171. nihil habeo . . '. quod accusem: "I have no reason to find 
 fault with." The subjunctive after nihil habeo is generally explained 
 as the subjunctive of characteristic. Cf. G. 631, 2; A. & G. 535, a; 
 H. 591, 4; B. 283, 2; L. 1822. . 
 
 172. Praeclarum responsum: in apposition to the latter part of 
 
COMMENTARY 51 
 
 the preceding clause. For similar examples see Laelius, §§ 67, 71, 79. 
 docto: ' a scholar" ; i. e., one who combines culture with his learning. 
 § 14. 172. Sua: emphatic like the following suam. On the thought 
 compare 7, in moribus est culpa, non in aetate. 
 
 174. cuius . . . feci: cf. 1. 27,5, qv/is ante dixi. 
 
 175. Ennius: see Introduction. The quotation is from his Annales 
 (Vahlen's ed., Bk. 12, 374; MuUer's ed., Bk. 8). 
 
 176. equos: nominative, the spelling of Ennius's time, perhaps 
 also current in Cicero's day before equus {ecus) came into v6gue. 
 spatio supremo: " in the last lap." In the Roman circus a race ordi- 
 narily included seven laps (spatia), in the Greek hippodrome, twelve 
 laps, the chariots racing around the course seven and twelve times 
 respectively. Cf. Verg., Aen. 5, 325, lamgue fere spatio extremo 
 
 177. Vicit Olympia : a cognate accusative in imitation of the Greek 
 fi/cSi' 'OAu/iirio. Cf. Hor., Epist. 1, 1, 50, coronari Olympia. In 
 Greek words transliterated, the Greek t; was represented by the 
 Latin u in Ennius's time and even much later. confectus qui- 
 escit: note that final s does not here make position. Cf. 1. 6, plenus 
 fidffi. 
 
 178. victoris: adjectival, "victorious.'' Cf. Verg., Aen. 7, 656, 
 victores equos. See L. 1042, 1045; A. & G. 321, c; G. 204, notes; H. 
 495, 3. 
 
 179. Quein meminisse: meminisse, "to recall," when used of 
 persons, is regularly followed by the accusative. See G. 376, 2; B. 
 206, 1, a; A..& G. 350, a; H. 454, 2. 
 
 180. hi consules: "the present consuls"; i. e., those of the year 
 150 B. c. when the dialogue is supposed to have taken place. 
 T. Flaminius: generally taken to be the undistinguished son of C. 
 Flaminius (cf. 1. 7) who built the first road over the Apennines, the 
 famous Via Flaminia, and the Circus Flaminius. 
 
 181. M'. Acilius: Manius Acilius Balbus, consul 150 B. c. The 
 apostrophe represents the fifth stroke of M, which in early times 
 was written /W. Caepione : Cn. Servilius Caepio, consul 169 
 B. c. Philippo: Q. Marcius Philippus, consul 186 b. c.when he 
 helped to suppress the Bacchanalian conspiracy of that year, and 
 again consul 169 B. c. when he fought against Perseus. He served 
 as censor 164. 
 
 183. legem Voconiam: this law introduced by the tribune Q. 
 Voconius Saxa provided that no man who possessed property valued 
 at 100,000 sesterces or over should leave it as a legacy to a woman. 
 The measure was designed to prevent the growing tendency of 
 women to inherit great fortunes which would naturally pass to the 
 families of their husbands. Cato, who was always opposed to luxury 
 
52 DE SENECTUTE 
 
 of every sort, supported the bill when it was pending, and his speech 
 was extant in Livy's time {J'eriocha 41). 
 
 184. lateribus: "lungs." Note that Cicero rarely uses pulmones 
 for "lungs" except in sacrificial or medical parlance, latera being 
 employed instead. 
 
 § 15. 188. Etenim: "in tact," "indeed." Etenim serves to mark 
 a transition from the introductory part of the essay to the body of 
 the discussion. complector: "I think the matter over"; the 
 
 object involving the question of age and its burdens, has to be sup- 
 plied. 
 
 189. avocet: sc.serees. The subjunctive denotes partial obliquity, 
 implying that the reason is not the speaker's, but the reason of those 
 who deem old age wretched. The same explanation applies to faciat 
 and privet and absit. 
 
 IQO. alteram . . . tertiam: in enumerations of several objects, 
 primus and secundus are generally replaced by unus and alter (see 
 Krebs, Antibarbarus, 6th ed., 2, p. 345). Cf. Ad Att. 3, 15, 1; De 
 Fin. 5, 9; De Off. 1, 152. 
 
 193. Quamque: =e< guam. Note that si< intervenes between iiisto 
 and its modifier quam. Cicero frequently, as here, by a small word 
 separates quam, quantus, tantus, etc., from the words they qualify. 
 Cf. 1. 419, quam fuit imbecillus; 1. 488, tam esse inimicum, etc. 
 
 CHAPTER VI 
 
 194. A rebus . . . abstrahit: a restatement of the first objection 
 against old age. Note the change of mood from Subj. to Indie, 
 inasmuch as the thesis is now the proposition that Cicero is to con- 
 trovert by argument. Quibus: the preposition is understood here 
 which has just been expressed before rebus. Such an omission is 
 quite common with relatives and interrogatives, especially where the 
 same verb is already expressed or implied. an eis: an introduces 
 the second member of the disjunctive question, utrum omnibus 
 having to be supplied as the first member; — "Is it from all mat- 
 ters, or simply from those, etc.?" Here quibus implies omnibus, 
 and an clearly has the force of nonne. Cf . 1. 280, An in omnibus studi- 
 orum agitatio vitae aequales fuitf 1. 346, Anne illas quidem viris senec- 
 tute relinquimus, etc.? 
 
 195. iuventute . . . et viribus: "the strength of youth" ; this 
 figure is called hendiadys. 
 
 196. vel: "even"; adverbial. infirmis corporibus: in sharp 
 contrast with iuventute et viribus. 
 
 197. nihil ergo asebat: note the repetition of nihil for rhetorical 
 
COMMENTARY 53 
 
 effect (anaphora). L. Paulus tuus pater: Lucius jEmilius Paulus 
 
 Macedonicus, consul 182 b. c. and again 168 b. c. During liis second 
 consulship he defeated Perseus at Pydna, thus putting an end to 
 the first Macedonian War. Hence Jiis cognomen "Macedonicus." 
 The elder Africanus had two sons, one of whom was expelled from 
 the senate on account of his disreputable life, and the other was an 
 invalid who died young. Africanus thereupon adopted the son of 
 Lucius jEmilius Paulus the hero of Pydna, and the adopted son took 
 the name P. Cornelius Scipio Africanus (minor) jEmilianus. 
 
 198. filii mei: Marcus Porcius Cato, son of Cato, married jEmilia 
 the daughter of Paulus, and died when pra^tor-elect in 152 B. c. 
 
 199. Fabricii, Curii, Cortmcanii: generic plurals like Scipiones 
 aut Maximi (1. 160). C. Fabricius Luscinus, noted for the simpUcity 
 and integrity of his character, was consul in 282, 278, and 273 B. c. 
 and censor in 275. He was appointed commander against Pyrrhus 
 (281-275 B. c). Marius Curius Dentatus, noted for his simplicity 
 and frugality, also commanded against Pyrrhus and practically con- 
 cluded the third Samnite War. He was consul in 290, 275 and 274 
 B. c. Tiberius Coruncanius was consul in 280 b. c. and won a name 
 for himself both in the war against Pyrrhus and also in the war 
 against the Etruscans. cum . . . defendebant: explicative cum 
 (see G. 582). Cf. In Cat. 1, 8, 21, cum tacent, clamant. 
 
 200. nihil agebant: forms with nihil ergo agebat an example of 
 chiasmus. 
 
 § 16. 201. Appi Claudi: Appius Claudius Cai'cus, consul 307 and 
 296 B. c, who as censor in 311 b. c. built the queen of Roman high- 
 ways, the famous Appian Way, which extended from Rome to 
 Capua (later extended to Brundisium). He also built the first of 
 the Roman aqueducts, the Aqua Appia. When the question of peace 
 with Pyrrhus was under discussion in the senate, he had himself 
 carried into the senate-house to speak against it. (Val. Max. 8, 
 13, 5.) accedebat: more commonly followed by a quod-cla,use 
 
 with the Indie, than by an M<-clause as here. This construction 
 implies Appius's blindness was a result of old age. 
 
 202. ad pacem . . . faciendum: faciendum is to be taken with 
 pacem also, though it agrees directly with foedus. 
 
 203. dubitavit dicere: see G. 555, R. 3. 
 
 204. persecutus est: "has expressed." 
 
 205. Quo vobis: the lines are from Ennius's Annales (Vahlen's 
 ed., Bk. 6, 202). mentes . . . dementis: a contradiction in 
 terms (oxymoron). ^ 
 
 206. Antehac: dissyllabic, as usual, by synizesis (antetec). de- 
 mentis: "senseless"; nominative (early form). viai: archaic 
 genitive, partitive after quo, lit. "whither of the way?" 
 
54 DE SENECTUTE 
 
 207. ceteraciue: refers to Appius's speech. carmen: "the 
 poem," "the passage." 
 
 208. et tamen: there seems to be an ellipsis here. The sense is; 
 "and yet there is no occasion |to refer to Ennius's quotation from 
 Appius's oration, for the speech itself is extant." oratio: 
 Appius's speech was regarded as one of the earliest documents in 
 Latin prose extant in Cicero's time. Cicero's reference to it (in his 
 Brutus, 61) indicates that he found it rather dry reading. 
 
 209. cum . . . interfuissent censorque . . . fuisset: the circum- 
 stantial cwm-clauses seem here employed simply as a substitute 
 for the perfect participle and have the value of the Abl. Abs. con- 
 struction, — " ten years having intervened between his two con- 
 sulships and his censorship having preceded his consulship." Cf. 
 1. 360, cuw, quadrennio post alterum consulatum pontifex maximus 
 factus esset; 1. 502, cum guidem ei sermoni interfuisset Plato Atheni- 
 ensis. See Hale, Cum-Constructions, pp. 184-189; G. 585, R.; A. &G. 
 493, 2; L. 1872. 
 
 210. ante . . . consulatum: an evidence of Appius's exceptional 
 character, since only ex-consuls were usually elected censors. 
 
 212. grandem sane: "really an old man." He was probably 70 
 years old at least at the time of the war with Pyrrhus (280 b. c). 
 et tamen: see note on et tamen above, 1. 208. sic: some editors 
 
 take sic as referring to Atque hacc ille agit, but it more probably 
 refers to the immediately preceding statement grandem sane fuisse. 
 Cf. 78, sic mihi persuasi. 
 
 § 17. 213. Nihil igitur afferunt: "they therefore bring forward 
 no argument"; i. e., that shows old age to be wretched. 
 
 214. similesque . . . ut si aui: an unusual combination. Ut si 
 with the subjunctive is quite regular to introduce an imaginary 
 illustration. But ut si rarely occurs in combination with similis. 
 Yet, according to Merguet {Lex. zu der philosophischen Schriften 
 Cicerds), similiter ut si occurs (Tusc. Disp. 4, 41; De Off. 1, 87). 
 cum scandant . . . cursent . . . exhauria)nt - . . sedeat: subjunc- 
 tive of partial obliquity. per foros: " along the deck." 
 
 217. clavum: " tiller"; i. e., the oar or oars, used for steering. Cf. 
 Ad Fam. 9, 15, 3, sedebamus in puppi et clavum tenebamus; also 
 Ennius, Ann. 438 (Vahlen's ed.), Dum clavum rectum teneam navem- 
 Que gubernem. 
 
 219. Non viribus aut velocitate aut celeritate corporum: corporum 
 modifies viribus and velocitate as well as celeritate, and the words 
 are all emphatic as their position indicates. Trans.: "It is not by 
 strength of body, or rapidity of movement, or by swiftness that 
 great results are achieved." 
 
 221. quibus: serves in a two-fold relation: 1. Abl. of separation 
 
COMMENTARY 55 
 
 with orbari; 2. Abl. of specification with augeri; — "qualities of 
 which old age is not only not usually deprived, but in respect of 
 which it is even accustomed to be enriched." Such a rhetorical 
 figure is called avh koikoS (in common). 
 
 § i8. 222. Nisi forte: ordinarily denotes an absurd, though pos- 
 sible supposition, as liere. Cf . 1. 397, nisi forte adulescentes pueritiam, 
 paululum aetate progressi adulescentiam debent requirere. miles: 
 
 " a private." et tribunus et legatus et consul: note the gain in 
 
 emphasis by the repetition of et (polysyndeton). Note also the 
 climax, — "private, tribune, lieutenant, consul." The consul of 
 course had general command, the legatus was next in rank to the 
 commander-in-chief (consul) and the tribunus militum (of whom 
 there were six to a legion, each commanding in turn for two months) 
 was placed over the private (miles) and under the direct supervi- 
 sion of the legatus. 
 
 223. in vario genere: "in various kinds." 
 
 224. cessare: "to be- idle." Cf. 13, cessavit. at: cf. 1. 218, ai 
 vero. For the thought see De Off. 1, 79. 
 
 225. male iam diu cogitati: "which has now for a long time been 
 plotting mischief." See G. 230, 668; A. &G.490, 1; H. 638; B. 336,2. 
 
 226. bellum multo ante denuntio: i. e., Cato declares war against 
 Carthage long before hostilities actually began. He was so envious of 
 the maritime prestige and the trade supremacy of Rome's rival that 
 he is reputed always to have closed his speeches in the senate with 
 the words, censeo Karthaginem esse detendam, (Plutarch, Cato, 27). 
 
 § 19. 228. Quam palmam: i. e., the glory of destroying Cartlmge. 
 Carthage was taken in the year 146 b. c, four years after the sup- 
 posed date of this dialogue, so that Cicero here makes Cato utter 
 the destruction of that nation as a prophecy. 
 
 229. ut avi reliquias persequare: "of completing the work your 
 grandfather left unfinished." Scipio's grandfather here referred 
 to was Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus (maior) who fought at 
 Cannae, later in Spain and in Africa and at length defeated Hanni- 
 bal at Zama, in 202 B. c. 
 
 230. sextus hie et tricesimus annus: Scipio died thirty-five years 
 before the date of this dialogue, in 185 b.c. memoriam: there is 
 no intimation here of the feeling of bitter enmity which Cato really 
 entertained toward Scipio. That unrelenting animosity resulted 
 in forcing the hero of the Second Punic War and the conqueror of 
 Hannibal into retirement upon his estate near Naples, and here it 
 was that Scipio died when but little over fifty years old. 
 
 231. ezcipient: "cherish," lit. "take up." Anno ante me 
 censorem: the generally accepted date of Scipio's death is 185 b. c, 
 but there is some doubt about this, some assigning 183 as the cor- 
 
56 DE SENECTUTE 
 
 rect date. Livy (39, 50, 10; also 52, 1-2) argues for the year 185 
 on the ground that in the year of the censorship of Cato and Vale- 
 rius (i. e., 184 B. c.) Valerius was named princeps senatus to succeed 
 Scipio who must of course have been dead. novem annis post 
 
 meum consulatum: Cato's consulship terminated in March, 194 B. c, 
 and so nine full years after would make the date appear to be 185 b. c. 
 233. cum . . . creatus esset: see note on 1. 209 above, cum inter 
 duos consulatus anni decern interfuissent, censorque ante superiorem 
 consulatum fuisset. paeniteret: "would he now regret?" If 
 
 Scipio, who was bom 235 b. c, had lived to his hundredth year, he 
 would have been 85 years old at the time of this dialogue and would 
 still have had fifteen years more to live; hence the imperfect tense 
 {paeniteret) . 
 
 235. nee enim: "No, for"; nee is correlative to the following nee. 
 ezcursione: "skirmishing"; military term. Cicero seems here to 
 have in mind military exercises, such as those in which the light- 
 armed soldiers {veles) engaged. 
 
 236. hastis:= pilis. Years before Cicero's time the long hasta had 
 been superseded by the short pilum with which the legionaries were 
 generally armed (Livy, 26, 4, 4; 38, 20, 1 ; 38, 21 , 13) . consilio, 
 ratione, sententia: see 1. 220, consilio, auctoritate, sententia. 
 
 238. consilium: frequently used for concilium, a deliberative 
 assembly, the senate. 
 
 §20. 239. amplissimum: "most distinguished." Cicero makes 
 the point that whereas the Romans called their councillors sena- 
 tores implying that they are old men {ut sunt senes), the Lacedse- 
 monians called their councillors sen^s. The reference is of course to 
 the ycpomes (councillors) who constituted the yepovala. This body 
 consisted of 28 members and no man under sixty years of age was 
 eligible thereto. 
 
 241. externa: "foreign history," as in 1. 155, externa bella. 
 
 244. cede: "tell me," ht. "give here"; an archaic imperative, 2d 
 sing, (from ce (cf. hie from hi + ce)+do (from dare)). The line is an 
 iambic octonarius and is thus scanned : 
 
 Note that the anapaest (w w J.) and the spondee (- 1) are employed 
 in most of the feet as allowable substitutes for the iambus (w 1), 
 and that the verse ictus occurs on alternate feet only. See G. 758. 
 qui: "how?" Cf. 1. 54, qui enim citius adulescentis senectus quam 
 pueritiae adulescentia abrepit f 
 
 245. Naevi: Cn. Nsevius, a native Campanian, born 269 or 264 b. c. 
 and died at Utica 199 B. c. After fighting in the First Punic War he 
 wrote an epic poem Bellum Punicum on that war, in the old Satur- 
 
COMMJCNTARY 57 
 
 nian verse, and also produced plays, both tragedies and comedies. 
 His boldness in satirizing the nobility, especially the powerful family 
 of the Metelli, landed him in prison and sent him into exile finally. 
 Ludo: it is doubtful whether this is the specific name of a play by 
 Nsevius, viz. the " Lydian or Etruscan," as some editors interpret it. 
 It was at all events of the type of early Latin plays called fabulae 
 praetextae, i. e., a national Italian tragedy which was sharply dis- 
 tinguished from the tragoedia adapted from the Greek. See Crit. Ap. 
 
 246. et alia et: "among other things this reply especially was 
 given"; lit. "both others and this." 
 
 247. Proveniebant aut oratores: another iambic octonarius, and 
 from the same play as the preceding hne. The scansion is: 
 
 -vi^|--|-^|--||^-£|-ww|--^U- 
 
 stulti adulescentuli : so characterized probably because they urged 
 the change of government from an aristocracy to a kingdom. (Both 
 lines are cited in Merry's Fragments of Early Roman Poetry, p. 20.) 
 
 248. florentis aetatis, . . . senescentis: " a mark of youth, . 
 of old age": pred. Gen. of possession. 
 
 CHAPTER VII 
 
 § 21. 250. At memoria minuitur: " But some one may say that 
 memory is impaired"; objection of an imaginary opponent. Cf. 
 1. 388,- At minus habeo virium quam vestrum utervis,' 1. 416, At muUi 
 ita sunt imbecilli senes; 11. 578, 801, etc. Credo: "to be sure," 
 "of course." Cf. 1. 578, At nan est, etc. . . . Credo. nisi earn 
 
 exerceas: ideal second person, — "you, one," Cf. 1. 344, exsequi 
 nequeas ; 1. 397, ne reguiras. 
 
 251. tardior: "rather stupid." Cf. De Or. 1, 28, 127, si qui forte 
 sit tardior. Themistocles: the celebrated Athenian general and 
 statesman, hero of Salamis (480 B. cV Driven into exile 471 b. c, 
 he lived in Persia and Asia Minor till his death about a decade later. 
 He is reputed to have possessed a wonderful memory. 
 
 252. perceperat: "had mastered." 
 
 253. QuiAristides esset: Q'Mi=to7neto'i(!. Understand eMwi as object 
 of salutare and take Lysimachum as predicate accusative. Lysi- 
 machum: the father of Aristides, who was Themistocles' strong rival. 
 It is not at all likely that Themistocles would forget his old rival or 
 confuse him with another. 
 
 254. Eauidem: Cicero often uses equidem as equivalent to ego qui- 
 dem," as ioT my self, I." sunt: =Dij;Mn<, as often; "are still alive." 
 Cf. 1. 669, At Homerus qui . . . fuit. sepulcra: by metonymy 
 for epitaphs. The elaborate Roman tombs along the great highways 
 leading out of the city arrested the attention of travellers and espe- 
 cially of old men who are reputed to have occupied themselves in 
 
58 DE SENECTUTE 
 
 reading and studying the inscriptions upon the tombs. Perhaps 
 Cato, who was a noted antiquarian, even indulged in this practice. 
 
 256. quod aiunt: "as they say," implying a proverb though here 
 perhaps only a superstition. his . . . legendis: "by reading 
 these very epitaphs." As historian Cato did not neglect even the in- 
 scriptions on tombs as throwing light upon the past. Cf . 1. 454, Septi- 
 mus mihi liber Originum . . . omnia antiquitatis monumenta colligo. 
 
 257. Quemauam senem: adjectival use of the substantive guis- 
 quam (for uZZms) , somewhat rare in Cicero. Cf. De Off. 3, 101, cuiquam 
 civi; Verr. 2, 6, 17, si cuiquam generi hominum, si cuiquam ordini 
 aratorum probatus sit; Fam. 3, 10, 6, ubi cuiquam legationi fui im- 
 pedimenta. See G. 107, 3, N. 2 ; Krebs, Antibarbarus, 6th ed., 2, 
 p. 418. thesaurum: a reference to the common practice among 
 the ancient Romans, of burying money, especially under the dwell- 
 ing. Plautus introduces a treasure-trove into several of his plays 
 (see Aulularia and Trinummus) . 
 
 259. .vadimonia constituta: " appointments to appear in court." 
 Vadimonium sometimes means " bail," the sum of money deter- 
 mined (constituere) by the judge (praetor) and sometimes simply a 
 "promise to appear in court," on one's own recognizance. When, 
 upon the adjournment of a suit, the defendant promised to appear 
 in court on the appointed day, his action was technically called 
 vadimonium promittere. In case of failure to keep his appointment 
 (vadimonium), he was said vadimonium deserere; if he kept the ap- 
 pointment, he was said vadimonium sistere, or obire. 
 
 § 22. 260. quid . . . senes: faciunt, or agunt, or a similar verb 
 is to be supplied here with quid, and senes is to be taken as predicate 
 apposition with each member of the series; — "how do jurists as 
 old men do, etc.?" iuris consulti: not advocate or lawyer, but 
 
 "jurists" who were consulted especially on difficult legal points and 
 whose opinions came finally to have the weight and force of law in 
 certain cases, as for example, in the case of those upon whom the 
 emperors conferred the iiis respondendi. Cf.l.33'1, Sex Aelius . . Ti. 
 Coruncanius . P. Crassus a quibus iura civibus praescribebantur. 
 
 261. quam multa meminerunt: this implies that the jurists, pon- 
 tiffs, augurs and philosophers were required by their very profession 
 to tax their memories with many details as well as with general 
 principles. 
 
 262. Manent: "old men do retain their faculties"; emphatic as 
 indicated by position. Note the adversative asyndeton. modo 
 permaneat: conditional wish, proviso; hence subjunctive. See G. 
 573; H. 587; A. & G. 528; B. 310. Cf. 1. 391, Moderatio modo 
 virium adsit . . . nitatur. 
 
 263. honoratis: "honorable," applicable to men who had filled 
 
COMMENTARY 59 
 
 high public office (honor). privata et quieta: contrasted with 
 
 clans et honoratis. Note the chiasmus, privata being contrasted with 
 honoratis and quieta with Claris. 
 
 264. Sophocles: the distinguished Greek tragic poet, who lived 
 496-406 B. c. Only seven of his numerous tragedies have survived. 
 The story here related by Cicero is held to be apocryphal. 
 
 265. quod propter studitun cum: "and when from his devotion to 
 this occupation." See note on 1. 25, cui qui. 
 
 266. a filiis: most of the ancient writers (Cicero and Plutarch ex- 
 cepted) attribute this action to Sophocles' eldest son Jophon only. 
 
 267. nostro more: this custom was recognized in Roman law as 
 far back as the Twelve Tables (450 b. c). 
 
 268. patribus: Dat. of personal interest after the impersonal in- 
 terdici. See G. 350. bonis: Abl. of separation. See G. 390, 2, 
 N. 3; A. & G. 364, N. 1; H. 464, 3. 
 
 269. quasi desipientem: " on the ground that his mind is impaired." 
 
 270. fabulam: " play," whether comedy or tragedy. quamin 
 manibus habebat: "which he had in preparation"; metaphorical, 
 whereas in 1. 148, in manibus lias a literal meaning. 
 
 271. scripserat: the context denotes that he had written the play, 
 but had not yet put the finishing touches upon it. Oedipum 
 Coloheum: the ffidipus at Colonus. The latter part of this play is 
 referred to, which represents wandering (Edipus in his old age as 
 arriving at Colonus near Atliens. Tradition relates that the passage 
 selected by the poet for recitation on the occasion here indicated 
 was the superb choral ode in praise of Athens (11. 668-717). 
 
 272. carmen: "ode," "poem"; used probably to avoid repetition 
 of fahula. 
 
 273. est liberatus : = abso/ii<Ms est, "was acquitted." 
 
 § 23. 274. Homerum, etc. : note the arrangement of the names in 
 this catalogue; — first, poets (four, in alliterative pairs) ; then, rhet- 
 oricians (a pair), and lastly, philosophers (in three groups of varying 
 number). The poets, rhetoricians and philosophers here mentioned 
 by Cato were all men who reached a ripe old age. There is an implied 
 contrast in the periods represented by the pairs ot poets, while of 
 the groups of philosophers the first (Pythagoras and Democritus) 
 represent the older schools, the second (Plato and Xenocrates) the 
 golden age of philosophy and the third (Zeno, Cleanthes and Dio- 
 gene-s") represent the Stoic school. Hesiodum: the Greek poet 
 
 Hesiod, author of the Works and Days, who was born at Ascra in 
 Boeotia and flourished about 750 b. c. 
 
 275. Simonidem: Simonides of Ceos, 556-468 b. c , the celebrated 
 Greek lyric poet. Only fragments of his poetry have come down to 
 us. Among his elegies and epigrams is the famous epigram written 
 
60 ' DE SENECTUTE 
 
 in honor of the brave Spartans who fell at Thermopylae. Stesi- 
 
 chorum: Stesichorus of Himera, Sicily, another celebrated Greek 
 lyricist who lived about 640-555 b. c. Only fragments of his poetry 
 have survived. Isocratem Gorgiam: see note on 1. 168. 
 
 276. Pythagoram: Pythagoras of Samos, the famous founder of 
 the Pythagorean school, who flourished^n the latter half of the sixth 
 century b. c. He advocated the theory of the transmigration of 
 spirits (metempsychosis). Democritmn: Democritus of Ab- 
 dera, in Thrace, who flourished about 460-361 b. c. and is reputed 
 the founder of the atomic theory adopted by the Epicureans. 
 
 277. Xenocratem: Xenocrates of Chalcedon (396-314 b. c). 
 He was a pupil of Plato and for twenty-five years (339-314 b. c.) 
 president of the Academy. 
 
 278. Zenonem: Zeno of Citium In Cyprus, who lived 350-250 
 B. c. He was the founder of the Stoic school and its honored presi- 
 dent for more than a half century. 
 
 _ 278. Cleanthem: Cleanthes of Assos (300-220 b. c), a famous 
 Stoic, who succeeded Zeno as head of that school. 
 
 279. Diogenem Stoicum: Diogenes the Stoic, not Diogenes the 
 cynic, born at Seleucia near Babylon, and once head of the Stoic 
 school. He came to Rome in 155 b. c'. with the Athenian embassy 
 of philosophers. But Cato, who was opposed to their Greek teach- 
 ings, soon forced Diogenes and his confreres to return to Athens. 
 It is all the more remarkable therefore that Cicero makes Cato in 
 this dialogue, which is supposed to have occurred five years after 
 that event, refer to the aged Diogenes in such enthusiastic terms. 
 
 281. vitae aeaualis: "coextensive with their life." 
 
 § 24. 281. Age: "come, now" (short for hoc age, "do this," i. e., 
 "heed what follows"); a transitional phrase used in passing from 
 one subject to another. divina studia: i. e., poetry, philosophy 
 
 and like pursuits. 
 
 282. possum nominare: "I might name." Note the use of the 
 indicative in such expressions, the potential idea being implied in 
 possum (see G. 254, R. 1 ; L. 1495). The rhetorical figure is praeteritio, 
 which consists in mentioning a subject ostensibly passed over, — a 
 figure of frequent occurrence in the Cato Maior. ex agro Sabino: 
 "in the Sabine district"; a prepositional phrase with the force of 
 an adjective modifying Romanos. rusticos Romanes : " country- 
 bred Romans"; i. e., the farmers who owned a small patch of. land 
 and cultivated it by the labor of their own hands. It was this class of 
 sturdy yeomen that the great landed estate and slave labor gradually 
 absorbed, with disastrous effect upon the fortunes of the Republic. 
 
 284. numquam-fere . . . opera: "hardly ever any farm work of 
 importance." 
 
COMMENTARY 61 
 
 285. non: used to repeat the negative force of numquam, not to 
 counteract it. Cf . Laelius, § 48, non tantum . . non plus quam. See 
 G. 445; B. 347; A. & G. 327; H. 656. serendis . . . fructibus: 
 the Abl. of the gerundive is employed to express means and cause, 
 seldom manner or circumstance (see G. 431 and 433; L. 2266). Here 
 the idea is circumstance, and the construction, which is very rare 
 till Livy, takes the place of a present participle or a dum-c\a,use (see 
 Riemann, 6tudes sur Tite Live, § 133, where a few examples are 
 cited ^rom Cicero, De Or. 68, 228; Part. Orat. 14, 50). Observe the 
 zeugma in serendis fructibus. 
 
 286. in aliis: here neuter with substantival force and in contrast 
 with in eis quae sciunt, below. Cf. 1. 26, Sed de ceteris. 
 
 287. idem: nominative plural. 
 
 289. serit: the metre is the cretic tetrameter, according to G. 
 Hermann. 
 
 «-£ 
 
 1^1 I la I -i^-i I -£w-£ 
 However, most editors take the line as a bacchiac tetrameter. Rib- 
 beck {Scaenicae Romanorum Poesis Fragmenla, 3d ed., p. 80) by 
 transposition makes it a senarius. alteri saeculo : " the next 
 
 generation" (Bennett). Note the use of alter for secundus and that 
 saeculum (from sero, "to sow") is developed from saeclum the early 
 form by the excrescent vowel between c and I. 
 
 290. prosient: archaic for prosint; Subj. of purpose. Cicero quotes 
 this line also in Tusc. 1, 31. 
 
 291. Statius: Csecilius Statius (220-166 b. c), an Insubrian Gaul 
 by birth. He came to Rome. as a slave and, on being manumitted, 
 associated himself with his friend Ennius and wrote comedies 
 adapted from the Greek. Only fragments of his plays remain. 
 Synephebis: Synephebi ("the young comrades"), a comedy adapted 
 from the Greek ivveipriPoi of Menander (see Sellar, Roman Poetry of 
 the Republic, p. 205; also Teuffel and Schwabe, Hist, of Roman Lit., 
 trans, by Warr, § 106). 
 
 § 25. 292. duamvis sit senex: "however old he may be." 
 
 293. haec: in reference to the landed estate which the aged farmer 
 owned and which he indicates with a gesture of his hand. In a sim- 
 ilar manner Roman orators used to refer to the vast domains of 
 their country by haec. Cf. In Cat. 4, 7, haec delere, etc. See Nagels- 
 bach, Stilistik, 8th ed., p. 201. 
 
 294. prodere: "to bequeath," "to transmit." Cf. Mil. 30, 83, 
 qui sacra suis posteris prodiderunt. 
 
62 DE SENECTUTE 
 
 CHAPTER VIII 
 295. melius: sc. dicit or ait. auam illud idem: " than he does 
 
 in the following"; lit. " than.the same (Csecilius says) what follows." 
 It is to be observed that Cato is here digressing and that the pas- 
 sage he quotes, while bearing upon the general theme of old age, 
 is not strictly germane to the present topic (that old age withdraws 
 men from active work). He is led into this digression by his desire 
 to convict Csecilius of error. 
 
 297. Edepol, etc. : these verses are from the Plodum (jikokIov, 
 "Ringlet, or Necklace"), a comedy which Csecilius adapted from 
 the original of Menander. See Ribbeck, Scaenicae Romanorum 
 PoesisFragmenta, 3d ed., p. 75; also Merry, Fragments of Early Roman 
 Poetry, p. 94. The verses are iambic senarii and are scanned thus : 
 
 ^^^ I „- I -^ I -- I ^^1 I ^- 
 
 -^|--|-^U-|-^ N- 
 -^|w-|-^|.-|-^ U- 
 
 Note that diu in the last line is monosyllabic by synizesis, thus 
 making the foot a spondee. nil quicquam: quicquam is pleo- 
 
 nastic and a mark of old Latin (see Lane 2402). Cf. Ter., Phorm. 80, 
 nosier m,ali nil quicquam-primo; ib. 84, quo nemo vir melior natus est. 
 
 298. adportes: "should bring"; ideal condition. quom: 
 archaic for cum,, as sat likewise is for satis. 
 
 300. quae non volt videt: the subject may be senex, to be inferred 
 from senectus (as Moore thinks), or it may be general, "you," i. e., 
 any one. Volt for vult, was probably written in conscious imitation 
 of CaBcilius's archaic form. 
 
 302. Illud: "the following" (sentiment). See illud above, 1. 297. 
 
 304. Turn equidem: the lines are from Ctecilius's Ephesio (see 
 Ribbeck, Scaenicae Romanorum Poesis Fragmenta, 3d ed., p. 46) 
 and are iambic senarii : 
 
 vw-£ U- I --£ I w- I ^^ 1 w^ 
 - ^ I w - I - -£ I - V w I - -£ N - 
 senecta: poetical and post-Augustan, not used by Cicero. de- 
 
 DUto: ante- and post-classical, according to Lewis and Short. 
 
 305. eumpse: (eum + pse) archaic form of ipsum, subject of the 
 infinitive sentire. In the original form the pronoun is was declined 
 and the suffix pse remained unchanged. (Cf. eapse, eampse, eopse, 
 etc., here and there in Plautus, — Most. 346; Aul. 815; Cure. 538.) 
 alteri: "to one's neighbor"; i. e., to any one in general. Some 
 editors make alteri agree with aetati, to be supplied from the preceding 
 aetate, in which case the sense is, " that old age is a bore to the young." • 
 
 306. lucundum, etc.: in rebuttal of the preceding affirmation of 
 Caecilius, like Et muUa fortasse, etc., above. 
 
COMMENTARY 63 
 
 § 26. 307. sapientes senes: "wise old men." Note the chiasmus, 
 adulescentibtts . . . praediHs, sapientes senes. 
 
 310. nee minus intellego, etc. :=nec minus intellego me vobis esse 
 iucundum quam vos mihi iucundi estis; an example of attraction of 
 a finite verb into the infinitive after quam, which is quite common. 
 Minus modifies iucundos, not intellego. 
 
 311. Sed videtis, etc.: after his long digression Cato here resumes 
 the discussion of the activity of old age. ut: "how"; dependent 
 interrogative. Cf. 1. 366, Videtisne ut, etc. 
 
 313. agens aliquid et moliens: present participle in the predicate 
 with adjectival force, — somewhat rare. 
 
 314. tale scilicet quale: "some such thing doubtless as." 
 
 315. Quid: "Whatabout those who, etc.?" Cf. 1. 260, Quid mm 
 consulti? quid pontifices, etc. Solonem: Solon, the celebrated 
 Athenian law-giver (639-559 b. c). He was a poet as well as a 
 statesman, and fragments of his poetry have survived. The verse 
 here referred to reads (Plutarch, Solonj 31), ynpiaKio 8' aU\ irowh. Si- 
 
 316. gloriantem: participle used in place of an infinitive to ex- 
 press the actual condition of the object perceived (see G. 536; A. 
 & G. 497, d; H. 613, 4; B. 337, 3). 
 
 317. et ego: "and I likewise." Note that et here is correlative 
 with the preceding et which is not to be translated. 
 
 318. senfex: "in my old age," "when an old man." Plutarch 
 comments upon this point (in his Cato 2). See Introduction, Cato. 
 sic: modifies avide, "so eagerly." Some editors, however, take it 
 as correlative with the following quasi. 
 
 320. quibus me nunc exemplis uti videtis: exemplis is in predicate 
 apposition to quibus which is the direct object of uti. Cicero here 
 attributes to Cato a degree of familiarity with Greek which Cato 
 perhaps did not possess, hence the rather apologetic manner. 
 
 321. in fidibus: "on the lyre," "in case of the lyre," in reference 
 to Socrates's skill as a musician. vellem: " I wish I might also 
 have done," potential of the past. 
 
 322. fidibus: sc. canere, "to play the lyre"; fidibus is Abl. of 
 means. in litteris: i. e., Greek literature. 
 
 CHAPTER IX 
 
 § 27. 324. Nee nunc quidem, etc. ; " Nor do I indeed now feel the 
 lack of the strength of a young man, etc." Some editors take Nee 
 . . . quidem as used for Etne . . . quidem, but this is probably in- 
 correct. 
 
 325. locus alter: refers to the second point in the argument; locus 
 
64 DE SENECTUTE 
 
 is often employed in this sense. non plus: non simply repeats 
 
 the negative expressed in ne above and is not to be translated. Cf. 
 \. 108, Nee enim . . . ne sapienti quidem ; also \.28i,numquam . . . 
 non serendis. 
 
 326. Quod est: the antecedent of the relative is the following eo. 
 
 327. agas: generic relatives regularly stand in the Indie, mood, 
 but here the indefinite character of the statement and the ideal 
 second person call for the subjunctive. Cf. De Orat. 3, 52, 201, Con- 
 formatio sentiarum permanet, quibuscumque verbis uti velis; also De 
 Off. 3, 13, 57, and Tus. Disp. 1, 14. 
 
 328. vox: " utterance," " speech." contemptior: " more to be 
 despised"; the perfect passive particle of contemnere has the force 
 of an adjective in bilis (cf . invictus). Milonis Crotoniatae: Mile 
 of Crotona, in Southern Italy, a noted Greek athlete of the sixth cen- 
 tury B.C., whose achievements were celebrated far and wide in song 
 and verse. He won renown again and again in the Olympic and 
 Pythian games. He also enjoyed the reputation of having a ravenous 
 appetite. 
 
 331. At: the elliptical use of at which is quite common in e.xclama- 
 tions. The idea is, "The arms of those young men are very strong, 
 but these of mine are, etc." Here deep pathos is implied in the ex- 
 clamation of the aged Milo. 
 
 332. Nonvero: an emphatic negative reply or retort. isti: sc. 
 mortui sunt. nugator: "trifler." Cf. Plautus, Mil. 1078, vae tibi 
 nugator; Capt. 275, nimius nugator. 
 
 333. lateribus: " lungs," i. e., wind. See note on 1. 183, bonis lateri- 
 bus. Cf. 1. 339, sed laterum etiam et virium. 
 
 334. Nihil . . . tale: sc. egit. Note the repetition of nihil (ana- 
 phora). Sex. Aelius: Sextus ./Elius Paetus Catus, consul 198 b. c. 
 and censor 194 B.C. He was among the most famous of the early 
 Roman jurists and wrote a commentary on the Twelve Tables. 
 
 335. Ti. Coruncanius: see note onl.l99TCoruncanii. modo: 
 "in recent times," "nearer our own day." P. Crassus: Cicero 
 probably means not P. Licinius Crassus who was consul 171 B. c, 
 though he was not distinguished as a jurist, but he rather means P. 
 Licinius Crassus Dives who was pontifex maximus 212 b. c. and con- 
 sul 205 B. c. and was both a statesman and an eminent jurist. He 
 also conducted a campaign against Hannibal. 
 
 336. iura . . . praescribebantur: in reference to the expert opin- 
 ions {responsa) of the jurists given on knotty points of the law, accord- 
 ing to an established Roman custom (see note on 1. 260, iuris consulti). 
 
 337. est provecta: "continued," "remained," Ht. "was carried 
 forward." prudentia: "legal knowledgeor skill" (cf. mm p-u- 
 dentia) . 
 
COMMENTARY 66 
 
 §28. 337. Orator: "As far as the orator is concerned"; emphatic 
 as its position indicates. 
 
 338. senectute: "from old age"; Abl. of cause. 
 
 339. Omnino: "no doubt," "to be sure"; concessive (cf. 1.553, 
 omnino modice) and in contrast with sed tamen below. Trans. : " No 
 doubt that tuneful quality in the voice, somehow or other, becomes 
 even more attractive in old age." The entire sentence appears de- 
 signed as a refutation of the previous charge. The first argument 
 adduced is a partial answer, but that is reinforced by the second 
 beginning sed tamen, which is regarded as the more important. 
 
 340. splendescit: the use of tliis word does not seem to harmonize 
 with canorum, and so some editors have called attention to the 
 mixed metaphor. But, as Moore has pointed out, Cicero uses the 
 epithet splendida in describing the human voice {Brutus, 55, 203, 
 Vox suavis et splendida). Cf. Brutus,.68, 239, actio eius habebat in 
 voce magnum splendorem,; ib. 71, 250, splendore vods; Quint., Inst. 11, 
 15, Nam {vox) est et Candida et fusca et plena et exilis, etc. nescio 
 QUO pacto: cf. 1. 1006, nescio quo modo. 
 
 341. et videtis annos: "even though you see my years"; et is here 
 concessive, equivalent to tamen. This use of et occurs especially after 
 negatives, and -sue is also employed in the same sense (cf. 1. 167, 
 vixitque; 1. 524, eumque; 1. 902, isque; Lael. § 26, et quicquid). 
 
 342. senno quietus et remissus: "calm and gentle manner of 
 speech," i. e., without the animation and passion of the orator. 
 
 343. audientiam: "a hearing," as usual, not "an audience." 
 cocta et mitis: "elegant and mature," i. e., without any crudities 
 of style. See Critical App. 
 
 344. Quam si ipse exsequi nequeas: " And if you should not be able 
 to practice this yourself"; the antecedent of quam is oratio. 
 
 345. Scipioni: "a Scipio," implying that he served as an ex- 
 ample. 
 
 346. studiis iuventutis: "with enthusiastic young men"; lit. "with 
 the enthusiasm of youth." Note the alliteration, — senectute stipata 
 studiis. 
 
 § 29. 346. ne illas quidem: ne-quidem is the negative adverb, of 
 course, and illas is followed by the result clause ut doceat. 
 
 348. instituat: " train up." Note that docere means " to teach, 
 to impart knowledge," instituere "to establish, to train by forming 
 the character through knowledge" and instruere "to instruct, to 
 equip or prepare for practical life." officii munus: "perform- 
 ance of duty." Cf. 1. 417, ut nullum, officii aut omnino vitae m.unus; 
 I. 880, munus officii; also 1. 409, officia et munera. 
 
 349. Cn. et P. Scipiones: the plural is regular when the names of 
 two persons of the same family are connected by et (see G. 290, N. 1 ; 
 
66 DE SENECTUTE 
 
 Draeger, Hist. Syn., 2d ed., 1, p. 1). CniEus Cornelius Scipio, consul 
 222 B.C., and Publius Cornelius Scipio, consul 218 B.C., were brothers, 
 of whom the former was the father of the Elder Africanus. They both 
 served in the Second Punic War and fought in Spain, where they 
 fell in the overwhelming defeat of 212 B. c. 
 
 3SO. L. Aemilius et P. Africanus: L. jEmilius Paulus, the father of 
 L. ^milius Paulus Maoedonicus, consul 219 and 216 B. c, perished 
 at the battle of Cannse. He was the actual grandfather of the 
 younger Scipio Africanus. Publius Africanus (see 19) was his adop- 
 tive grandfather. 
 
 352. non beati putandi: sc. sunt, "are to be regarded as not 
 happy." quamvis . . . defecerint: "however much their 
 strength may have wasted away and failed." 
 
 353. Etsi: "And yet." See note on 1. 18, etsi. ista ipsa: see 
 Crit. Appendix. 
 
 354. adulescentiae: contrasted with the following senectutis. 
 vitiis: "faults," "imperfections." 
 
 § 30- 356. Cyrus: Cyrus the Elder, founder of the Persian empire, 
 who flourished 599-529 b. c. He is made the hero of Xenophon's 
 Cyropaedia, apud Xenophontem: "in Xenophon" {Cyropaedia 
 
 8, 7, 6). This use o{.apud in citations is the regular, Latin construc- 
 tion; cf. 1. 967, apud Xenophontem; 1. 366, apud Homerum. If a spe- 
 cific book of an author is mentioned, the construction is in with 
 the Ablative. 
 
 357. cum: concessive. 
 
 360. Metellum: L. Caeeilius Metellus, consul 251 and 247 b. c, 
 defeated the Carthaginians at Panormus in Sicily, 251 b. c, died 221. 
 memini puer: denotes personal recollection as indicated by the in- 
 finitive (esse). See G. 281, 2, note; L. 2220; A. &G. 584, a. cuin: 
 circumstantial CM»i-clause. Cf. 1. 209, cum inter duos . . . interfuis- 
 sent ; 1. 502, cum quidem ei sermoni interfuisset. 
 
 364. requireret: " feel the loss of," " be in want of." Nihil: 
 
 "Not at all," "by no means." 
 
 CHAPTER X 
 
 § 31. 366- Videtisne: "don't you see" (colloquial); a passionate 
 question with the force of a command. ut: " how." Cf . 26, Sed 
 
 videtisut . . . sit. apud Homerum: Iliadl, 260 ff.,also ib. 11, 
 
 668-ff. 
 
 367. tertiam aetatem: cf. Iliad 1, 252, nera SJ TpiTaToartv &vatraei/, 
 "he was ruling among the third generations." 
 
 369. vera praedicans de se: "in telling the truth about himself." 
 insolens aut loquax: "immoderate or garrulous." 
 
COMMENTARY 67 
 
 370. ex eius lingua: a translation of Iliad 1, 249, toB koI awh yXiiff- 
 mfs fxfKiTo^ yKuKiuv l>iev auS^. 
 
 372. dux ille: i. e., Agamemnon. Note tiie force of ille, "that 
 renowned," "famous." nusguam: i. e., nowiiere in Homer. 
 
 373. ut . . . habeat: the regular construction after optal. 
 Aiacis: Ajax of Telemon, the Greek warrior, who was conspicuous in 
 service while Achilles sulked (Iliad 2, 768) . sad ut Nestoris : ellip- 
 sis for sed ut decern Nestoris similes habeat. For Agamemnon's wish 
 for ten counsellors like Nestor, see Iliad 2, 371. 
 
 374. quod si: "and if that." acciderit: subjunctive by at- 
 traction. Note the idiomatic use of the perfect. 
 
 § 32. 375. redeo ad me: cf. 1. 550, ad me ipsum iam revertar. 
 
 376. vellem . . . possem: optative subjunctive with adverse 
 decision (G. 261, R.; B. 296, 1, a). Cf. 1. 321, Vellem equidem etiam 
 illud; also below, mallem. idem: ace. of result. See G. 333, 1 ; 
 B. 176, 2, a; A. & G. 390, c; H. 409, 1. 
 
 377. Queo: usually combined with a negative, rarely found in pos- 
 itive clauses, where possum is the reigning verb (L. 768). Don 
 me quidem iis esse: " that though I have not that strength"; correla- 
 tive with sed tamen, 1. 381. Cicero here avails himself of the natural 
 freedom of dialogue in changing from the indirect to the direct dis- 
 course, non adflixit senectus. iis viribus: Abl. of quality. 
 
 378. miles:." a private," as in 1. 222, miies. belloPunico: i.e., 
 217 B. c. quaestor eodem bello: i. e., 204 b. c. 
 
 379. consul in Hispania: i. e., 195 b. c. Cato's Spanish campaign 
 was so successful that the senate decreed him, upon his return, a 
 three days' thanksgiving as a special mark of distinction. 
 
 380. tribunus militaris: i. e., 191 b. c, in the campaign against 
 Antiochua. depugnavi: indicative because cum here simply 
 denotes the time. Note the intensive force of the prefix in depug- 
 nare, " to fight to the bitter end." 
 
 382. enervavit: "weaken," lit. "to take the sinews out.'' curia: 
 by metonymy for the senate, as rostra for the assembly of the people. 
 
 383. non clientes: the term included both Cato's supporters in 
 Rome and such foreign nations as retained his services as their 
 representative. Note the emphasis gained by the repetition of the 
 negative non. 
 
 384. hospites: "foreigners," in Rome who had sometime enter- 
 tained Cato in their respective native countries. Nee enim: 
 "Nor for that matter." For the thought see § 38. 
 
 385. mature fieri senem: infinitive after m,onet, where we should 
 rather expect an wi-clause. However, Cicero occasionally employs 
 the infinitive after monere in the sense "to remark"; see G. 546, 2, 
 R. 1; L. 1954. 
 
68 DE SENECTUTE 
 
 386. Ego vero . . . mallem: " But as for myself, I had rather 
 that my old age be shorter"; mallem implies the non-fulfilment of the 
 wish the time of which in Cato's case is long past (see G. 258, note 1). 
 Cf. vellem above. 
 
 388. convenire me: "to confer with me." cui fuerim: sub- 
 junctive of characteristic. 
 
 § 33- 388. At: introduces the objection of some imaginary op- 
 ponent. Cf . 1. 250, At memoria minuitur; 1. 331, At hi quidem mortui 
 iam sunt. 
 
 389. Ne vos quidem . . . habetis: "Nor have you indeed." Cf. 
 1. 927, ne . . quidem; also 1. 958. 
 
 390. T. Ponti centurionis: unknown. The centurions were usually 
 conspicuous for their large frame and personal strength. 
 
 391. Moderatio modo virium adsit: "Let there only be a proper 
 control of one's strength"; modo has the force of a proviso, hence 
 the subjunctive. 
 
 392. ne ille: "assuredly he"; the asseverative ne which is usually 
 combined with personal pronouns and demonstratives. Cf. Tusc. 
 Disp. 3, 8, ne ista; De Fin. 3, 11. 
 
 393. Olympiae per stadium: Milo (1. 328), according to the legend, 
 carried the animal over the course every day, as it grew. Cf. Quint. 
 1, 9, 5, Milo quern vitulum assueverat ferre, taurum ferebat. For a 
 parallel example of an illustration introduced without any special 
 form; see 1. 251, Themistocles. 
 
 394. cum . . . sustineret bovem: equivalent to the participial 
 construction {sustinens bovem). 
 
 395. has corporis: sc. wres. Pythagorae: the philosopher was 
 a contemporary and fellow citizen of the athlete, both I^eing of Cro- 
 ton, — a circumstance which heightens the effect of the contrast. 
 mails: the present subjunctive because the wish is possible of ful- 
 filment and malis is less bald than malles. Cf .' above, 1. 386, mallem. 
 
 396. utare: indefinite, an imaginary "you," not ScipioorLftlius: 
 hence subjunctive (G. 263, 2, o; B. 356, 3; H. 555; A. & G. 439,o). 
 dum adsit, cum absit: subjunctive by attraction. 
 
 397. ne requiras: the general form of prohibition not addressed 
 to a specific person. nisi forte: this phrase implies an ironical 
 or absurd supposition. Cf. 1. 222, nisi forte. 
 
 399. cursus est certus: on the metaphor see 1. 1022. simplex: 
 "straight-forward." Life is here compared to a race where the 
 course is direct and run only once. 
 
 400. tempestivitas: "appropriate quality or character." 
 
 401. ferocitas: " courage," " high spirit." gravitas: " stability." 
 
 402. constantis: "settled," " estabUshed." Cf. 1. 926, constans 
 , . . aetas. 
 
COMMENTARY 69 
 
 403. percipi: the figure is that of harvesting, or ingathering of 
 fruit, as indicated botli by percipi and maturitas naturale quiddam. 
 See the citation from Xenophon's Cyropaedia, 30. QUod . . . 
 
 debeat: Subjunctive of cliaracteristic. 
 
 § 34. 404. hospes tuus avitus: the relation of hospilium once es- 
 tablislied passed on to the children and on down for generations. 
 Thus total strangers were sometimes placed in a position where 
 they had to recognize the sacred bond of that obligation. The tie 
 between the Elder Scipio and Masinissa was very strong, as evi- 
 denced by Scipio's cordial reception by the aged Masinissa (see 
 Somnium Scipionis, 1). Masinissa: king of Numidia. At the 
 
 outbreak of the First Punic War he was an ally of Carthage and 
 fought against the Scipios in Spain, but later he broke with the 
 Carthaginians and became a loyal ally of the Romans and a warm 
 friend of the vScipios. He died in 149 b. c, the year of Cato's death. 
 
 406. omnino non: "not at all." 
 
 407. eQUo: when place where may be regarded in the light of 
 manner, means or instrument, the preposition is omitted. (Cf. 
 pedibus above.) 
 
 408. capita operto: Abl. of quality. 
 
 409. siccitatem: "firmness," "health"; lit. "dryness," i. fe., free- 
 dom from gross humors, catarrh and the like, and implying a good 
 healthy condition of the body. Cf. Tusc. Disp. 5, 99, Adde siccitatem 
 quae consequitur hanc continentiam in victu. officia et munera: 
 "duties and functions"; a favorite combination with Cicero. See 
 note on 1. 348, ojficii munus. 
 
 410. Potest igitur: emphatic; "It is possible therefore for exer- 
 cise and self-control, etc." 
 
 CHAPTER XI 
 
 412. Ne sint: a formula of concession for the sake of argument, 
 of frequent occurrence in Cicero. Trans.: "Granted that old age is 
 without physical strength." 
 
 413. legibus et institutis: " by statute and custom." 
 
 414. muneribus iis: "from those duties"; i. e., in reference to 
 military service. 
 
 415. non modo: ^non modo non. Instead of non modo (solum) 
 non . . sed ne-quidem, the latter non is generally omitted when 
 the two negative clauses have a verb in common, the negative of 
 the first clause being supplied by the second; otherwise both nega- 
 tives are expressed. — G. 482, R. 1. See also B. 343, 2, a; L. 1682. 
 
 quod non possumus : the antecedent of quod is id which is the 
 Ace. of the inner object after cogimur (see G. 333, 1: B. 176, 2, b; 
 A. & G. 390, c; H. 409, 1). 
 
70 DE SENECTUTE 
 
 § 35. 416. At: introduces the objection of an imaginary op- 
 ponent. Cf. 1. 841 , where at again occurs introducing two consecu- 
 tive sentences as here. 
 
 417. officii aut . . . munus: cf. note on 1, 348, ad omne officii 
 munus. 
 
 4r9. valetudinis: ''health," or rather "feeble health," as denoted 
 by the context. 
 
 420. P.Africanifilius: sonof P. Cornelius ScipioAfricanus (maior). 
 His poor health, coupled with his short life, as the inscription upon 
 his tomb explains, was the reason of his failure to accomplish any 
 achievement worthy of the illustrious name he bore. His epitaph 
 was discovered in the family tomb on the Appian Way (see Corpus 
 Inscrip. Lat. I, 33). 
 
 421. Quod ni ita fuisset: " And if this had not been so." Cf. 1009, 
 Quod quidem ni ita se haberet. 
 
 422. alteram . . . lumen: "the second light"; Africanus the 
 Elder was the first. Cf. Verg., Aen. 6, 842; Cic, Pro Balho, 34. 
 illud: we should rather expect ille, but the demonstrative is at- 
 tracted into the gender of the predicate noun lumen (see G. 211, 
 R. 5). Cf. De Fin. 2, 22, 70, Negat Epicurus; hoc enim vestrum 
 lumen est. patemam: "of his father." 
 
 42s. Resistendum: emphatic, as indicated by position. 
 
 426. diligentia: "carefulness," "earnestness." 
 
 427. pugnandutn: sc. est. tamquam: correlative to the fol- 
 lowing sic, " just as so." morbum: cf . the Latin pro- 
 verb, Senectus ipsa est morbus, — Ter., Phorm. 575; see also Otto, 
 Sprichwtirter der Romer, p. 316. 
 
 428. habenda ratio valetudinis: "regard must be had for one's 
 health." utendum: "one must take." 
 
 429. exercitationibus: Moore cites the saying of Cato (Gellius, 
 11, 2, 6): Nam vita humana prope uti ferrum est. Si exerceas, con- 
 teritur; si non exerceas, tamen robigo interficit. tantum cibi: 
 "only so much food"; restrictive toraiuwi. Cf. 1. 851, tantum remanet, 
 etc. 
 
 § 36- 431- subveniendum est: "must one give relief to." 
 
 432. haec: neuter, referring to mens and animus (let the pupil 
 indicate the distinction between these words). tamquam: 
 "so to say"; apologetic. Cf. I. 68, quasi. 
 
 433. InstiUes: indefinite "you." Cf. 1. 250, exerceas. Et: 
 with adverbial force, "even." quidem: merely accentuates 
 corpora, thereby heightening the contrast with the following clause 
 animi . . . levantur. 
 
 435. Nam quos ait Caecilius: "For (those) whom Caecilius means 
 as the foolish old men of the comedy." Note the unusual construction 
 
COMMENTARY 71 
 
 of two accusatives, direct object and predicative accusative, after 
 ait. 
 
 436. comicos: not "comic," but "of the comedy"; i. e., repre- 
 sented in comedy. (In Roman comedy old men, because of their 
 credulous disposition, are made a stoclc figure of ridicule.) The line 
 is from Caecilius's Epicleros (The Heiress). The entire couplet is 
 found in the Laelius, § 99, Ut me hodie ante omnis comicos stultos 
 series Versaris atque inlusseris lautissume. hos significat cre- 
 dulos: note the exceptional construction of two accusatives after 
 significat, — direct object and predicative Ace. Cf. Nepos, Ages. 
 8,2, ut eorum ornatus in his regem neminem significaret; also ib., 
 Them. 2, 7. 
 
 437. dissolutos: "negligent," "inattentive," "remiss," but not 
 implying necessarily moral turpitude. quae vitia: "faults 
 which"; incorporated antecedent. 
 
 440. non proborum: "of those who are not upright in life." 
 Cicero apparently prefers this expression to the rather harsh im- 
 proborum. senilis stalti.tia:= stultos senes in the quotation 
 from Csecilius. 
 
 441. deliratio: "dotage," "silliness"; lit. "a going out of the 
 furrow in ploughing" — a rare word. Cf. De Dir. 2, 43, O delirati- 
 onem incredibilem non enim omnis error stultitia est dicenda. 
 
 §37. 443. Appius: see note on 1. 201, Appi. regebat: the 
 
 control of the Roman paterfamilias over his children was originally 
 supreme and absolute. Even after the sons married and themselves 
 became fathers, or rose to the rank of magistrates including the 
 consulship, they still acknowledged the power and authority of 
 their father in private matters and in the home. See Maine, An- 
 cient Law, c. 5. 
 
 446. auctoritatem: probably the pairia potestas which a Roman 
 father exercised over his children. imperium: the imperium 
 was the absolute power with which the Comitia Curiata clothed 
 praetors and consuls. The term is here employed in a metaphorical 
 sense in its application to the paterfamilias. 
 
 447. vigebat . . . disciplina: a succinct statement of the family 
 government in the early Roman period when the pairia potestas 
 was exercised with due legal strictness. 
 
 448. patrius: "inherited from his ancestors." 
 
 § 38. 448. Ita: "only," "under the condition," explained by the 
 following si-clause. • 
 
 450. si nemini emancipata est :" if it has not been given up in bond- 
 age to anyone"; emancipare is primarily a judicial technical term 
 meaning " to put out of the control of the paterfamilias, to declare 
 free and independent, to set free." It was also used of the formal 
 
72 DE SENECTUTE 
 
 transfer of a piece of property. Cf. Phil. 2, 21, 51, venditum atgue 
 emancipatum tribunatum; also the familiar example from Horace, 
 Epod. 9, 12, emancipatus feminae (said of Antony). 
 
 451. dominatur in suos: this conception corresponds with the 
 function of the paterfamilias who is characterized in the Digest 
 (50, 19, 195) paterfamilias appellaturgui in domo dominium habet, etc. 
 
 452. senile aliquid: "something of the old man." Cicero appar- 
 ently approves the sentiment of the proverb quoted in 1. 335, mature 
 fieri senem si diu velis senex esse. 
 
 453- Quod qui sequitur: "and he who aims at this end"; i. e., a 
 combination of the virtues of youth and old age. Cf. note on 1. 25, 
 cui Qui. 
 
 454. Septimus . . . liber Originum: the seventh book of Cato's 
 Origines detailed the history of Rome down to his own day. See 
 Introduction, Cato's Writings. est in manibus: " have on hand," 
 
 " be engaged upon." Cf . 1. 270, guam in manibus habebat. 
 
 435. antiquitatis monumenta: "memorials of ancient times," ' 
 such as records, inscriptions, etc. Cf. 1. 255, nee sepulcra. 
 
 456. nimc cum maxime: "now especially," "just now"; the ex- 
 pression is elliptical. 
 
 457. conficio orationes: i. e., putting the final touches upon his 
 orations for publication. Cicero tells us {Brutus 17, 65) that he was 
 acquainted with 150 speeches of Cato. auguriwn: very rare ad- 
 jective. Cf. AdFam. 3, 9, 3; Gell. Praef. 13. ius civile: per- 
 haps in contrast with ius augurium (code of the augurs) and ius 
 pontificum (code of the priests) which constitute the religious or 
 sacred law as opposed to the secular or civil law. 
 
 458. Pythagoreorumque more: the allusion is to the "Golden 
 Verses" of the followers of Pythagoras which that famous philoso- 
 pher was supposed to have composed. But no doubt the verses are 
 of much later date. Pythagoras's followers are reputed to have 
 asked themselves every evening these questions: 
 
 IItj nap^0Tjv; ri S' epe^a; ri fiot d4ou oiiK ireKetrBT] ; 
 
 460. Haec : rare old form (from hae + ce) for hae. Cf . Tusc. Disp. 1 , 
 22, haec. 
 
 461. desudans: note the intensive force of de-. Cf. 1. 380, depug- 
 navi. 
 
 463. Adsum amicis: in the legal sense of being present with aid or 
 support. frequens: "regularly," "usually " On the predicate 
 
 use see G. 325, R. 6; B. 239. ultroque adfero: custom did not 
 
 prescribe that a Roman senator adhere strictly to the question before 
 the house when he rose to speak in the senate . It was the function of 
 the presiding officer to introduce new business and the senators 
 exercised their parliamentary privilege of bringing up whatever 
 
COMMENTARY 73 
 
 matter they deemed best, without being ruled out of order. So, 
 Cato, according to the story, no matter what the subject of discus- 
 sion, invariably closed with the words, Censeo Carthaginem esse 
 delendam. See Introduction, Cato. 
 
 464. tueor: "support," "maintain." 
 
 465. Quas se exseciui nequirem: cf. 1. 344, Qimm si ipse exse- 
 qui nequeas. 
 
 466. lectulus: a lounge or reading couch on which the student 
 used to recline while reading or writing. Cf. DeOraf. 3, 5, 17, inqua 
 {exedra) Crassus lectulo posito recubuisset cumque eum in cogitatione 
 defixum esse sensisset; Ovid, Trist. 1, 11, 37, Nee, consuete, meum, 
 lectule, corpus habes. 
 
 468. viventi: Dat. of reference with intellegitur and obrepat both. 
 Trans. " For in the case of a man who, etc., it is not known when old 
 age steals upon him." sensim sine sensu aetas senescit: 
 
 note the alliteration in this passage describing the gradual but im- 
 perceptible approach of old age. Sensim sine sensu, "imper- 
 ceptibly without feeling," is a faded oxymoron. 
 
 CHAPTER XII 
 
 § 39- 471- QUod . . . dicunt: explanatory of tertia mluperalio. 
 One should rather expect here quod careat ut dicunt, but Cicero em- 
 ploys a more vivid and flexible construction. 
 
 472. O praeclarum munus aetatis: aetatis=senectutis; for a similar 
 exclamation (epiphonema) after the fourth charge against old age, 
 see 1. 820. 
 
 473. id aufert: an implied oxymoron, since it is the nature of a 
 gift ordinarily to enrich, not to rob the recipient. 
 
 474. Accipite: "observe," "hear"; used to introduce a quotation. 
 
 475. Archytae Tarentini: Archytas of Tarentum, the celebrated 
 Pythagorean philosopher, mathematician and statesman, who 
 lived 400-365 b. c. See Horace's allusion to him in his well-lcnown 
 ode (I, 28); also Laelius, § 88. 
 
 476. tradita est: "related to me"; i. e., by his host Nearchus 
 (1. 500). cum . . . cum Q. Maximo: cf. 1. 117, Ego Q. Maxi- 
 mus. 
 
 /fj'j. capitaliorem: "more dangerous, deadly." Cf. In Cat. 2, 3, 
 hostis capitalis; Lael. § 2, capitali odio. 
 
 479. cuius voluptatis avidae: "since in their eagerness for this 
 pleasure"; causal relative with the antecedent repeated for the 
 sake of clearness. 
 
 480. ad potiendum: "to the attainment of it"; i.e., pleasure. Cf. 
 48, etiamsi non abunde potitur. 
 
74 DE SENECTUTE 
 
 § 40. 481. cum hostibus: attributive prepositional phrase. Such 
 phrases are not of frequent occurrence and are found mainly with 
 cum and sine. Cf . 1. 92, senectutem sine querela. 
 
 483. scelus: stronger than facinus, which is here used in its primary 
 sense of "act" or "deed" simply. 
 
 484. impelleret: sc. homines. 
 
 485. flagitiiiin: especially a shameful or disgraceful deed. ex- 
 citari: denotes the initial impulse without accessory stimulus. nisi: 
 "save," "than." 
 
 486. sive quis deus: quis is here=afeffms, "or some god." 
 
 487. muneri ac dono: hardly to be distinguished in meaning, 
 except that donum is generic whereas munus is specific. 
 
 488. tam esse inimicum: note that the verb esse intervenes be- 
 tween inimicum and its modifier tam. 
 
 §41. 489. temperantiae: "sobriety," "moderation"; Dat. of 
 possession. neaue omnino . . . consistere: " and virtue can se- 
 
 cure no foothold at all under the rule of pleasure." 
 
 491. fingere animo: "to suppose," "to imagine"; lit. "to form 
 in the mind." tanta incitatuin . . . maxima: "the greatest 
 
 pleasure that could possibly be experienced (taken in)"; note the 
 emphatic position of maxima at the end of its clause. Cf. Laelius, 
 § 74, tanta quanta maxim,a potest esse distantia. 
 
 493. tam diu dum: unusual phrase for the regular quam diu {tam- 
 diu quam diu). Cf. In Cat. 3, 16, sed tam. diu dum lego; De Off. 2, 12, 
 43, Gracchus tam diu laudahitur dum memoria rerum Romanorum 
 manebit; Ad Att. 9, 6, 5; Ad Fam. 9, 12, 1. 
 
 494. nihil agitare mente . . . consecLui posset: "he could pursue no- 
 thing in thought, follow up nothing in reason, nothing in imagination." 
 Note the juxtaposition of merate, ratione and cogitatione, — words al- 
 most synonymous — which is quite characteristic of Cicero's style. 
 
 496. si Quidem: like quandoquidem, "since indeed." Cf. 1. 692,.% 
 guidem, aranti L. Quinctio Cincinnato nuntiatum est ; Lael. § 89, Mo- 
 lesta Veritas si quidem ex ea nascitur odium. (See G. 595, R. 5; L. 
 2019; H. 574, 1.) 
 
 497. maior ataue longior: "too intense and long-continued." 
 Some editors read longinquior for longior (see Crit. App.). According 
 to Krebs, Antiharharus, 6th ed. 2, p. 31, longus in the sense " long- 
 continued" occurs nowhere else in Cicero except with words of time. 
 We should rather expect here superlatives in accordance with quanta 
 percipi posset maxima above. 
 
 498. C. Pontio: Gains Pontius Herennius, a Samnite, father of 
 Gaius Pontius Telesinus, who defeated the Romans and sent them 
 "under the yoke" at the battle of the Caudine Forks, 321 B. c. (see' 
 Caudino proelio, next line). 
 
COMMENTARY 75 
 
 499. Sp. Postiunius: Sp. Postumius Albinus, consul 334 and 321 
 B. c, censor 332 B. c, defeated in the battle of the Caudine Forks. 
 T. Veturius: T. Veturius Calvinus, consul 321 b. c, during which 
 year he shared with his colleague the disastrous defeat of the Caudine 
 Forks. 
 
 SCO. Archytam: see 39. Nearchus: a Pythagorean philoso- 
 
 pher of Tarentum and a friend of Cato (Plutarch, Cato 2). After the 
 capture of Tarentum in 209 B. c, Cato spent some time with Near- 
 chus as his guest (Jiospes noster) . 
 
 502. pennanserat: the Tarentines surrendered the city to Hanni- 
 bal, in 212 B. c, who held it for three years. But Nearchus remained 
 loyal to Rome during the three years' siege. Reread §§10 and 11. 
 cum . . . interfuisset: "Plato the Athenian having been present 
 at the conversation"; circumstantial ciim-clause, to be taken with 
 locutum (esse), used in place of the Abl. Abs., the employment of 
 which construction was precluded by the wanting perfect participle. 
 For similar examples see 1. 209, cum interjuissent; also 11. 357, 608, 
 686, etc. Cf. Hale, Cum-Constructions, pp. 184-189. quern 
 
 Tarentum venisse: scholars generally do not credit this record that 
 Plato in 349 b. c, the year here referred to, only two years before 
 his death, made still another visit to the West. His last visit to the 
 great cities of the West, it is generally accepted, was made about 
 361 B. c. 
 
 504. L. Camillo: Lucius Furius Camillus, son of the celebrated 
 Camillus, dictator in 350 B. c. and consul in 349, participated in the 
 repelling of the Gauls in the ager Pomptinus. Ap. Claudio: 
 
 Appius Claudius Crassinus Regillensis, consul 349 b. c, but died 
 early in the year. 
 
 § 42. 505. Quorsus hoc: understand some verb of saying such as 
 dixi. Cf. 1. 157, Quorsum ; 1. 536, quorsus. ut intellegeretis: 
 
 imperfect (though the English idiom requires the present) because 
 regarded as dependent upon dixi (to be supplied). This also de- 
 termines the sequence of the following subordinate subjunctives. 
 
 506. magnam . . . habendam: "great gratitude should be felt 
 toward old age." To express gratitude is gratiam agere; to return 
 thanks, to show one's gratitude is gratiam referre. 
 
 507. quae efficeret: "since it makes"; causal relative. 
 
 508. liberet: "to be pleasant, agreeable." 
 
 509. ut ita dicam : "as it were"; apologetic, to tone down the 
 rather uncommon metaphor involved in mentis . . . praestringit 
 oculos. 
 
 511. Invitus feci ut eicerem : a somewhat common periphrasis 
 for invitus eieci with especial emphasis on invitus. Trans.: "It was 
 against my will that I removed." As censor Cato had the authority 
 
76 DE SENECTUTE 
 
 to degrade even a senator for disreputable conduct. T. Fla- 
 
 minini: cf. note on 1. 1. L. Flamininum : L. Quinctius Fla- 
 
 mininus, brother of T. Flamininus, consul 192 b. c, served as prsetor 
 under his brother in the Macedonian War, expelled from the senate 
 during Cato's censorship in 184 b. o. 
 
 512. septem: more accurately, 8 years (192-184 B. c). post- 
 quam consul fuisset: subjunctive by attraction. 
 
 513. notan^am . . . libidinem: "his wantonness should be 
 branded"; notare is a technical term to signify the degradation of- 
 ficially inflicted upon a citizen by the censor for disreputable con- 
 duct. 
 
 514. cum asset consul in Gallia: "when he was in Gaul (i. e., cis- 
 Alpine Gaul) during his consulship." in convivio a scorto: of the 
 two accounts of this incident recorded by Livy, Cicero follows the 
 account of the old annalist Valerius Antias (see Livy 39, 43, 1-3). 
 The other version is contained in Cato's oration (Livy 39, 42, 8-12). 
 On Livy's authority we are informed that the scortum here referred 
 to was not a woman, but a disreputable young fellow who was as- 
 sociated with Flamininus in vice and that Flamininus slew with 
 his own hand the man — a Boian — who had fled to him for pro- 
 tection. 
 
 516. qui proximus ante me: this establishes the date about 189 
 B. c, five years before the censorship of Cato. 
 
 517. Flacco: Valerius Flaccus, devoted friend of Cato, and his 
 colleague both in the consulship (195 b. c.) and in the censorship 
 (184 B. c). 
 
 519. quae . . . dedecus: "since with his personal shame it in- 
 volved the disgrace to his high command." As governor of cis-Alpine 
 Gaul, Flamininus was of course the official representative of the 
 Roman government in that district. Coniungeret is Subjunct. of 
 cause or characteristic. 
 
 CHAPTER Xm 
 
 §43. 521. porro: refers, not to the future as usual, but to the 
 past. solitum: sc. esse. 
 
 522. C. Fabricium: see note on 1. 199. 
 
 523. Cinea: sCineas, the famous Greek diplomat whom Pyrrhus 
 sent to Rome twice to negotiate terms of peace with the senate. 
 His mission was unsuccessful. He was a noted orator and a pupil 
 of Demosthenes, Cf.l. 202, ad pacem cum Pyrrho, etc. quendam: 
 viz. Epicurus, the founderof the Epicurean school of philosophy. He 
 was born at Samos 342 b. o. and taught at Athens the greater part 
 of his life, dying in 270 b. c. Somehow, despite Lucretius's brilliant 
 
COMMENTARY 77 
 
 poem De Rerum Natura. Epicurus's teachings were for the most 
 part misunderstood by the Romans, who believed with Cicero that 
 Epicurus held sensual pleasure to be the chief end and aim of life. 
 On the contrary, Epicurus taught that happiness consisted in ab- 
 solute freedom from all disturbing emotions, and this intellectual 
 pleasure (^5oi^) he accepted as the summum bonum. But the popu- 
 lar misconception finally prevailed and Epicureanism came to sig- 
 nify little more than the gratification of the physical appetites — 
 sensual pleasures — which circumstance brought the system into 
 disrepute. 
 
 524. qui . . . profitetur: "who declared himself a philosopher.'' 
 eumQue: "and yet he." Cf. note on 1. 167, vixitgue. 
 
 525. faceremus: sequence is determined by audivi (1. 520). 
 
 526. M'. Curituu et Ti. Coruncanium: see note on 1. 199. 
 
 527. ut id Samnitibus . . . persuaderetur: id is here the neuter 
 subject corresponding to the Inner Object. The intransitive verb 
 in the passive {persuaderetur) is used impersonally and the Dative 
 {Samnitibus ipsique Pyrrho) is retained as in active voice (see G. 
 217). Some grammarians explain id in such a case as the present 
 as an adverbial accus. of respect or extent. 
 
 529. vixerat . . . cum: i. e., had lived on intimate terms, not 
 in the house with him, which would be expressed habitore apud {eum). 
 P. Decio: Publius Decimus Mus, consul 312, 308, 297 and 295 b. 0., 
 censor 304 B. c, deliberately sacrificed his life for his country at 
 Sentinum (295 B. c), where the Romans defeated the combined 
 forces of the Gauls, Samnites and Etruscans. His father had sacri- 
 ficed his life in a similar manner in 340 B. c. at the battle of Veseris, 
 near Vesuvius, fought against the Latins and Campanians. 
 
 530. eum: 1. e., Curius, whose first consulship was in 290 B. c. 
 se . . . devoverat: the formal act of "devoting oneself" {devotio) 
 here referred to consisted in girding on the cinctus Gabinus and 
 riding on a spirited charger to certain death in the midst of the 
 enemy. Such an act was supposed to propitiate the gods of the 
 lower world and to ensure victory. For the incident here men- 
 tioned, see Livy 10, 28. 13, also *. 8, 9, 6-8. Cf. 1. 910, Decios. 
 norat . . . norat: note the effectiveness of omitting the conjunc- 
 tion (anaphora). 
 
 532. cum . . . ttan:=et . . . et. quern dico: "whom I speak 
 
 of"; i. e., Decius. 
 
 S34. sua sponte: " for its own sake"; i. c, as an end itself without 
 reference to whatever pleasure or sorrow might follow. quod 
 
 . . . peteretur . . . quodque . . . sequeretur: "to be sought after 
 and for all the best men to pursue"; relative clauses of character- 
 istic and so original subjunctives regardless of context. 
 
78 DE SENECTUTE 
 
 § 44- 536- Ouorsus: there is an ellipsis of the verb here as in 
 11. 157, 505, etc. 
 
 537. vituperatio: "charge," not implying real blame necessarily. 
 Cf. 1. 471, tertia vituperatio. 
 
 538. quod: "the fact that," as in 1. 471, quod. 
 
 539. caret . . . caret: with slight change of meaning as the con- 
 text denotss, — "abstains from feasts, etc., . enjoys immunity 
 from wine-bibbing, indigestion and sleeplessness." 
 
 541. aliquid dandum est: "some allowance must be made." 
 
 542. divine: not " divinely," but " admirably." escam malp- 
 rum: "a bait for the wicked." Cf. Plato, Timaeus &i D, ^SovV 
 pLtyiaTov KaHov SeXeap ; also Cic. , Hor. Frag. 74, voluptates corporis 
 quae vere graviter et a Platone dictae sunt illecebrae esse atque escae 
 malorum. 
 
 543. videlicet: " it is clear," " manifestly." 
 
 545. C. Duilium: consul 260 e. c, in which year he defeated the 
 Carthaginian fleet off the little town of Mylse on the northern coast 
 of Sicily. 
 
 546. M. f.: abbreviation for Marci filium. It was a common 
 practice in Roman inscriptions to add, as in the present case, the 
 name of the father to facilitate identification. primus devi- 
 cerat: Duilius's victory was the first naval battle the Romans won 
 over the Carthaginians, and the event was perpetuated by a column 
 erected in the Forum and adorned with the bronze beaks of the cap- 
 tured ships {columna rostrata). Upon this column was also set up 
 an inscription an ancient copy of which is preserved on the Capitol. 
 Cf. Val. Max. 3, 6, 4, Duilius qui primus navalem triumphum ex 
 Poenis rettulit quotiescumque epulaturus erat ad funalem cereum 
 praeeunte libicine et tibiis a cena domum reverti solitus est. 
 
 547. senem: Duilius was doubtless an old man when Cato was a 
 mere boy (puer). 
 
 548. cereo funali: "the torch light"; lit. "a wax taper or torch, 
 such as the Romans used in torch-light processions." privatus: 
 "as a private individual"; i.e., one who is not a magistrate and 
 holding a public office. It was only magistrates who enjoyed the 
 honor of being escorted home from a feast by a taper-bearer and a 
 flute-player (see Servius's note on Verg., Aen. 1, 727). 
 
 549. sumpserat: this record of Cicero, who implies that Duilius 
 as a private citizen without any precedent {nullo exemplo) assumed 
 the honor here mentioned, is in direct conflict with Livy, who affirms 
 that this was a privilege conferred upon the hero of Mylae (Livy, 
 Per. 17, C. Duilius primus omnium Romanorum ducum navalis victo- 
 riae duxit triumphum, ob quam causam ei perpetuus quoque honos habi- 
 tus est ut revertenti a cena tibicine canente funale praeferretur). Note 
 
COMMENTARY 79 
 
 the dfgression here occasioned by the mention of Duilius as an example 
 of an old man who could enjoy a banquet. Similar digressions occur 
 in 10, 26, 56. Critics have commented on Cicero's " didactic digres- 
 sions" (see Hendrickson, American Journal of Philology, 19, 291). 
 
 Sgo. alios: understand some such verb as commemoro; this is an 
 example of revocatio. Cf. 1. 36, Sed quid opus est plura f 
 
 § 45- SSO- Primum: we should rather expect this to be followed 
 by dcinde, but, as often, the second element is not expressed, and 
 the author introduces the second point with Ego . . quoque (46). 
 
 551. sodales: applied usually to a member of a corporation, fra- 
 ternity, society, college, etc. Cf. Gaius, Digest 47, 22, 4, Sodales sunt, 
 qui eiusdem collegi sunt quam Graed eraipiav vacant. Here the organ- 
 ization seems to have had as the chief object of its existence the 
 maintenance of a special ritual; and feasting was a recognized 
 feature of this brotherhood as of all similar institutions in ancient 
 Rome. Cf. Mommsen, De Collegiis et Sodaliciis Romanis. me 
 quaestore: i. e., in the year 204 a. c. 
 
 552. Idaeis: so called because the original home of the Cybele 
 cult was Mount Ida in the Troad, where was erected a fine temple 
 to that goddess. The meteoric stone, the fancied image of Cybele, 
 which the Sibylline verse (see Livy 29, 10, 4-5) commanded to be 
 brought to Rome during the HannibaHc War before Hannibal could 
 be driven out of Italy, came, however, from Pessinus in Gallatia. 
 This was the introduction of the Cybele cult at Rome. 
 
 552. Magnae Matris: i. e., Cybele, the great mother of the gods 
 whose cult was the first of any Asiatic deity to be introduced at 
 Rome. When (in 204 b. c.) the ambassadors sent to Attains, king 
 of Pergamon, to bring the goddess to Rome arrived at Ostia with 
 their sacred charge, the oracle designated Scipio Nasica as the best 
 man {vir optimus in civitate) to receive the goddess till a suitable 
 temple could be erected for her. The ruins of this temple, it is in- 
 teresting to observe, have recently been identified on the western 
 side of the Palatine. Epulabar : the feast of the sodalitas Cato 
 here refers to probably occurred in April at the Megalensian games 
 (ludi Megalenses), which were named in honor of Cybele (from her 
 Greek name iifyd\n w^rijp). 
 
 553. igitur: marks the transition to the main thread of the nar- 
 rative after the digression of the parenthesis. omnino modice: 
 "with moderation, to be sure." 
 
 554. aetatis: "of that period of life," i. e., youth. 
 
 557. metiebar: Cato derived as much or more enjoyment from 
 social intercourse with his friends than from almost any other source. 
 Cf. 1. 525, ad voluptatem esse referenda. accubationem epularem: 
 
 "a rechning at a banquet"; both rare words. See Lexicon. The 
 
80 DE SENECTUTE 
 
 guests at a Roman dinner used to recline on couches Qecli) of which 
 there were three arranged on three sides of the table, the fourth 
 side being open for the servants to serve. The couches were desig- 
 nated summus, medius and itoms (lectus). The cup going from left 
 to right always was passed from the summus to the medius and then 
 to the imus. adhibetur: " is employed," "engaged in." 
 
 558. vitae coniunctionem haberet: "it brings about a living in 
 common"; lit. "a contact of life with life." 
 
 560. compotationem: " a drinking together," called avinr6aiov by 
 the Greeks. concenationem: "a supping together," called 
 ffui-SeHri/o)/ by the Greeks. txun . . . turn: "atone time ... at 
 another," "now . . . now." 
 
 561. in eo genere minimum est: " is of least moment in matters of 
 that sort." id: i. e., the mere eating and drinking. 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 §46. 563. tempestivis . . . conviviis: " early banquets " ; i.e., 
 those beginning before the proper time (3 p. m.) , while it is yet day, 
 and continuing till a late hour of the night. Such feasts lasting 
 through so many hours came to be associated with dissolute society. 
 quoque: cf. 1. 650, primum. 
 
 564. qui pauci admodum : = gifOTMrn pottcia<imo(iMm. Cf. such ex- 
 pressions as qui omnes, qui nulli, where the nominative plural is the 
 regular construction in Latin corresponding to the English idiom of 
 the partitive genitive. On admodum cf. 1. 121, non admodum gran- 
 dem natu. cum vestra etiam aetate: " with those also of your age." 
 
 565. habeoque: cf. 1. 506, magnam, habendam senectuti gratiam. 
 
 566. auxit . . . sustulit: attributive relatives, with causal force 
 (jiv,ae=ea enim). See G. 626. Note the omission of the adversative 
 conjunction here (asyndeton), "has increased for me the intense de- 
 sire for conversation, but taken away that for." ista: iste does 
 not necessarily imply contempt, as it does not here. It simply refers 
 to those of the same period of life as Scipio and Laelius. Cf . below, 
 ne in istis quidem; also 1. .588, Quod si istis ipsis voluptatibus, etc. 
 
 568. ne . . . videar: "that I may not seem to be declaring war 
 altogether on pleasure." 
 
 569. ne . . . quidem: simply reinforces the negative idea by 
 repetition. Cf. 1. 108, Nee enim . . . senectus potest ne sapienti 
 quidem nee insipienti, etc.; 1. 324, Nee . . . non plus quam, etc. 
 magisteria: refers to the ancient Roman custom of Greek origin, 
 of having one preside at a banquet and direct matters. Such a 
 one was called arbiter bibendi (cf. Horace, Ode 1, 4, 18; ib. 2, 7, 25), 
 or magister convivii (cf. Varro, L. L. 5, 122, Praeterea in poculis 
 erant paterae ab eo quod latum Latini ita dicunl dictae. Hisce etiam 
 nunc in publico convivio antiguitatis retinendae causa; quom, magistri 
 
COMMENTARY 81 
 
 fiunt, potio circumjertur ; et in sacrificando deis hoc poculo magis- 
 tratus dat deo vinum). Our toast-master is somewhat analogous to 
 this functionary. 
 
 572. is sermo ... in poculo: "that kind of conversation which 
 beginning at the head of the table after the manner of our fathers is 
 engaged in over the wine cup." a summo: lit. "from the top." 
 See note on 1. 557, above. 
 
 573. minuta atque rorantia: rorantia {poculo) is generally inter- 
 preted to mean cups "which yield the wine drop by drop" (Lewis 
 and Short's Lexicon). Cicero uses the term to translate the Greek 
 fiiKpaTs KiiAiJi . . . ixi\fiaKd(<Daiv (Xenophon, Symposium 2, 26). In 
 view of this fact coupled with the usual sense of roro, " to bedew," 
 "to drop," the idea here seems to be "small cups containing but 
 httle wine.'' 
 
 574. refrigeratio aestate: "a cool place in summer"; the word 
 occurs only in this passage in Cicero and very rarely elsewhere. 
 Note the unusual attributive use of the ablative aestate corresponding 
 to hihernus (" in winter") as the modifier of sol and ignis. 
 
 575. in Sabinis: " on my Sabine estate "; lit. " among the Sabines." 
 An estate was often designated after the people of the district, as 
 Tusci mei, "my Tuscan estate." See Pliny, Ep. 5, 6, 1; Hor., Ode 2, 
 18,14. 
 
 576. convivium vicinorum . . . compleo: "I fill out the number 
 with my neighbors"; compleo, like other verbs of filling, is regularly 
 construed witli the Abl., but the Gen. also occurs. However, here 
 vicinorum may depend on convivium (Reid). ad tnultam noc- 
 tem . . . possumus: "to as late an hour of the night as possible." 
 
 § 47- 578. At: the view of an imaginary opponent. Cf. 11. 250, 
 801, etc. quasi titillatio: the apologetic quasi because titillatio 
 
 (lit. "tickling") is here employed in a rather unusual sense to trans- 
 late the Greek yapya^iirixis of Epicurus. Cf. De Nat. Deo. 1, 113, 
 voluptates quibus quasi titillatio sensibus adhibetur. 
 
 579. desideratio: "desiring"; a very rare word, occurring only in 
 the present passage in Cicero and only in one other Latin author 
 (Vitruvius, Praef. 8, employs it in a different sense). See Crit. App. 
 
 580. 'Beae: sc. dixit. Bene is here emphatic as its position denotes. 
 
 582. utereturne rebus veneriis: "whether he found pleasure in 
 love." Di^meliora: sc. duint (archaic for dent), "God forbid!" 
 This story of Sophocles Cicero borrowed from Plato (Republic 1 , 329 
 C), who uses Ei(pi)fj.€i. 
 
 583. istinc: in reference to the words rebus veneriis above. 
 domino agresti: corresponds to Plato's words &ypiov Sf<rrr6Triv (Rep. I, 
 329 C). 
 
 586. Quamquam: "and yet"; see note on 1. 7, quam^uam. 
 
82 DE SENECTUTE 
 
 587. hoc non desiderare: " this absence of desire "; hoc modifies the 
 infinitive phrase non desiderare. Cf. Brut. 140, ipsum Latine loqui 
 est in magna laude ponendum. On the occasional use of a neuter 
 attributive of an infinitive, see G. 421, N. 2 ; L. 2215. 
 
 §48. 588. istis: cf. I. 567, isfa. bona aetas: "youth"; lit. 
 "good time of life," as mala aetas is "old age." 
 
 589. ut diximus: implied in §§ 45 and 46. 
 
 SQO. potitur: apparently to avoid the repetition of fruitw. Cf. 1. 
 480, potiendum. 
 
 591. Turpione Ambivio: L. Ambivius Turpio, a noted actor and 
 manager of Terence's time. He produced several of Terence's plays, 
 often himself taking part. In case of omission of the prsenomen, 
 the cognomen was sometimes put before the nomen as here. Such 
 practice, though rare in Cicero, is quite common in Silver writers, 
 especially Tacitus. 
 
 592. prima cavea: "the front tiers of seats in the theatre." The 
 orchestra was occupied by the senators and the next fourteen rows 
 behind these were occupied by the knights. It was this part of the 
 theatre that was called prima cavea. It is to be noted, however, that 
 in Cato's time the theatres were only temporary structures of wood 
 and probably contained no seats, the audience being accustomed 
 to stand during the entire performance. Cicero's reference here 
 therefore appears to be an anachronism. 
 
 593. qui in ultima: understand spectat and ultima, "who looks on 
 from the rear of the theatre." propter: "near by"; adver- 
 bial, opposed to procul below. 
 
 595. tantum quantum sat est:=satis, "sufficiently,"' modifying 
 delectatur. 
 
 § 49- 595- ilia: explained by the following infinitives, which 
 illud is frequently used to anticipate. 
 
 596. quanti: "how excellent a thing it is"; Gen. of value. 
 tamquam emeritis stipendiis libidinis: " having completed the time 
 (lit. campaigns) of lust, as it were." The bold figure is toned down 
 by the apologetic tamquam. Such military figures were of more fre- 
 quent occurrence in early Latin than in Cicero's time. 
 
 598. secumque . . . vivere: ut dicitur indicates that the expres- 
 sion was a proverb. 
 
 599. aliquod tamquam pabulum: the apologetic tamquam, '• as it 
 were," like quasi (1. 578), tones down the rather harsh metaphorical 
 meaning of pabulum here. Cf. Acad. 2, 127, animorum ingeniorum- 
 que naturale quoddam quasi pabulum. 
 
 600. otiosa: "free from public affairs'"; hence affording opportu- 
 nity to indulge one's literary tastes. Vivere: the manuscripts 
 are here corrupt. See Crit. App. videbamus: on the tense 
 
COMMENTARY 83 
 
 see 1. 616, and Laelius, § 37, Gracchum rem publicam vexantem ab 
 amicis derelictum mdebamus. See also 1. 972, intellegebatis. 
 
 6oi. C. Galium: Gaius Sulpicius Gallus, consul 166 b. c, a famous 
 Roman astronomer who enjoyed the distinction of being the first 
 Roman to predict an eclipse. This he did on the eve of the battle 
 of Pydna (168 B. c.) while serving as military tribune under L. 
 jEmilius in the campaign against Perseus, and thus he saved the 
 Roman army from panic (see Livy, 44, 37, 5). 
 
 602. patris tui: viz. jEmilius Paulus. On the point of their inti- 
 macy, see Rep. 1, 23. 
 
 603. aliquid describere: used specifically of drawing diagrams, 
 mathematical or astronomical figures, charts, etc. oppressit: 
 "took by surprise." Of. Caes. (Hirtius), B. G. 8, 14, oppressi luce 
 copias instruunt ; also Livy, 26, 12. cum mane coepisset: the 
 otra-clause is employed here as a substitute for the (missing) par- 
 ticipial construction which would be strictly parallel with ingressum 
 above. Cf. 1. 209, cum . interf'uissent; also 1. 502, cum . . . 
 interfuisset Plato. 
 
 604. defectiones . . . multo ante: there is no record of any other 
 prediction of an eclipse by Gallus than that mentioned above. 
 Cicero speaks of eclipses being predicted many years in advance in 
 his time ; see De Div. 2, 17, solis defectiones itemque lunae praedicun- 
 tur in multos annos; De Nat. Deo. 2, 153; Rep. 1, 14. 
 
 § so. 605. levioribus: according to the Roman view, no occupa- 
 tion other than public service — not even philosophy or the inves- 
 tigation of nature — was regarded as quite worthy of a man's most 
 serious efforts. 
 
 606. acutis: i. e., such pursuits as required an acute mind, 
 bello Punico Naevius: in reference to Naevius's early epic, in Sa- 
 turnian verse, on the First Punic War, in seven books, only a few 
 fragments of which survive. On Nsevius see note on 1. 245. 
 
 607. Truculento Plautus . . . Pseudolo: T. Maccius Plautus 
 (born at Sarsina in Umbria, 254-184 b. c.) was the most celebrated of 
 the Roman comic poets. Of the numerous plays once attributed to 
 him, all adaptations from Greek originals, about twenty genuine ones 
 have come down to us. Of these the Truculentus is regarded as some- 
 what inferior and the Pseudolus, presented at the dedication of the 
 temple of Cybele (see 1. 552) in 191 B. c, ranks among his best plays. 
 
 608. senem: "when an old man"; pred. apposition, Livium: 
 Livius Andronicus, a Greek of Tarentum (284-204 B.C.), is esteemed 
 the founder of Roman literature. He came to Rome as a slave in 
 272, after the capture of his native city Tarentum. Later he was 
 given his freedom, taking his name from his master Livius. He 
 began to write plays and in 240 produced the first play at Rome4 
 
84 DE SENECTUTE 
 
 Apart from his comedies and tragedies, his most noteworthy achieve- 
 ment was his translation of the Odyssey into the native Satumian 
 metre. On this reference of Cicero to Livius see Hendrickson's art. 
 " A Pre-Varronian Chapter of Roman Literary History," American 
 Journal of Philology, 19, 291. cum . . . docuisset: "having 
 
 brought out a play"; another example of the circumstantial cwm- 
 clause used as a periphrasis for the wanting perfect participle. Docere, 
 like SiSdoKfiv, implies that Livius had to instruct his performers. 
 609. Centone Tuditanoque: i. e., the year 240 b. c. 
 
 611. P. Licini Crassi: see note on 1. 335. pontificii et civilis 
 iuris: see note on 1. 260, iuris consulti; also 1. 462, ius . . civile. 
 
 612. huius P. Scipionis: the present Scipio, i. e., Publius Cornelius 
 Scipio Nasica Corculum, grandson of Cn. Scipio Calvus, consul 162 
 and 155 b. c, censor 159. On this use of hie see 14, hi consules; also 
 Rep. 1, 14, Africanus hie. his paucis diebus: "within the last 
 few days," "a few days ago." 
 
 614. flagrantes senes: " enthusiastic as old men " ; senes is predi- 
 cative apposition like senem above. M.Cethegum: see note onl. 127. 
 
 615. Suadae medullam: " the marrow or quintessence of eloquence." 
 Suadae translates the Greek TleM in the original, and the quotation 
 is from the Annales of Ennius contained in the Brutus, § 58, Flos 
 delibatus populi Suadaegue medulla. 
 
 616. exerceri: reflexive (middle) sense. 
 
 619. haec quidem: summarizes before passing to new subject and 
 heightens the contrast with what is to follow. Note the repetition 
 of Quidem in the next clause. 
 
 621. honestum sit: "reflects credit upon him." 
 
 622. ut ante dixi: see note, § 26. 
 
 CHAPTER XV 
 
 § 51. 626. sapientis: "philosopher," especially a Stoic to whom 
 sapiens suggested the ideal philosopher. 
 
 627. rationem cum: "an account with"; a phrase from commer- 
 cial parlance as sine usura reddit, "returns with interest," likewise 
 is. The military phrase imperium seems awkward in this connection. 
 Terra, conceived as the banker with whom the account is kept, is 
 here personified for the sake of vividness. 
 
 629. alias: " occasionally," corresponds to the following plerumgue, 
 which is used instead of the correlative alias. 
 
 630. Quamquam: "and yet"; corrective as in 1. 586. 
 
 631. vis ac natura: "natural power"; hendiadys. Cf. Oral. 31, 
 112, eloQuentia^ vis et natura; Fin. 1, 50, vis ac natura rerum. 
 Quae: refers to terra. 
 
 632. gremio moUito ac subacto: "in her bosom ploughed up and 
 
COMMENTARY 85 
 
 softened." Subigere signifies " to turn up from below," " to break 
 up," in agricultural parlance. Cf. Cato, De Agricultura,^5, 1, Locus 
 bipalio subactus siet beneque terra siet; also ib. 161, Locum subigere 
 oportet bene. 
 
 633. occat'Catum: "hidden, concealed." occatio: "harrow- 
 ing," occare, " to harrow," which has no etymological connection with 
 occaecare, "to conceal." Such a derivation as Cicero here suggests 
 implying that the Romans called the process of harrowing occatio 
 because it concealed (ficcaecavit) the seed in the soil furnishes an 
 interesting illustration of what in the language of the pedant is 
 termed a lucv^ a non lucendo. But Festus the grammarian (Qu. IX, 
 29, p. 181, M.) informs us that Cicero hardly intended -this to be 
 taken seriously. Columella says that a field was badly ploughed 
 that required harrowing after the seed was sown — Nam veteres 
 Romani dixerunt male subactum agrum qui satis fnigibus occandus 
 fit {De Re Rust. 2, 4, 2). auae . . . nominata: Fern, because 
 attracted into the gender of the predicate noun occatio. 
 
 634. vapore et compressu sue : " with the warmth of her pressure "; 
 hendiadys. Compressu is a rare word found only in this form and 
 occurring nowhere else in Cicero (fiiroj Key6ijLeyov) . 
 
 635. diffundit et elicit: " causes to come forth and to spread out." 
 herbescentem . . . viriditatem: "growing into green blades"; lit. 
 " a greenness growing into blades." Herbescere is of rare occurrence. 
 
 636. culmoQue erecta geniculate: "and raising itself by means of 
 its jointed stem"; erecta is reflexive (middle); geniculato (from geni- 
 cuh, "to bend the knee") suggests the idea of knots or joints. 
 
 637. vaginis iam quasi pubescens: "in sheaths already about to 
 come into development, so to say." Note the bold use of pubescens, 
 strictly applicable to man, but here applied to plants; hence the 
 apologetic quasi. Cf. Varro, R. R. 1, 48, 1, aristamet etiam primitus 
 spica cum oritur, vaginam. 
 
 638. fundit frugem . . . structam: "produces the grain formed 
 with the regularity of the ear." Collateral forms of spica (Fem.) are 
 spicus (masc.) and spicum, (neu.) of which Cicero here employs the 
 latter. 
 
 § 52. 640. Quid . . . conunemorem: a formula of transition 
 frequently employed in 'passing to a new subject. The rhetorical 
 figure is termed praeteritio (a passing over). Cf. 11. 549, 666, 711, etc. 
 ortus, satus, incrementa: plural because of repeated instances. The 
 English idiom requires the singular. 
 
 641. ut . . . noscatis: final, expressing the purpose of Cato's 
 speaking of his pleasure in the cultivation of the vine, — "I say 
 this that you may know, etc." See G. 545, R. 3. 
 
 643. vim ipsam: "the natural energy." omnium: i. e., all 
 
86 DE SENECTUTE 
 
 things, omnium being neuter. The Jjatin did not possess a. single 
 word for " plants," hence the circumlocution involved in qvAie . . . 
 terra. 
 644. acini vinaceo: "a grape-seed." 
 
 646. procreet: subjunctive of characteristic. Malleoli: "a 
 mallet-shoot" for planting, so called because the young shoot is 
 cut from the old growth of the vine in the shape of a mallet or ham- 
 mer. Cf. Columella, De Re Rus. 3, 6, 3, Malleolus novellus est palmes 
 innatus priwis anni flagello. plantae : "sprouts" from the 
 trunk near the roots. sarmenta: " slips " cut from the branches. 
 
 647. viviradices : " quicksets," i. e., cuttings already rooted and 
 ready to transplant. Cf. Cato, De Agr. 33, 3, si vinea a vite calva erit 
 sulcos interponito ibigue viviradicem serito; also Varro, R. R. 1, 35, 1, 
 haec eadem . viviradix; Columella, De Re Rus. 3, 14, 2, Sationis 
 autem, duo genera, m,alleoli vel viviradicis, quod utrumque ab agricolis 
 usurpatur-i et in provinciis viagis malleoli, neque enim seminariis 
 student, nee usum habent Jaciendae viviradicis. propagines: 
 "layers," i. e., a shoot not severed from the mother-vine, but which, 
 coming in contact with the earth, has struck root. Cf. Verg., 
 Georg. 2, 26, Silvarumque aliae presses propaginis arcus Expectant. 
 nonne efficiunt ut . . . delectent: a periphrasis for nonne delectani. 
 Cf. note on I. 511, Intitus feci ut . eicerem. cum admira- 
 tione: i. e., strike one with delight and admiration. 
 
 649. eadem: i. e., the vine. Cf. i. 51, eandem; also 11.839 and 869, 
 idem. 
 
 650. claviculis: "tendrils." Cf. Nat. Deo. 2, 120, vites sic clavicu- 
 lis; also Col. 4, 6, 2. 
 
 651. ferro: "with the knife." 
 
 652. ars agricolarum: abstract for concrete. sarmentis: cf. 
 Columella, De /Be iJ«s. 3, 17, 4, qua nascitur materia nova resecarunt 
 atque ita cum suo capitulo sarmentum depresserunt. 
 
 653. nimia: "too much"; modifies vitis. 
 
 § 53- 653. ineunte vere : the Roman vine-growers preferred the 
 spring to the autumn pruning. Cf. Columella, De Re Rus. 4, 10, 1, 
 Putandi autem duo sunt tem,pora; melius autem, ut Mago, verumni 
 antequam surculus progerm,inet, etc. 
 
 654. iis: i. e., those shoots (sarmentis) left after the pruning. 
 tamguam ad articulos: "about the joints, so to speak"; the apolo- 
 getic iamquam heca.use articulus is properly applied only to the joints 
 of an animal and is very rarely used of a plant, as here. 
 
 655. ea quae: for id quod, which is'changed as the result of attrac- 
 tion of the predicate noun. gemma: "bud," "eye," — the 
 primary meaning of the word; "gem," "jewel" is the secondary 
 and figurative meaning. 
 
COMMENTARY 87 
 
 658. pampinis: "the foliage of the vine." et . . . defendit: 
 used for the sake of balance corresponding to nee . . . caret. 
 
 659. fructu . . . aspectu: Abl. of specification, — " more delight- 
 ful to enjoy and fairer to look upon." Ct. 1.714, nee usu uherius nee 
 specie ornatins. Note the active sense of laetius, " joyous in appear- 
 ance." Cf. Verg., Georg. 1,1, lupae fulvo nuirieis tegmine laetus; ib., 
 Aen. 1, 275, ferarum exuviis laeta. 
 
 66i. ut ante dixi: cf. 1. 630, non fruetus modo, sed etiam, etc. 
 
 662. adminiculorum ordines: "rows of props or poles"; admini- 
 culum (ad manus) primarily signifies " that on which the hand may 
 rest," "a support." 
 
 662. capitumiugatio: the capita (Columella, 3, 10, 1, extrema pars 
 evus caput iritis appellatur, etc.; see also Vergil, Georg. 2, 355) de- 
 noted the top branches of the vines; hence the phrase means "the 
 linking together of the top branches," perhaps to form an arbor. 
 However, some editors take the phrase to mean " the joining of the 
 tops of the stakes by cross-pieces," — a method still employed in 
 Italy. But there are various methods of supporting the vines 
 still in use in different parts of Italy, as every traveller has observed. 
 Quite a familiar method is to train the vines on trimmed trees, such 
 as poplar, maple, elm, etc. On iugatio cf. Varro, R. R. 1, 8, 1, quibus 
 Stat rectis vinea dicuntur pedamenta quae transversa iunguntur, 
 iuga; ab eo quoque vinea iugatae. religatio: refers to "tying up 
 the vines." The word is nowhere else recorded. 
 
 663. propagatio: refers to propagating the vines by making them 
 take root on the ground — "layering," 
 
 664. aliorum immissio: "a giving free rein to others" to grow. 
 The figure is drawn from the custom of urging on a horse in racing. 
 Quid . . . proferam: on this figure of praeteritio, see note on 1. 
 640, Quid . . commemorem f repastinationesQue: lit. "the 
 digging up again" with the pastinum, which was a two-pronged 
 fork. Observe the plurals denoting repeated acts (irrigationes, 
 fossiones, etc.). 
 
 § 54. 666. Quid . . . loquar: cf. note on 1. 640, Quid . . . com- 
 memorem f stercorandi: the Romans recognized many divini- 
 ties, among them one that was supposed to preside over manuring 
 and called by a variety of names, — Sterculius, Sterculus, Stercutius, 
 Stercutus, etc. Cf. Fliny, N. H. 17, 50, Stercuto Fauni filio. in 
 eo libro: i. e., De Agri Cultura, Cato's treatise on farming, which 
 is still extant. Chapter 28 of this book deals with the subject of 
 manuring. 
 
 667. de rebus rusticis: the book was entitled De Agri Cultura or 
 De Re Rustica ; hence this general characterization. 
 
 668. doctus: denotes ripe culture, not simply learning, and was 
 
88 DE SENECTUTE 
 
 often applied to poets and philosophers. Hesiodus: see 1. 274. 
 
 de cultura agri: the work of Hesiod here referred to is his Works and 
 Days, still extant. Homerus: see 11. 274 and 366. The allusion 
 
 is to Od. 24, 226-227, where Laertes is mentioned as simply digging 
 about the plants. But nothing is said there of manuring. 
 
 670. saeculis: "generations," as in 11. 291 and 296. fuit:= 
 vixit. lenientem: "trying to mitigate"; conative action which 
 is ordinarily expressed by the imperfect tense (Indie). Cf. 1. 143, 
 dividenti. 
 
 671. QUod capiebat e filio: in the passage from the Odyssey cited 
 above Ulysses after dispatching the suitors comes and finds his un- 
 happy aged father digging in his garden, " trying to mitigate the 
 longing he felt for his son." stercorantem: this is only an in- 
 ference from the Homeric record {\iaTpeiovTa, "digging about"), but 
 perhaps a legitimate one. At least this is the traditional interpreta- 
 tion of the passage. Cf. Pliny, N. H. 17, 50 (in describing Laertes), 
 lam apud Homerum regius senex agrum ita laetificans suis manibus 
 reperitur. 
 
 672. facit: cf. 1. 32,/oamMS. seeetibus . . . pratis, etc.: Abls. 
 of cause. 
 
 673. res rusticae: "country life," "farm life." laetae: " pleas- 
 ing," "delightful." Cf. 1. 659, laetius. 
 
 674. florum omnium: "all kinds of flowers." 
 
 675. consitiones: "planting" of trees; rare and said to occur in 
 Cicero only. 
 
 676. insitiones: "grafting," on whicli Cato was reputed a high 
 authority. See his remarks on this subject in his De Agri Cultura 
 40-42. 
 
 CHAPTER XVI 
 
 §55- 677. Possum persequi: "I might set forth"; an example 
 of the figure called praeteritio. Note the indicative here, .the poten- 
 tial idea being inherent in the verb possum. Cf. 1. 282, possum 
 nominare. rerum rusticarum: cf. above, 1. 673, res rusticae. 
 
 678. longiora: "rather tedious." 
 
 679. studio: "enthusiasm." 
 
 680. naturaloquacior: " naturally too talkative"; natera is Abl. of 
 specification. ne . . . videar: cf. I. 568, ne . . . videar; also 
 1. 641, ut . . noscatis. 
 
 681. vitiis videar vindicare: note the alliteration, as also above, 
 possum persequi permulta. Ergo: "Well, then"; resumptive 
 like igitur, and- the stress is on in hac vita. M'. Curius: see 
 note 1. 199. 
 
COMMENTARY 89 
 
 682. cum de . . . trivunphavisset: "having triumphed over"; 
 another example of the circumstantial cum-c\a,use equivalent to a 
 participle. Cf. 1. 608, cum . fabulam docuisset. 
 
 684. villam: "country-house," — without any accessory idea of 
 wealth or luxury, such as the word connoted in later times. Such 
 magnificent estates were unknown in the good old republican days 
 when men Uved "the simple life." a mea: i. e., from Cato's 
 farm-house (villa) . Cato frequently visited Curius's farm-house (Plu- 
 tarch, Goto 4). 
 
 685. continentiam: "self-restraint," "character." 
 
 686. temporum disciplinam: "morals of his age"; lit. "teaching." 
 Curio: the gold was brought as a present, not as a bribe, since the 
 Samnites had already been subjugated and were now regarded as 
 Curius's clients. Cf. De Be Pub. 3, 40, and also Plutarch, Cato 2. 
 
 688. non enim . . . imperare: "for he said it was not the owning 
 of gold that appeared to him a fine thing, but commanding those 
 that did own it." Plutarch (Cato 2) says that Curius was cooking a 
 dinner of herbs when the Samnites arrived with the gift and he re- 
 plied to them that the man who dined in that simple manner had 
 no use for gold. 
 
 § 56. 690. -ne: seems to have here the force of num, which is a 
 rare use. In support of this usage Reed, ad loc, cites De Fin. 3, 44, 
 and Acad. 2, 116. 
 
 ' 691. Sed venio ad agricolas: after the digression involved in 
 the narration of the above story about Curius, Cato returns to the 
 subject under discussion. In agris erant turn: " It was in the 
 
 country that senators then lived"; In agris, as denoted by position, 
 is emphatic, and erant is equivalent to vivunt, as in 1. 254, sunt. Turn 
 implies a contrast with the age of Cato. 
 
 692. senes: see 1. 238, senaium. si quidem: cf. 1. 496, si qui- 
 dem. aranti: emphatic, — " it was while he was plowing that 
 word was brought, etc." For the story see Livy, 3, 26-29. Cf . Pliny, 
 N. H. 18, 20, Aranti quattuor sua iugera in Vaticano quae prata 
 Quinctia appellantur Cincinnato viator attulit dictaturam, etc. 
 
 693. Cincinnato: Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus, consul 460 b. c, 
 twice dictator — 458 and 439 b. c. — though Cicero here seems to 
 confuse the two terms. In his first dictatorship he extricated the 
 Roman army from its position of sore distress and brought the 
 jEquians to terms of peace within fifteen days from his appointment. 
 It is the second dictatorship to which Cicero here makes reference. 
 
 694. factum: the regular technical term is dicere dictatorem rather 
 than facere. dictatoris: appositive to cuius. 
 
 695. Sp. Maelium: a rich Roman citizen who, in the year 439 
 B. c, distributed large quantities of grain among the common peo- 
 
90 DE SENECTUTE 
 
 pie during a famine and was consequently charged with courting 
 popular favor in order to make himself king. He was commanded 
 byAhala, master of horse, to appear before Cincinnatus the dictator 
 appointed to quell the rising rebellion, and on Mselius's refusing to 
 obey and appealing to the masses to defend him, he was immedi- 
 ately slain by Ahala. See Livy, 4, 18. Cicero refers to this incident 
 (.In Cat. 1, 3) as a precedent for his conduct in his summary execu- 
 tion of Catiline's accomplices. regnum adpetentem> " because 
 he was aiming at kingly power.'' occupatum interemit: "took 
 by surprise and killed"; a good illustration of the Latin succinct- 
 ness of phrase attained through the use of participles. 
 
 696. A villa in senatum: emphatic, as illustrating how in those 
 times, the Roman senators were devoted to country life and had not 
 yet abandoned it for the attractions of the city. 
 
 697. viatores: "the summoners"; lit. "travellers." Cicero here 
 implies that the senators in the early days of the Republic were so 
 devoted to agricultural pursuits that the official messengers who 
 attended the magistrates and were dispatched on distant errands 
 had to travel long distances over the country to summon the senate 
 to Rome and hence were called travellers. Cf. Pliny, N. H. 18, 21, 
 Tales turn etiam viatores erant, quod ipsum nomen inditum est 
 subinde et e& agris senatum ducesgue arcessentibus; also Columella, 
 Praef. 19, Ex quo qui eos evocabant viatores nominati sunt. 
 
 698. horum: i. e., of these whom I have named. \ 
 
 699. cultione: a rare term for the usual cultura; it occurs also in 
 Verr. 3, 226, and then not again recorded till Ambrosius (third 
 century) . 
 
 700. haud scio an nulla: "probably none"; lit. "I know not but 
 that none." Cf. 1. 897, haud sdo an melius Ennius. officio: 
 "in point of service"; lit. "office, function." 
 
 702. sed: note the omission of etiam, after sed — an omission of 
 frequent occurrence in Cicero. saturitate: said to occur no- 
 where else in Cicero (SiroJ \ey6fievov) . 
 
 703. ad cultum etiam deonun: i. e., the farm provides the first- 
 fruits, wine for libation and animal victims for sacrifice to the gods. 
 
 704. ut . . . redeamus: result clause. For Cato's attack on plea- 
 sure, see § 39 seq. 
 
 706. cella: a store-room, or a place for fruits, grain, etc., above 
 ground. The expression was also applied to small living apartments 
 for men, especially servants and slaves. Cf. Varro, R. R. 1, 13, 6, 
 cellam vinariam et oleariam ; Cato, R. R. 3, 2, cellam oleariam, vina- 
 riam; Columella, 1, 6, 9. 
 
 707. olearia: agrees with cella understood. Observe that the Ro- 
 mans used olive oil, not butter which they were hardly acquainted 
 
COMMENTARY 91 
 
 with. penaria: "larder," "store-house."' villaque: i. e., 
 
 villa rustica as opposed to villa urbana. Cf . Varro, R. R.l, 13, 7, and 
 Cato, R. R. 3-4. porco, haedo, agno, gallina: in a collective 
 
 sense, — " hogs, kids, etc." 
 
 709. lam: "furthermore"; a transitional particle. Cf. 1.890, /am; 
 1. 901 , lam. succidiam alteram: " their second flitch " ; meat sup- 
 ply. The meaning is that the farmers can rely upon their garden 
 for supplies to replenish the larder in case the meat supply should 
 fail. The origin of the proverb is obscure. Varro (L. L. 5, 110, <Smc- 
 cidia ab suibus caedendis; nam id pecus primum occidere coeperunt, 
 etc.) derives the word succidia from sus "swine" -I- caedere "to 
 slaughter," and thus makes ]it mean "meat" (see R. R. 2, 4, 3, qui 
 sucddiam, in carnario suspenderit, etc.). In a fragment of Cato (Gel- 
 lius 13, 25, 12, succidias humanas fads) the word means wholesale 
 slaughter. Nonius, who quotes this passage (170, 25 M), glosses it 
 successionem necessariam. 
 
 710. Conditiora facit haec: "add more spice to these things"; 
 i. e., render life on the farm all the more delightful. Cf. I. 119, con- 
 dita. supervacaneis operis: "by utilizing the leisure hours"; 
 lit. "by the superfluous labors," i. e., when the ordinary routine 
 work of the farm is finished. 
 
 § 57. 712. ordinibus: cf. 1. 740, mei sunt ordines. 
 
 713. praecidam: "in a word," "in short"; ht. "I will cut the mat- 
 ter off briefly." The object (sc. sermonem) is here suppressed. Cf. 
 Acad. 2,133, Praecide. agro bene culto : " in comparison with 
 a well-cultivated farm"; emphatic. 
 
 714. usu uberius nee specie omatius: cf. 1. 659, fructu laetius, etc. 
 ad Quemfruendmn: as a remnant of their original usage the gerun- 
 dives of utor, fruor, fungor, potior and vescor have the personal con- 
 struction, but usually in the oblique cases only. See G. 427, N. 5; 
 L. 2244; B. 339, 4; H. 623, 1; A. & G. 503, N. 2. Ad of course goes 
 with invitat, but it is also found after a verb of hindering (cf. G. 
 432, R.; L. 2252). Cf. Cses., B. G. 7, 26, 2, palus Romanos ad inse- 
 quendum tardabat; also Cic, pro Sulla 49, nullius amicitia ad 
 pericula propvlsanda im,pedimur. 
 
 716. adlectat: practically synonymous with invitat. Cf . Lael. § 99, 
 allectant et invitant. ilia aetas: i. e., those of that time of life, 
 "old age." 
 
 717. calescere vel apricatione: "warm themselves more comfort- 
 ably by basking in the sun." 
 
 718. aquisve refrigerari: "or cool themselves off by bathing." 
 
 § 58. 718. habeant: sc. iuvenes as subject. The verb seems to 
 imply contempt here as inLael. § 18, sibi habeant sapientiae nomen. 
 
 719. hasta.s:ci. 1.235, nee eminushastis. clavam: "afoil"; a 
 
92 DE SENECTUTE 
 
 club used by young men for exercising, and especially used by sol- 
 diers, pilam: games of ball were a popular sport among the 
 Romans, but they did not play any game approaching our national 
 game of baseball, as far as known. 
 
 720. lusionibus: "games," lit. "plays." 
 
 721. talos: "knuckle-bones," i. e., dice having four sides flat and 
 numbered 1, 3, 4, 6 (1 being opposite 6, and 3 opposite 4) and the 
 remaining two sides rounded. tesseras: dice with the sides so 
 numbered from 1 to 6 that the sum of the numbers on any two op- 
 posite sides always equaled 7 (see Becker's Gallus, p. 499). The 
 Romans were very fond of games of chance, and such games were 
 specially forbidden by law, except in the case of old men. id 
 ipsum: some editors supply here faciant, "even that they may do 
 or not"; i. e., the young men leave the old men the dice or not. 
 utnim libebit: "whichever they please." On the reading of utrum 
 see Crit. App. Moore has shown that the use of utrum here as in- 
 definite relative {utrumcumgue or utcumque) can be defended on 
 the authority of Ciceronian usage. Cf. Verr. 2, 150 fin., Utrum tibi 
 commodum est, elige; ib., 3, 106, Utrum enim horum dixeris; also 
 Div. 2, 141, sed, utrum est, non est mirabile; and pro Tullio 28, 
 Utrum enim ostendere potest, . . . vincat necesse est. 
 
 CHAPTER XVII 
 
 § 59- 723. legite: "read again and again." 
 
 724. ut facitis : Af ricanus is reputed to have l^een very fond of 
 Xenophon. Cf . Tus. Disp. 2, 62, semper Africanus . . . Xenophon- 
 tem in manibus hdbebat. , 
 
 725. in eo libro: the reference is to Xenophon's Oecon. 4, 20-25. 
 de tuenda re f amiliari : Latin rendering of the Greek title Oi/coKo/ii/tefj. 
 
 726. Oeconomicus: Xenophon's work on the management of 
 an estate {ookos + yo/uew) had been translated by Cicero when a 
 young man and was recognized as an authority. Vergil, in compos- 
 ing his Georgics, is said to have availed himself of the book, perhaps 
 Cicero's version, as one of his authorities (Servius on Georg. 1, 43), 
 and Columella did likewise {R. R. 12, 2, 6, De quibus omnibus M. 
 Cicero ordine suo recensetur). ut intellegatis: Cato's motive in 
 quoting Socrates. Cf. 1. 641, ut . . . noscatis. 
 
 728. loquitur cum: " says in a talk with." Note here the rare con- 
 struction of loquitur followed by the Ace. and Infin. which is a mark 
 of colloquial Latin. Cf. Ad Att. 1, 5, 6, mecum Tadius locutus est te 
 ita scripsisse. Critobulo : Critobulus, one of the speakers of 
 
 Xenophon's Oeconomicus, a pupil of Socrates. Cyrum mi- 
 
 norem: Cyrus the Younger, slain at Ounaxa, 401 b. c, in his at- 
 tempt with 10,000 Greeks to wrest the throne from his brother 
 Artaxerxes II (Xenophon's Anabasis). regem: "prince," not 
 
COMMENTARY 93 
 
 king. Cyrus was a son of Darius and satrap of Lydia, Phrygiaand 
 Cappadocia, but never king. 
 
 730. Lysander: the famous Spartan general and admiral who 
 defeated the Athenians at iEgospotamoi in 405 b. c. and the follow- 
 ing year took Athens, smnmae virtutis: " consummate valor," 
 not moral courage. 
 
 731. Sardis: Ace. PI. Motion to a place embraces all local designa- 
 tions. — G. 337, R. 6. sociis: i. e., Sparta and the other 
 states in league against Athens in the Peloponnesian War. Lysander 
 and the Spartans received large gifts from Cyrus, who hoped in 
 return to secure their support in his effort to make himself king of 
 Persia. et ceteris: et is correlative with the following et. Cf. 
 1. 747, et ceterarum rerum et in primis, etc. 
 
 733. consaeptum agrum: "park"; translation of the Greek 
 rrapiScuTos, which explains the omission of et before consitum. 
 diligenter : "carefully . " 
 
 735- in Quincuncem: " trees planted in oblique lines," thus: 
 
 ****** 
 
 4: * * * * 
 ****** 
 
 ***** 
 
 Quincunx, primarily -f^ (guingiie unria), was also applied to trees 
 planted in the form of the five spots on dice ( . • . ) technically 
 called a quincunx, inasmuch as in the duodecimal system ^ may be 
 regarded as five units. Cf. Cses., B. G. 7, 73, obliquis ordinibus in 
 quincuncem dispositis ; Varro, R. R. 1, 7, 2, ut qui habent arbusta, si 
 sata sunt in quincuncem.^ 
 
 736. subactam: cf. 1. 631, Quae cum gremio mollito ac subacto. 
 puram: "clean." The ground was neatly kept. 
 
 737. eum dixisse: depends on loquitur above. 
 
 739. dimensa ataue discripta: "laid out and arranged"; dimensa 
 here has a passive signification. Cf. 1. 51, adeptam. 
 
 740. ista: "these things which you behold"; no idea of contempt 
 is here suggested. 
 
 742. nitorein corporis ornatumQue Persicum: "the beauty of his 
 person and his splendid Persian apparel." Cf. Hor., Ode 1, 19, 5, 
 Glycerae nitor; Ter., Eun. 242, nitor cnrporis. 
 
 743. auro multisque gemmis: Abl. of quality. 
 
 745. virtuti tuae fortuna: virtus liere signifies "personal worth," 
 "excellence," as reflected in Cyrus's character in improving his 
 estate; fortuna. signifies " good fortune " as expressed in the blessings 
 which his high position conferred upon him. The Greek original, 
 
94 DE SENECTUTE 
 
 which Cicero here follows, reads [Xenophon, 1, u. 25) a-ynflbs yhp tbv 
 apijp eiiSaifA0i/e7s. 
 
 § 6o. 745. igitur: "now then"; resumptive, giving the gist of 
 the preceding discussion on the pleasures of country life. 
 
 746. aetas: i. e., our time of life, old age. impedit: the ob- 
 ject of the verb is nos, which is usually omitted when it is so clearly 
 indicated by the context as in the present instance. 
 
 747. studia: the English idiom here requires the singular, — 
 " interest." 
 
 749. Corvinum: Valerius Corvinus was so called because in the 
 Gallic War, in 349 b. c, he is reputed to have prevailed over his 
 antagonist through the aid of a raven (corvus) which flew into the 
 face of the Gaul. Valerius was six times consul, twice dictator and 
 is alleged to have held twenty-one terms of curule offices. ac- 
 cepimus: cf. 1. 163, gualem accepimus Platonis. 
 
 750. perduxisse: as object understand agri colendi studia to be sup- 
 plied from above. cum esset . . . coleret: "still continuing 
 on his farm and tilling it although his life was already finished." 
 Aetate here means the best period of life, and acta has the force of 
 exacta. The cum-clauses have the force of present participles, as often. 
 
 751. sex et quadraginta: Valerius's first consulship was in 348 b. c, 
 his sixth in 299. It was therefore 49, not 46 years. Like Cicero, 
 Pliny {N . H. 7, 157, Cuius inter primum et sextum consulatum XLVI 
 anni fuere) makes the period 46 years. 
 
 753. ad senectutis initium: Cicero here loosely identifies the age of 
 exemption from military service (46) with old age proper, which be- 
 gan at the 60th year. 
 
 754. cursus honorum: " official career," including all offices up to 
 the consulship. Here, however, in view of this so exceptional case, 
 the qusestorship, sadileship and praetorship are not mentioned. 
 
 755- <luod . . . habebat: explanatory of the foregoing hoc. 
 auctoritatis: "influence," "weight." 
 
 756. apex: "the highest honor," "crown"; rarelj' so used. Cf. 
 Hor., Ode 1, 34, 14, Hinc apicem Fortuna sustulit hie posuisse gaudet. 
 The word originally denotes the small rod at the top of the flamen's 
 cap, wound round with wool. 
 
 § 61. 757. Quanta fuit: i. e., auctorifas. Metello: see 1. 360. 
 
 758. Calatino: consul in 258 b. c. and again in 254, dictator in 249 
 during the Fii-st Punic War in which he rendered distinguished ser- 
 vice, elogium: "epitaph," "inscription." The word is the. 
 Greek iKf-ye'ioi', " sepulchral inscription." unum: "one above 
 all others"; compare the use oiunus with superlatives, a.s in Lael. § 1, 
 quemunum . . praestantissimum audeo dieere. Cicero quotes this 
 inscription again in DeFin. 2, 116. The metre is the old Satumian. 
 
COMMENTARY 9S 
 
 See G. 756. Moore has pointed out the similarity of the language 
 of this inscription to that upon the tomb of L. Cornelius Scipio, 
 grandfather of Africanus, as recorded in Corpus Inscriptionum 
 Latinarum, Vol. I, 32, the first two lines of which read as follows: 
 
 HONC ■ OINO ■ PLOIRVME • COSENTIONT • R(omane) 
 DVONORO . OPTVMO • FVISE • VIRO. 
 
 759. gentes: in the technical sense of clans. 
 
 760. Populi: with primarium virum. 
 
 761. totum carmen: i. e., the entire epitaph; Cato here cites only 
 two hnes of it. incisum: it was the custom in Cato's time to en- 
 grave the epitaph upon the tomb; but the earlier practice was sim- 
 ply to paint the epitaph in red letters on the stone. in sepulcro: 
 on the Appian Way where Calatinus was buried near the tomb 
 of the Scipios, MetelU, Servilii (see Tusc. Disp. 1, 13; De Fin. 2, 116). 
 
 762. gravis: "a man of influence." cuius . . . esset: Rel. 
 of characteristic. 
 
 763. Quern virum . . . vidimus: " What a man we recently saw 
 P. Crassus (to be) "; vidimus here has a double accusative after the 
 analogy of verbs of naming, choosing, showing, etc. For Crassus 
 see note on 1. 335. 
 
 764. Lepidimi: M. jEmilius Lepidus, consul 187 b. c. and again 175, 
 censor 179 B. c. He was for twenty-seven years princeps senatua 
 (" leader of the senate ") and held the office of pontifex maximus from 
 the year 185 B. c, dying in 152 B.C. 765. Paulo: see 1. 350. 
 
 766. Maximo: see 117. sententia: generally interpreted 
 to refer to the formal expression of opinion by the individual sena- 
 tor when a vote was taken. 
 
 767. honorata : said of one who has held the various offices (ho- 
 nores) constituting the cursus honorum. Cf. 1. 263, honoratis viris. 
 
 768. pluris: "worth more," "of more value": Gen. of value. 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII 
 
 § 62. 770. in omni oratione: " throughout my entire speech." 
 
 771. quae . . . constituta sit: Rel. of characteristic. 
 
 772. id quod: "a. thing which"; parenthetic clause in apposition 
 with the following statement. quondam: the speech Cato here 
 refers to is unknown. 
 
 774. defenderet: the sequence is determined by dixi. Observe that 
 Cicero here has confused two constructions. Dixi properly belongs 
 in the parenthetic, clause and we should Iiave expected a result clause 
 with primary sequence depending upon efficitur. But the proximity 
 of dixi apparently changed the structure of the sentence. It is as if 
 we should say, " In consequence of this it comes about, a thing I 
 
96 DE SENECTUTE 
 
 said once with the hearty approval of all, viz. that old age is wretched, 
 etc." cani: sc. capilli, omitted, as a rule, only in poetry. 
 
 775. fructus . . . extremes: "receives influence as its ultimate 
 reward." Auctoritatis is an appositional genitive. 
 
 § 63. 776. Haec: i. e., salutari, adpeti, accedi, etc. 
 
 777. honorabilia: "marks of honor"; very rare word and found 
 nowhere else in classical Latin. salutari: the morning call which 
 custom prescribed should be paid' by his friends to a person of great 
 distinction. 
 
 778. adpeti: "to be shown special courtesy"; in allusion to the 
 practice of seizing the hands of an old man and kissing them. 
 decedi, adsurgi: " to have people give place out of respect to you, to 
 rise up in your presence"; these two infinitives are the only imper- 
 sonal ones in the series. deduci, reducl: "to be escorted from 
 home and to be escorted back home again"; in allusion to the cus- 
 tom of friends escorting a distinguished man from his home to the' 
 Forum and back again when he returned. consuli: in reference 
 to the practice of giving an expert opinion on knotty points in the 
 law, perhaps also to deliberations in the senate. 
 
 779. ut' Quaeque: "according as each (country)." morata: 
 "mannered," "civilized"; adjective from mos. 
 
 781. modo: see 1. 742. 
 
 783. tribuitur: Cato here makes Lysander's words his own and 
 hence employs the indicative, as might be expected. 
 
 785. ludis: Abl. of time. 
 
 786. magno consessu: Abl. Abs. with concessive force, implying 
 that despite the immense crowd present, no one was found with 
 sufficient courtesy to show the old man this mark of respect. 
 
 788. legati cum essent: "as being ambassadors"; causal. certo 
 in loco: ambassadors had special seats reserved for them in the 
 orchestra. consederant: explanatory clause injected by the 
 writer, hence indicative. 
 
 789. sessimi: supine of purpose, motion being implied in re- 
 
 § 64. 790. multiplex: for the more usual maximus as an epithet 
 of plausus. 
 
 792. coUegio: viz., the college of augurs of which Cato was a 
 member. 
 
 793. ut auisque . . . antecedit: "in the order of seniority"; lit. 
 "as each man excelled in age." Cf. 1. 779, ut quaeque optime morata 
 est, etc. 
 
 794. sententiae: it was the custom for the augurs in debating and 
 voting to take precedence according to age. On sententiae see 1. 766, 
 in sententia. 
 
COMMENTARY 97 
 
 795. honore: all official positions are here included. cum 
 
 imperio: the term imperium signified such supreme authority as 
 that formally invested in dictators, consuls, praetors and provincial 
 governors by the Comitia Curiata and limited to the tenure of 
 office. 
 
 798. Quibus qui . . . usi sunt: " those who have made noble use 
 of these distinctions." On the Latin idiom of the juxtaposition of 
 relatives, see note 1. 25, cui qui. 
 
 799. fabulam aetatis: the comparison of life to a play is a familiar 
 figure in most tongues. Cf . 1. 64, extremum actum ; 1. 856 and es- 
 pecially 1. 1052, SeTiectus autem aetatis est peractio tamquam fabulae ; 
 Seneca, Ep. 77, 20, Quomodo fabula, sic vita, non quam diu, etc. 
 peregisse: note the force of per, "through to the end." tam- 
 duam . . . corruisse: "just as unskilful actors, to have failed in 
 the last act"; corruere primarily means " to sink to the ground from 
 exhaustion." 
 
 § 65. 801. At sunt: still another objection urged by an imag- 
 inary opponent. Cf. 1. 250, At memoria minuitur. morosi: the 
 word is from mos and denotes the peculiarities, whims and crotchets 
 of men; hence the present meaning "whimsical," "crotchety." 
 
 802. Si quaerimus: "in fact," "to speak honestly"; lit. "if we 
 look well into the matter." morum: cf. 1. 94, in moribus est 
 
 culpa, non in aetate. 
 
 804. non illius guidem: "not a just one, it is true"; ille is often 
 employed in a concession with quidem, as in the present example, 
 where the English idiom ordinarily leaves it untranslated. Besides 
 ille other pronouns (is, iste, hie) occasionally occur. Cf. G. 307, 
 R. 4 ; L. 2361 ; H. 507, 5. sed . . . videatur: " but such as seem 
 possible to be approved"; relative of characteristic to ea;CMso<ionis. 
 
 805. contemni . . . despici, inludi: these words constitute a cli- 
 max, each being a stronger term than the preceding. 
 
 807. bonis: modifies artibus as well as moribus as the order de- 
 notes (this figure is called coniunctio). 
 
 809. qui in Adelphis sunt: the Adelphi, "the Brothers," the last 
 written of Terence's comedies and presented at the funeral games 
 of jEmilius Paulus, 160 b. c. altero . . . altero: the former 
 altero refers to the stern father Demea, the latter to his brother, the 
 kindly bachelor Micio. 
 
 810. Sic: it is not clear whether sic here refers to what has gone 
 before, or looks forward to what follows. Either interpretation would 
 suit the context. 
 
 811. omnis natura: see Crit. App. 
 
 812. Severitatem: "strictness," as often. 
 
 § 66. 813. Avaritia quid sibi velit: " But as for avarice, what 
 
98 DE SENECTUTE 
 
 purpole that subserves in an old man." Avaritia is emphatic, stand- 
 ing first in the clause. 
 
 815. quo . . . eo : Abl. of degree of difference. Cf. G. 403 and 
 642, R. 2. Tiatici: "travelling money"; the usual meaning of 
 
 the word. 
 
 CHAPTER XIX 
 
 818. soUicitam habere: "to keep old age in a state of anxiety"; 
 habere with the perf. part, is used to emphasize the continuance of 
 the result indicated by the participle. Cf . G. 238; A. & G. 497, 6 ; 
 L. 1606, H. 388; H. 431, 3. 
 
 819. esse longe: esse is here equivalent to abesse, the regular phrase. 
 
 820. qui . . . viderit: Rel. of characteristic, with the accessory 
 notion of cause. 
 
 822. omnino: "altogether," "for good and all." The doctrine 
 of the annihilation of the soul in death here intimated was accepted 
 by some of the philosophers of Cato's time, especially the Epicu- 
 reans. Of. Lucretius, De Rerum Nat. 3, 417. 
 
 823. aliauo: "somewhither," "to some place or other." 
 
 824. tertium certe nihil: "assuredly nothing as a third alterna- 
 tive." a. Tusc. Disp. If S2, Qiioniam nihil tertium est. Cicero speaks 
 (T. D. I, 10 and 11 and 48) of the doctrine of future punishment as 
 old wives' tales. 
 
 § 67. 825. aut non miser . . . aut beatus: observe that in this 
 dilemma Cicero does not recognize the possibility of the soul's ex- 
 isting after death in a state of unhappiness. 
 
 826. Quamquam: cf. 1. 7, quamquam; also 1. 844, Quamguam. 
 quamvis: "however." 
 
 827. cui:Dat. of a^ent with exploratum sit, " as to be convinced." 
 ad vesperum: "at even-tide," not "till evening" which would be 
 expressed usque ad vesperum. Cf. Lael. § 12, domumreductus ad ves- 
 perum est; also Verg., Georg. 1, 461, quid vesper serus vehit. See Otto 
 (Sprichtworter der Romer, p. 369), who quotes Livy, 45, 8, 6, Quid 
 vesper ferat, incertum est, and cites from Gellius 13, 11,1, the subject 
 of one of Varro's Menippean satires Nescis quid vesper serus vehat. 
 
 828. Quin etiam: cf. 1. 784, Quin etiam. 
 
 830. tristius: i. e., since young men on account of improvidence 
 are subject to more violent attacks of illness, they require severer 
 remedies in the treatment of their maladies. 
 
 ,831. ni: a peculiarity of colloquial Latin as well as of legal for- 
 mulas. Cf. 1. 421, Quod ni; also 1. 1009, Quod quidem ni. 
 
 832. viveretur: impersonal, like sic vivitur, "such is life." Cf. 
 De Off. 1, 15, 46, quoniam vivitur non cum perfectis hominibus. 
 
COMMENTARY 99 
 
 Mens . . . consilium: mens is generic, involving both ratio and 
 consilium. Cf . 1. 236, consilio, ratione ; also 1. 494, mente . . . rations. 
 
 833. Qui si nulli: sc. senes from senibus; nullus here equals non. 
 Cf. 1. 564, qui paud. 
 
 § 68. 834. Quod: interrogative adjective equivalent to quale, — 
 "how does that constitute a charge against old age?" Istud refers 
 to impending death, as id in the following clause likewise does. 
 
 835. cum adulescentia esse commune: especially frequent. Cf. 
 1. 16, commune tecum. 
 
 836. Sensi: emphatic and agreeing with ego, the nearest subject. 
 filio: Cato's son died while prsetor-elect in the year 152 b. c. See 
 U. 198 and 1034. ezpectatis ad . . . fratribus: "in the case of 
 your brothers who were expected to attain to the highest honor"; 
 a rare construction of ad with the Ace. after exspectare. The allusion 
 is to the two sons of Lucius ^Emilius Paulus, both of whom died, 
 aged 12 and 14 years respectively, within seven days, the one just 
 before and the other just after their father's triumph in 167 B. c. 
 The case appealed to the Roman mind as a conspicuous illustration 
 of the fickleness of fortune. 
 
 838. At: in the mouth of an imaginary opponent in answer to the 
 preceding argument. 
 
 839. idem: "likewise"; in agreement with quod. Cf. 1. 869, quod 
 idem. 
 
 840. Insipienter: emphatic, — "It is a foolish hope he indulges." 
 
 841. At: view Of an imaginary opponent, — " But some one 
 says." ne quod speret quidem: "not even anything to hope 
 for": Rel. of purpose. 
 
 842. At: Cato's own refutation of the above supposititious objection. 
 
 843. cum . . . consecutus «st: explanatory cum, being practi- 
 cally equivalent to a gMod-clause. Cf. In Cat. 1, 8, 21, cum tacent 
 clamant ; Ad Fam. 13, 24, 2, tibi maximas gratias ago cum tantum 
 litterae meae potuerrunt ; ibid. 9, 14, 3; Plin., Epist. 4, 22, 4, Dixi 
 omnia cum hominem noniinavi. See G. 582; L. 1875; B. 290; Hale, 
 Cum Construe, p. 302. ille . . . hie: see G. 307, Rem. 1; B. 
 246, 1; H. 506, 2; L. 2352. 
 
 § 69. 843-4. Quamquam: corrective, cf. 1. 826, Quamqumn quis 
 est tarn, stultius, etc. 
 
 846. Tartessiorum: the Tartessi lived near Cadiz (fiades) along the 
 southern coast of Spain. 
 
 847. scriptum: i. e., Herodotus I, 163. 
 
 848. centum viginti: for a catalogue of conspicuous examples of 
 longevity see Pliny the Elder, iV. H. 7, 153-164. 
 
 849. extremum: cf. 1. 64, extremum actum ; also 1. 800, in extremo 
 actu. 
 
100 DE SENECTUTE 
 
 851. effluxit: "has vanished." Cf. 1. 57, praeterita enim aetas 
 quamvis longa cum effluxisset. tantum: "only so much." 
 
 852. consecutus sis : subjunctive because indefinite second person. 
 horae . . . at . . . et . . . et : this rhetorical device (polysyndeton) is 
 no doubt used for effect instead of the more usual figure asyndeton. 
 
 854. quid sequatur: i. e., what the future has in store. Cf. Lucre- 
 tius, 1, 459, quid porro deinde sequatur. quod . . . contentus: 
 on the thought see Lucretius, 3, 938, cur non ut plexus vitae conviva 
 recedis; also,i6id. 960, satur ac plenus discedere rerum. Cf. Hor., Sat. 
 1, 1, 117-118. 
 
 § 70. 856. peragenda fabula: i. e., the actor is not required to go 
 through the entire play in order to win approval. For a similar figure 
 see 1. 800, and 1. 1052, Senectus autem aetatis est peractio tamquam 
 fabulae. mode: "provided only." 
 
 857. fuerit: subjunctive by attraction after probetur. 
 
 858. Plaudite: at the close of a play it was the custom for one of 
 the troupe to say to the audience "Plaudite," which signified that 
 the play was finished. So the term came to mean " the conclusion," 
 or as here "the end of life." Cf. Hor., Ars poet. 153, si plausoris eges 
 aulaea manentis et usque Sessuri donee cantor " Vos Plaudite" dicat; 
 Quint. 6, 1, 52, cum ventum est ad ipsum illud quo veteres tragoediae 
 comoediaeque cluduntur " Plodite." 
 
 859. processerit: either supply aetas as subject, or sapiens and 
 understand aetate, in accordance with 1. 253, cum aetate processisset. 
 
 861. vemi temporis suavitate: "the sweet spring-time"; abstract 
 for concrete. See G. 360, Rem. 2. 
 
 862. tamquam: "so to speak"; apologetic. Cf. 1. 654, tamquam. 
 864. demetendis et percipiendis : these terms are practically 
 
 synonymous. Cicero is fond of employing synonyms in pairs as 
 here. Cf. 1. 409, ofjicia et munera ; also 1. 343, cocta et mitis. In re- 
 ference to percipere in the sense " to gather," cf . 1. 285, non serendis, 
 non percipiendis, norp condendis fructibus; also 1. 403, quod suo tem- 
 pore percipi debeat. 
 
 § 71. 865. Fructus: cf. 1. 775, sed honeste acta superior aetas fructus 
 mpit auctoritatis extremos; also Pis. 24, 57, gloria est fructu.s verae 
 virtutis honestissimus. saepe dixi: see 11. 116, 754, and 775. 
 
 866. ante partorum bonorum : " of possessions formerly acquired . ' ' 
 Cf . Quint. 23, 74, ut honeste partis bonis privaret. 
 
 867. secundum naturam: a favorite Stoic expression. Cf. note 
 on 1. 62, naturam optimum ducem. 
 
 869. quod idem: cf. 1. 839, quod sperare idem senex non potest. 
 adversante et repugnante natura: the Abl. Abs. here expresses con- 
 cession. 
 
 871. flammae vis: "a powerful blaze." 
 
COMMENTARY 101 
 
 873. consumptus: "having burnt itself out"; used in a middle 
 sense. (iua.si:=quemadmodum, or sicut. This is a special use of 
 quasi in direct comparison with the indicative. Cf. G. 602, N. 1; L. 
 2122. This construction occurs in early Latin, and for this reason 
 some editors take it as a conscious archaism here on the part of 
 Cicero, in imitation of the Latinity of Cato's age. (Sommerbrodt 
 would place in the same category the passive use of deponents, such 
 as 1. 51, adepiam, 1. 739, dimensa, 1. 903, meditatum; the construction 
 quam viam — ingrediendum sit, 1. 79, and the adverb aWaeiter, 1. 884.) 
 
 874. si ... si: the second protasis is usually introduced by tin 
 when the conditions exclude each other as here. Cf. 1. 1047, sin. 
 cocta: "ripened" by .the sun. Cf. Varro, R. R. 1, 7, 4 and ib. 1, 54, 
 et praecox et miscella (uva) . multo ante coquitur; also Verg., 
 Georg. 2, 522. For the figurative meaning of the word, see 1. 343, di- 
 serti senis cocta et mitis oratio. 
 
 875. senibus: Dat. of separation after aufert {adulescentibus the 
 same). Cf. G. 347; B. 188, 2, d ; H. 427; A. & G. 381. 
 
 876. quae: "and this idea"; construction according to the sense, 
 not according to grammar. The antecedent of the relative is the 
 idea involved in the preceding clause rather than maturitas which 
 the grammar strictly requires. 
 
 877. accedam: subjunctive by attraction after videar. 
 
 878. in portum: cf. Tusc. Disp. 1, 118, portum potius paratum 
 nobis et perfvgium putemus. Quo utinam velis passis pervehi liceat. 
 
 CHAPTER XX 
 
 § 72. 879. terminus: cf. Lael. 56, constituendi sunt . . . ut 
 quasi termini diligendi; also Rah. Perd. 29, -vitae termini. rec- 
 
 teque in ea vivitur: i.e.,simplyinaccordancewiththe normal course 
 of nature. 
 
 880. quoad . . . possis: subjunctive of indefinite 2d person, 
 munus officii exsequi et tueri: "to prosecute and keep up the per- 
 formance of one's duty." Cf. 1.348, officii munus. 
 
 881. animosior: cf. Hor., Ode 2, 10, 21, rebus angustis animosus 
 atque fortis appare. 
 
 882. Hoc illud est, etc. : " This is the meaning of that famous an- 
 swer of Solon." Cf. Div. 1, 122, hoc nimirum illud est quod de So- 
 crate accepimus. 
 
 883. Pisistrato: tyrant of Athens who usurped the supreme power 
 in 560 B. c. In his life of Solon Plutarch informs us that Solon, gave 
 this reply to the inquiring friends of Pisistratus. 
 
 884. audaciter: for the more common audacter. Quintilian (1, 
 
102 DE SENECTUTE 
 
 6, 17) criticises the use of audaciter for audacler saying that aw 
 dacter had been employed by "all the orators" {licet omnes oratores 
 aliud {audacter) sequantur). Merguet (Lexica) cites one or two other 
 examples in Cicero, but the reading is doubtful (e. g. Sex. Rose. 
 104), and Fuegner {Lexicon Livianum) cites Livy, 22, 25; 40, 55; 
 44, 4. See Neue, ForTnenlehre, 3rd ed., 2, 684. 
 
 885. Senectute: depends upon fretus understood. Solon, who was 
 born about 640 b. c, must have been well-nigh 80 years of age at 
 this time (560 B. c). 
 
 886. Integra mente certisaue sensibus: "while his mind is vigor- 
 ous and his faculties unerring"; Abl. Abs. Cf. Acad. 2, 19, integris 
 incorruptisgue sensibus. 
 
 887. coagmentavit: "joined together." Note the contrast with 
 dissolvit. Cf. Phil. 7, 21, docebo ne coagmentari quidem pacem posse. 
 Cicero is fond of antithesis and balance. 
 
 888. construxit: contrasted with destruit as likewise dissolvit 
 below with congtutinavit. 
 
 890. lam: "again," "now," in transition. Ci.\.7QQ,Iamhortum; 
 also 1. 90, lamsensus, etc. conglutinatio: found only in Cicero, 
 
 — in the present passage and in Orat. 78, conglutinatio verborum. 
 
 892. reliquum: substantive. nee sine causa: suicide was 
 
 justified by the Epicureans and Stoics only in extreme exigencies, 
 as when one was hopelessly ill. 
 
 ^893. deserendum sit: the figure is drawn from military life — that 
 of a soldier who deserted his post of duty. For examples of the 
 figure applied to life {vitam deserere), see Cic, Sest. 22, fin. and 
 Hor., Ode 3, 24, 44. 
 
 § 73- 893. Pythagoras: see 11..276 and 395. The passage referred 
 to is Plato, Phaedo, 61 A-62 C, where Socrates is represented as 
 quoting Philolaus, a Pythagorean. But see Cicero, Tusc. Disp. 
 1, 74; also De Rep. 6, 15 {Somn. Sc. fin.), both quoted below, 
 iniussu imperatoris: cf. Tusc. Disp. 1, 74, Vetat enim dominans ille 
 in nobis deusiniussu hinc nos suo demigrare; also De Rep. 6, 15, nee 
 iniussu eius a quo ille {animus) est vobis datus. 
 
 894. praesidio et statione: almost synonymous here. Cicero here 
 takes Plato's (ppovpi {Phaedo, 62 B) as referring to the post of duty, 
 but in the above passage he interprets it as referring to a prison. 
 
 895. elogium: "a, saying," in reference to the Greek couplet 
 (Plutarch, Solon 31) which reads thus: 
 
 MijSe fioi &K\av(rTos Bdvaros fi6\ot, iAAi ipt\ov(Tlv 
 KaWeliroifii Bavitv &\yea Kal ffrovaxds — 
 Cicero renders these lines thus {Tusc. Disp. 1, 117): 
 
 Mors mea ne careat lacrimis ; linquamus aniicis 
 Maerorem, ut celebrent funera cum gemitu. 
 
COMMENTARY 103 
 
 Se negat velle suam mortem: Solon's lines were called forth by a con- 
 temporary elegiac poet Mimnermus who had expressed himself to 
 the contrary. 
 
 896. Volt credo: "He would have it, forsooth.'.' This construc- 
 tion of the Infih. with subject accusative after volo, nolo and malo 
 is not so common when the subjects of both verbs are identical, in 
 which case the simple infinitive is the regular construction. Still 
 the Infin. with subject accusative occurs, especially with esse and 
 passives. Cf. 1. 386, me . . . senem esse mallem. See G. 532, R, 2; 
 B. 331, IV, a. . 
 
 897. baud scio an: cf. 1. 700, hand scio an. melius Ennius: 
 sc. dicat, " gives expression to a better sentiment." Cf . 1. 296, melius 
 Caedlius. 
 
 898. dacrimiis: archaic form for famm-is, employed probably for 
 the alliteration. Cf . junera fletu faxit. On the change of early Latin 
 d to I, see Lindsay, Lat. Lang. p. 285. 
 
 899. Faxit: as subject understand quisguam. Faxit is an archaic 
 perfect subjunctive for fecerit. The last line of the epitaph (see 
 Tusc. Disp. 1, 34) reads: Faxit. Cur ? Volito vivos per ora virum — 
 "Why? I am yet alive and fly hither and yon in the mouths of 
 men." 
 
 900. ininortalitas: not quite what Ennius probably meant. This 
 epigram is found in Vahlen's Ennius (No. 17, p. 215), where the 
 reading differs somewhat from tlie present reading. 
 
 § 74. 901. lam: "'Moreover." Cf. 1. 890, lam omnis conglutinatio, 
 etc. 
 
 902. isQue: -que here has rather an adversative force. Cf. 1. 167 
 vixitgue. 
 
 903. nuUus: emphatic and almost equal to nan. Cf. 1. 833, qui si 
 nulli; for the sentiment, cf. also 1. 821, aut plane neglegenda 
 
 aut etiam optanda. hoc: explained by the following M<-clause 
 
 meditatum . . . esse: "this lesson ought to be conned by us from 
 our youth up." Meditari, " to practice a tiling " (as in Quint. 10, 
 330, Demosthenes in litore meditans), has a passive force like 
 
 adeptam (1. 51) and dimensa (1. 739). See note on 1. 873. Note the 
 use of the perfect tense where we should rather have expected the 
 present. But with debet and oportet the perfect infinitive is some- 
 times used for the present. See G. 280, N. 2 and 3; B. 270, 2, o; 
 A. & G. 486, e; H. 618, 2; L. 2230. 
 
 905. sine aua meditatione: "a preparation without which"; case 
 of incorporated antecedent. 
 
 906. et incertimi an: " and possibly," lit. " it is uncertain whether." 
 Cf. 1. 897, haud scio an. 
 
 907. Mortem . . . impendentemtimens: "If then one fears death 
 
104 DE SENECTUTE 
 
 as hanging over one every hour, how can one, etc.?" qui: in- 
 
 terrogative. Cf. 1. 54, qui enim citius . . obrepit? 
 
 908. poterit: indefinite subject in the third person, and therefore 
 indicative. Cf. I. 301, volt. non ita longa: "no very long." 
 
 909. Brutum . . . duos Decios . . . M. Atilium: these accusa- 
 tives are the subject of some verb to be supplied , perhaps from pro- 
 fectas {esse}. Cicero apparently lost sight of the fact that he had 
 left these nouns without any grammatical connection with the sen- 
 tence. L. Junius Brutus, who delivered Rome from the tyranny of 
 the kings, was killed in single combat 'with A. Tarquinius in the at- 
 tempt Tarquinius made, after the expulsion, 510 b. c, to recover 
 the throne. 
 
 § 75. 910. duos Decios: see the note on devotio, 1. 530, the volun- 
 tary sacrifice of one's life as the price of victory. 
 
 912. Atilium: Marcus Atilius Regulus, consul 267 b. c. and again 
 256, the celebrated general in the First Punic War who carried the 
 war into Africa and was at length captured and sent as a hostage 
 to Rome in 251 b. c. The story of his return to Carthage to keep his 
 oath is now"" discredited and regarded as a myth. 
 
 913. duos Scipiones: cf. 11. 350 and 996. 
 
 914. Poenis: Dat. of personal interest (reference) . vel: adver- 
 bial, "even.'' avum tuum: addressed to Scipio whose grand- 
 father, L. ^milius Paulus (the father of the hero of Pydna), was 
 in command at the memorable battle of Cannae in the year 216 b. c, 
 where he was killed. 
 
 915. coUegae: C. Terentius Varro, consul 216 b. c, who attacked 
 Fabius's policy of delay and himself invited the defeat of Cannae. 
 He was one of the few officers who escaped from that field of carnage. 
 Cannensi ignominia: in the famous battle of Cannae (216 b. c.) 
 the Romans lost about 60,000 men. See Livy, 22, 47-49. 
 
 916. temeritatem: the early historians, wlio were aristocrats, aU 
 blamed Varro, the democratic consul, for risking a general engage- 
 ment at Cannse. But the Romans had been displeased with the 
 policy of Fabius "the Delayer." Probably Varro was not inferior 
 in generalship to the manv other Roman warriors who fought Han- 
 nibal. Marcellum: M. Claudius Marcellus, five times consul 
 and the first Roman general to hold his own against Hannibal. He 
 captured Syracuse in 212 b. c, after a three years' siege, but lost 
 his life in a skirmish with Hannibal's troops near Venusia, 208 B. c. 
 cuius interitum: " whose body after his death"; abstract for 
 concrete. , 
 
 917. crudelissimus hostis: the Romans were so prejudiced against 
 Hannibal that they would not give him the credit which he really 
 deserved. Even Cicero here concurs in the traditional Roman view. 
 
COMMENTARY 10.5 
 
 See Livy's characterization of Hannibal (21, 4); also Mommsen's 
 Hist, of Rome, III, chap. 4. 
 
 918. inOriginibus: cf.l. 454, OrigrmMTO. Cicero repeats these words 
 almost identically in Tusr. Disp. 1, 101. For a fragment of Cato's 
 Origines containing an account of the tribune and his 400 whom 
 Cato compares to Leonidas, see Gellius 3, 7, 19. 
 
 921. indocti: implying a laclv of training in philosophy. rus- 
 
 tic!: the recruits for the Roman army came chiefly from the 
 rural districts and were tlierefore men who had enjoyed but little 
 culture. 
 
 § 76. 922. Omnino: " in general"; modifies the entire statement. 
 Cf. 1. 110, omnino (where omnino, however, modifies a special word). 
 
 924. studia certa: "particular occupations or pursuits." 
 
 926. constans iam . . . aetas: observe that iam here, contrary to 
 the rule, follows the word it modifies. Cf. 1. 402, torn constantis aetatis. 
 
 927. ne . . . (iuidem:"nor . . . even." The idea is, old age, far 
 from longing for the pursuits of youth and boyhood, does not long 
 even for those of middle life. Cf. 1. 389, Ne vos quidem. 
 
 930. satietas vitae: cf. pro Marc. 27, satietas vivendi; also Tusc. 
 Disp. 1, 109, vita acta perficiat ut satis superque vixisse videamur. 
 
 CHAPTER XXI 
 
 § 77- 931- cur . . . non audeaiu: an original subjunctive — 
 "Why should I not venture?" — transferred from direct to indirect 
 discourse. 
 
 932. quod eo . . . absum: "a view which I discern the more 
 clearly the nearer I am to it." The antecedent of quod is the idea 
 involved in quid ipse sentiam de m,orte. In Latin nearness and dis- 
 tance are simply relative terms determined by the point of view; 
 hence ab ea propius absum. On the idea that the mind, as death ap- 
 proached, possessed prophetic vision, see De Div. 1, 63, animus 
 appropinquante morte multo est divinior ; ib. 64, facilius evenit ap- 
 propinquante morte ut animi futura augurentur. 
 
 934. Laeli: C. La;Uus, the father of C. Laelius Sapiens, was consul 
 in 190 E. c, and won renown both as statesman and soldier. He was 
 an intimate friend of Africanus as well as oLCato. 
 
 936. vitam: governed hyvivere,to be supplied from the foregoing, 
 sola vita: for the thought see 1. 1008. 
 
 937. inclusi in his compagibus corporis: cf. 1. 988, corporum vincu- 
 lis; De Rep. 6, 14 (,Somn. Scip.), immo vero hi vivunt qui e corporum 
 vinculis tamquam e carcere evolaverunt ; also Tusc. Disp. 1 , 75 and 
 Laelius, §§ 13-14. The doctrine, however, is in reality Plato's. 
 
106 DE SENECTUTE 
 
 munere quodam necessitatis: i. e., necessity imposed the function 
 and task upon us {munere . . . et opere). 
 
 g38. animus caelestis: "the soul is divine." 
 
 939. Quasi: tones down the figure involved in demersus, which is 
 usually applied only to things plunged in water. 
 
 942. Qui terras tuerentur: "to guard the earth." Some editors 
 consider tuerentur as an archaism, being used, it is alleged, for in- 
 tuerentur; but this seems not to be the case. Cf. 1. 991, qui hanc . . . 
 tuentur; also De Rep. 6, 15 (Somn. Scip.), homines hac lege sunt 
 generati qui tuerentur ilium globum quern in hoc templo medium vides 
 quae terra vocatur. For a full discussion of tuerentur in this connec- 
 tion, see Schneider, Das Platonische in Cicero's Cato Maior 77 (Zeit- 
 schrift fuer das Gymnasialwesen, 33, p. 695). 
 
 943. caelestium: neuter substantive. Cf . 1. 26, de ceteris. imi- 
 tarentur: a Stoic conception which enjoined upon man the duty of 
 contemplating nature in order to imitate her. Cf . 1. 62, naturam opti- 
 mam ducem tamquam deum sequimur eique paremus. ' vitae mode 
 atQue constantia: " in respect of the moderation and steadfastness 
 of life." 
 
 945. ut ita crederem: "to this belief." nobilitas: "renown." 
 
 § 78. 946. Pythagoram: cf. 1. 276. Pythagoras was a firm be- 
 liever in the immortality of the soul, and this doctrine formed the 
 underlying basis of his teaching as to metempsychosis. 
 
 947. incolas . . . nostros: "almost our countrymen''; the seat 
 of that school of philosophy was Crotona in Southern Italy, hence 
 nostros. Qui essent: causal; hence subjunctive, although an 
 
 explanatory clause interjected by the speaker. 
 
 949. ex universa mente: "the world-soul," i. e., God. Cf. Tv.sc. 
 Disp. 5, 38, Humanus animus decerptus ex mente divina cum, 
 alio nullo nisi cum ipso deo comparari potest. delibatos animos 
 
 haberemus: "that we have our souls as emanations from the divine 
 world-soul." Delibare means primarily " to take away a little from a 
 thing," " to taste," and later " to pluck," " to gather." On this con- 
 ception of the soul, see Nat. Dear. 1, 27, Pythagoras qui censuii ani- 
 mum, esse per naturam rerum omnem . . ex quo nostri animi ca- 
 perentur ; also De Difo. 1, 110. Plato set forth the same or a similar 
 doctrine (cf. Phaedo, 86, 92 seq.). 
 
 951. de immortalitate animorum: the plural is regular here in 
 Latin where the English idiom requires the singular. Cf . Lael. § 14, 
 de immortalitate animorum. disseruisset: subjunctive of par- 
 tial obliquity. See G. 628; B. 323; H. 652; A. & G. 592. 
 
 952. esset . . . iudicatus: subjunctive by attraction, or informal 
 indirect discourse. oraculo ApoUinis: cf. Lael. § 7, Apollinis 
 oraculo. On the incident of Socrates being declared the wisest of 
 
COMMENTARY 107 
 
 men by the Delphic oracle, see Plato, ^4poZ. 21. The inquiry and 
 reply were: fi ns i/ioO eii) (To<l>tiTepos. &VfT\fv oiv fi UvBia firiSeva <ro(l>eiT€- 
 pov eJpai. 
 
 953. Quid multa: a familiar formula of transition. Cf. 1. 543, Sed 
 quid ego alios. cam tanta: Cicero here represents Cato as ad- 
 ducing four arguments for the immortality of the soul (all except 
 the first taken from Plato). First, the vast and varied capabilities of 
 the soul. On this argument see Tusc. Disp. 1, 59, where Cicero dis- 
 cusses the point more fully. celeritas animorum: in reference to 
 the rapidity of thought. Cf . Tusc. Disp. 1 , 43, nulla est celeritas quae 
 possit cum animi celeritate contendere. 
 
 954. praeteritorum futurorumque: neuter substantives, like cae- 
 lestium (1. 943). Note the chiasmus. 
 
 955. scientiae: some editors take this as Gen. Sing., since tlie 
 plural scientiae is nowhere else attested for classical Latin, and 
 translate "requiring so great knowledge." But the adjacent plurals 
 tot artes and tot inventa seem to justify the interpretation of scientiae 
 here as plural form, and so it may be rendered "departments, or 
 fields of knowledge." 
 
 957. cumque semper agitetur: "and since the mind is always 
 occupied"; lit. "occupies itself," — middle voice. This is the second 
 argument for the immortality of the soul, viz. the original and cease- 
 less activity of the mind) and is borrowed from Plato {Phaedrus 
 245 C). Cicero uses it also in Tusc. Disp. 1, 53 seq. and in De Rep. 
 (Somn. Scip.) 6, 26 seq. 
 
 958. quia se ipse moveat: applies only to nee prinHpium motus 
 habeat. ne . . . quidem: "nor for that matter." Cf. 1. 389, ne 
 
 . quidem ; also I. 927. 
 
 960. cum simplex animi esset: note the change in sequence from 
 primary {sit, contineat, agitetur, moveat, sit relicturus) to secondary, 
 although the entire passage depends upon the same verb persuasi. 
 But toward the end the sequence shifts again from secondary (es.set, 
 haberet, posset) back to primary (,nati sint). The point of view 
 thus shifts in Latin, but it is better to keep the present tense through- 
 out in translating into English. The argument here presented is the 
 third for the immortality of the sou], viz. its individuality. This 
 is borrowed from Plato {Phaedo 78 B) and is also used by Cicero in 
 Tv.sc. Disp. 1, 66. 
 
 961. dispar atque dissunile: an illustration of Cicero's fondness for 
 employing synonyms in pairs. Cf. 1. 409, officia et munera. 
 
 962. nonposseinterireiassubjectunderstandarw'mum. mag- 
 noque esse argimiento: "and that it is strong evidence," for the im- 
 mortality of the soul. Argumento is Dat. of purpose, and homines 
 scire is the logical subject of esse. This is the fourth argument, viz. 
 
108 DE SENECTUTE 
 
 the pre-natal existence of the soul indicating its immortality, and 
 is taken from Plato {Phaedo 72 E) . Cicero reverts to it again in Tusc. 
 Disp. 1, 57. The same argument is familiar in English literature. 
 See Wordsworth's famous Ode on the Intimations of Immortality from 
 the Recollections of Early Childhood. 
 
 964. quod lam pueri: "because the fact that even children"; 
 causal clause assigning the reason why Cato was convinced {sic 
 mihi persuasi) of the existence of such pre-nataj knowledge. 
 
 966. reminisci et recordari: practically synonymous, like dispar 
 atque dissimile above. haec Platonis fere: "these are, in the 
 
 main, the arguments of Plato." See Crit. App. 
 
 CHAPTER XXII 
 
 §79. 967. Apud: "in"; idiomatic usage in quoting a passage 
 from an author when the book is not cited. Cf. 1. 356, apud Xeno- 
 phontem. 
 
 968. Cyrus maior: Cyrus the Elder, founder of the Persian empire. 
 See U. 356 and 728. haec dicit: the quotation is a free transla- 
 tion of the Cyropaedia, 8, 7, 17-22, purporting to be the farewell 
 address to his sons, but in reality the words of Xenophon setting 
 forth the teachings of Socrates. 
 
 969. nuUum:=non. Cf. 1. 903, nullus est. 
 
 970. dum eram: the imperfect tense with dum is rare. See G. 
 569, N. 1-2; L. 1997 ; A. & G. 556, a; H. 604, 1. 
 
 973. nullum :=non, as above. 
 
 §80. 973. Nee vero, etc.: the argument here advanced goes to 
 prove that the only way to explain properly the perpetuation of the 
 fame of the dead is that the souls of the dead influence the living 
 and keep alive the memory of the dead, — which would be impossi- 
 ble if the soul were not immortal. 
 
 975. QUO diutius . . . teneremus: quo is used to introduce a final 
 clause especially with a comparative (diutius). See G. 545, 2 and 
 R. 1 . Mihi Quidem, etc. : this argument has far more weight than 
 the preceding. 
 
 976. dum . . . essent: observe that potuit upon which vivere de- 
 pends determines the historical sequence for all the following clauses. 
 corporibus: plural where the English idiom requires the singular. 
 
 977. vivere . . . emori: "Uve as long as they are in the body, 
 but die when they leave it"; adversative asyndeton. 
 
 978. cum ex insipienti corpore evasisset: "when it escapes from 
 the unconscious body." tum esse sapientem: " then it is con- 
 scious." Note the meaning of sapiens, " conscious," as of insipiens, 
 
COMMENTARY 109 
 
 "unconscious," above. You must supply in thought mihi per- 
 suasum est from tlie foregoing mihi . . . potuit, upon which esse 
 here depends. 
 
 981. AtQue etiam: "And furthermore," introducing as an addi- 
 tional argument the invisibility of the soul. hominis natura: 
 hardly more than a mere circumlocution for homo. Cf. De Fin. 5, 33, 
 intellegant si quando naturam, hominis dicam,, hominem dicere me. 
 
 § 81. 984. lam vero: Cyrus here introduces still another argu- 
 ment for the immortality of the soul, viz. that from dreams. 
 
 985. Atqui: "Yet," preparing the way for a discussion of the 
 theme. Cf. 1. 71, Atqui. 
 
 987. remissi: "relaxed" from attention, the opposite of intentua 
 (1. 444). Cf. De Orat. 2, 193, animo leni ac remisso; also Caes., B. 6. 
 1, 21, remisso ac tanguido animo. 
 
 988. vinculis: cf. 1. 937, inclusi in his compagibus corporis. 
 
 989. haec: refers to the various arguments, advanced in the fore- 
 going, for the immortality of the soul. colitote: " revere," " re- 
 verence," very strong as indicating the conclusion gathered from the 
 various arguments for the immortality of the soul. Cf. Xenophon's 
 phrase {Cyr, 8, 7, 22) i-iiv i/iiiv i('uxV KaTaiSou/ifvoi. 
 
 991. pulchritudinem: refers to the universe; abstract for con- 
 crete. The usual word corresponding to K(i(r/ios was mundus, but 
 Xenophon employs rtfjis in the present passage. 
 
 992. tuentur: cf. 1. 942, qui terras tuerentur. 
 
 993. servabitis: future with the force of an imperative. See G. 
 243; A. & G. 449, 6; L. 1624. haec: object of some verb to be 
 supplied. 
 
 994. nostra: i. e., our own Roman instances. Cf. 1. 154, domestica. 
 
 CHAPTER XXllI 
 
 § 82. 996. patrem . . . duos avos . . . patruum: see 11. 350, 
 420, 914, etc. 
 
 998. multos: sc. alios. 
 
 999. tanta esse conatos: in a condition contrary to fact in indirect 
 discourse, the apodosis would regularly be future perfect, fuisse 
 conaturos, "would have undertaken so great achievements." But 
 for special reason Cato wishes to emphasize the actual accomplish- 
 ment and so uses the perfect infinitive instead of the periphrastic. 
 See G. 659, N.; L. 2332. 
 
 1000. nisi cernerent: the imperfect is employed in preference to 
 the regular pluperfect required by the unreal of the past, in order 
 to emphasize the continuance of the past. (Cf. the apodosis esse 
 conatos above.) See G. 597, R. 1; B, 304, 2; A. & G. 617, a; H. 579, 
 
110 DE SENECTUTE 
 
 1; L. 2098. posteritatem ad se ipsos pertinere: "that future 
 
 generations had to do with themselves." On the thought, see pro 
 RaUrio •perd. 29, negue guisguam nostrum in rei publican periculis 
 cum laude ac virtute versatw guin spe posteritalis friiclugue ducatur. 
 Hague cum, m,ultis aliis de causis virorum bonorum mentes divinae mihi 
 atgue aetemae videntur esse, tum maxime gubd optimi et sapientissimi 
 cuiusgue animus ita praesentit in posterum, ut nihil nisi sempi- 
 ternum spectare videatur; also Tusc. Disp. 1, 32, Nemo umguam sine 
 magna spe immortalitatis se pro patria offerret ad mortem. 
 
 looi. An censes: "What? you do not think, do you?" An here 
 has the force of num. When utrum \s omitted and an stands alone, 
 it serves to urge the acceptance of the positive or negative proposi- 
 tion involved in the preceding statement. See G. 457, 1; B. 162, 
 4, a; L. 1508. ut . . . glorier: "to boast somewhat." Cicero 
 
 here avails himself of one of Cato's characteristic traits to conceal 
 one of his own distinctive frailties — his vanity. See pro Arch. 30, 
 where Cicero refers in a similar maimer to his own accomplish- 
 ments. 
 
 1005. otiosam aetatem et quietam: " a tranquil life and free from 
 public service." Cf. 1. 600, otiosa senecutuie. 
 
 1006. traducere:=affere, "to spend." Cf. Tusc. Disp. 3, 25, volu-' 
 mus hoc guod datum est vitae tranguille placidegue traducere. Such 
 a life, however, could hardly have appealed with any force to Cato, 
 who was a conspicuous exponent of the strenuous life. nescio 
 duo modo: "somehow or other." Cf. 1. 340, nescio guo pacto. 
 
 1008. cum excessisset: subjunctive by attraction, representing 
 the future perfect Indie. Cf. 1. 977, cum excessissent. victurus 
 esset: on the thought see 1. 935, vivere arbitror, etc. 
 
 1009. Quod auidem . . . haberet: "If this indeed were not so,'' 
 Cf . 1. 421 , Quod ni ita fuisset; also 1. 831 , guod ni ita accideret. ut 
 animi . . . essent: explanatory of the foregoing gttod and logical 
 subject of haberet, which accounts for the historical sequence 
 {essent). haud: Cicero sometimes uses haud with verbs, never 
 in his orations, however, except with sda; in his philosophical 
 works and letters, on the contrary, he occasionally uses it with 
 adsentor, erro, ignore, amo and nitor as well as with sdo (cf. haud 
 scio an), — L. 1449. 
 
 loio. optimi cuiusque: "of all the best men"; lit. "every best 
 man." Cf. pro Rabirio perd. 29, gv^od optimi et sapientissimi cuius- 
 gue animi ; pro Arch. 26, optimus guisgue maxime, gloria- ducitur. 
 immortalitatem et gloriam: "glory of immortality," hendiadys. 
 
 §83. loii. Quid? Quod: "How is it that?", "moreover." A fa- 
 miliar formula of transition occurring frequently in Cicero. Cf. De 
 Of. 3, 25, 94; ^md. 2, 29, 95, etc. 
 
COMMENTARY- 111 
 
 1012. iniduissuno: "most reluctantly"; animo is here under- 
 stood. 
 
 1013. plus cernat et longius: "has a deeper insight and a farther 
 grasp." Cf. 1. 933, cernere; also 1. 1000, nisi animo cernerent, etc. 
 
 1015. non videre: emphatic. Equidem efferor: "As for my 
 part, I am transported." Cf. Ad Fam. 10, 12, 2, incredibili gaudio 
 efferor. 
 
 1016. videndi: gerund for the lengthy gerundive (Gen. PL). 
 
 1017. aveo: "I eagerly long." 
 
 1018. conscripsi: viz. the distinguished Romans Cato had cele- 
 brated in his Origines. Quo . . . proficiscentem: "And when 
 indeed I set out to meet them"; quo=ad guos. 
 
 1019. retraxerit . . . recoxerit: potential of the present. 
 
 1020. tamauam Peliam: "as in the case of Felias." Cicero here 
 seems guilty of a lapse in his mythology. Medea cut and boiled 
 .^son the father of Jason, not his half-brother Pelias, in her en- 
 chanted cauldron, thus restoring his youth. However, the daugh- 
 ters of Pelias, at Medea's suggestion, attempted likewise to restore 
 their father's youth, but with fatal result. (Plautus (Pseud. 869) 
 commits the same blunder in his allusion to Pelias instead of jEson.) 
 It is to be observed that recoxerit occurs nowhere else in Cicero 
 (SttoI A67rf/uevoi/) . 
 
 1021. ut ex hac aetate repuerascam: "to become a boy 
 again at this time of my life." The verb repuerascere , though 
 very rare, is attested for Plautus {Merc. 296) and again for Cicero 
 {De Orat. 2, 6, 22) where he speaks of the practice of Seipo and 
 Lailius of "frohcking like children" on their vacation — Laelium 
 semper fere cum Scipione solitum rusticari, eosgue incredibiliter re- 
 puerascere es.se solitos. 
 
 1022. recusem: the vivid Roman imagination conceived such 
 an unreal condition {largiatur . . . recusem) as ideal, and hence 
 employed the present subjunctive in both clauses. Cf. G. 596, R. 1. 
 quasi decurso spatio: "after I have finished the course, as it were"; 
 quxisi is used to apologize for the figure which is drawn from the race- 
 course. Cf. 1. 176, spatio. ad carceres a calce: "from the end to 
 the beginning," of the race-course. Carceres were the barriers behind 
 which the horses and chariots were kept in waiting till the signal was 
 given for the race to begin, whicli was done by the dropping of a 
 napkin. Directly the signal was given, the horses rushed forth from 
 the stalls {carceres) and started around the course. A chalk line 
 across the course at the nearest turning point {meta, "goal ") marked 
 the actual start. The finish in front of the judges' stand was marked 
 by a chalk line {calx) across the race track. So calx came to signify 
 the end, the goal. For a full description see Harper's Diet, of Class. 
 
112 DB SENECTUTE 
 
 Antiquities, art, calx, career, meta, or Smith's Diet, of Greek and 
 Roman Antiquities. The comparison of life to a race-course is quite 
 common in Latin as well as in other literatures. 
 
 § 84. 1024. habeat sane: "suppose it truly has (advantages)"; 
 concessive clause forming an admission for the sake of argument. 
 Cf. Verr. 1, 14, 37, fuerit malus civis; ib. 5, 1,4, sit fur; also Tusc. 
 Disp. 3, 19, 75, and Sest. 19, 43. See G. 264; B. 278; H. 559, 3; A. & 
 G. 440; L. 1553. 
 
 1026. multi et ii docti: "many and those, too, philosophers.'' 
 Even Cicero himself was among the number; but it must be borne 
 in mind that Cato, not Cicero, is supposed to be the character here 
 portrayed. Nagelsbach {Stilistik, 25, 5) observes that Cicero writes 
 multi et ii docti and not multi docti simply. , 
 
 1029. hospitio: "an inn," "a hostelry"; here contrasted with 
 domo, and ordinarily affording more comfort than a mere deverso- 
 rium, "a lodging-place," did. In an abstract sense hospitium means 
 "hospitality," "entertainment." Cf. Ad Att. 2, 16, 4, te in Arpi- 
 nati videHmus et hospitio agresti acdpiemus. Commorandi . . . 
 
 habitandi: "to lodge or stay in, not to dwell in"; Gen. of the gerund 
 to express purpose. On the thought see Tusc. Disp. 1, 118; Lucr. 
 3, 938; Hor., Sat. 1, 1, 118. deversorium: in addition to dever- 
 
 scrium and hospitium which denoted the better class of lodging- 
 places, the Romans also had caupona and taherna which were a kind 
 of cheap tavern associated with a shop. (Cf . tabernam, cauponam exer- 
 cere, " to keep a tavern," and popina and ganea, " an eating-house," 
 both in bad repute as patronized by the lower classes of society.) 
 
 1031. concilium coetumaue: cf. De Rep. 6, 13, concilia coetusque 
 hominum quae civitates vocantur; also De Fin. 2, 4, 11, and ib. 2, 24, 
 77, quae in omni coetu conciliogue. 
 
 1032. conluvione: "vile medley," "the dregs of the people"; 
 primarily the word denotes "a collection of filth." Cf. Vat. 9, 23, 
 in colluvione Drusi, " the rabble adhering to Drusus." 
 
 1034. Catonem meum: his son mentioned in 1. 198, filii mei, 
 and 1. 836, Optimo filio. Cicero in his correspondence likewise refers 
 frequently to his own son. vir: intensifies nemo, making it more 
 
 emphatic. 
 
 1036. crematum: cremation of course was the custom among the 
 ancient Romans. It was the influence of Christianity that brought 
 about the practice of burying the corpse, and this practice explains 
 the origin of the catacombs. quod contra: "whereas," "on the 
 
 contrary"; lit. "instead ofwhich." The regimen of guod here is de- 
 termined by contra. If contra is a preposition, as it may be (cf. Del- 
 briick, Vergleichende Syntax, I, p. 392), then there is anastrophe 
 and quod is governed by contra which follows. But if, on the other 
 
COMMENTARY 113 
 
 hand, contra here has its primary adverbial force, quod must be 
 taken as an Ace. of specification. The former interpretation is per- 
 haps more satisfactory. Of course editors are divided as to the in- 
 terpretation, as they are lilcewise divided as to the crux in Lael. 
 § 90, quod contra oportebat delicto dolere, correctione gaudere. See 
 Crit. App. meum: sc. corpus cremari, i. e., my body should 
 
 have been burned by him. 
 
 1038. quo:=od qiiae. Cf. 1. 1018, Quo quidem. 
 
 1039. Queni . . . meum casum: "this misfortune of mine,'' viz. 
 the death of his son. non quo . . . ferrem: " not that I bore it 
 calmly"; subjunctive of rejected reason. The real reason in a case 
 like the present usually follows introduced by sed quia (quod). Here, 
 however, the principal clause assigns the real reason {sed ... me 
 ipse consolabar). See G. 541, N. 2; B. 286, 6; A. & G. 540, 2, N. 3; 
 H. 588, II, 2; L. 1855. 
 
 1041. digressum et discessum: another pair of synonyms. Cf. 1. 
 4D9, officia et munera. Note the alliteration and the assonance. 
 
 § 85. 1042. His mihi rebus: " It is by means of these things that 
 old age is not burdensome to me"; very emphatic as the position 
 indicates. id: refers to the circumstance that old age was not a 
 
 burden to Cato. 
 
 1043. dixisti: see 1. 39. 
 
 1044. in hoc: i. e., his belief in the immortality of the soul. 
 lui . . . credam: expresses cause, hence subjunctive. 
 
 1045. mihi: Dat. of reference with extorqueri. 
 
 1046. QUO delector: on the general trend of the thought, see Tusc. 
 Disp. 1, 39, Errare mehercule malo cum Platone guam cum 
 istis vera sentire. ' 
 
 1047. quidam minuti: this disparaging ("insignificant") allusion 
 is to the Epicureans, who rejected the doctrine of the immortality 
 of the soul. Cf. Acad. 2, 75, minuti philosophi; also De Div. 1, 62. 
 The literal meaning of minutus is "small," for which see Juv. 14, 
 291, fades minutae, "miniature portraits." nihil sentiam: "1 
 shall know nothing," being dead and unconscious, with the impli- 
 cation of utter annihilation. 
 
 1050. extingui: cf. 1. 470, sed diuturnitate extinguitur. 
 
 1052. peractio tamquam fabulae: "the last act of the play, as it 
 were"; ta'nquam apologizes for the figure from the stage applied 
 to human life. Peractio is said not to occur elsewhere in classical 
 Latin. Cf. 1. 798, ii mihi videntur fabulam aetatis peregisse; also 
 1. 855, Neque enim histrioni . . . peragenda fabula est. 
 
 1054. satietate : a word of frequent occurrence in Cicero. Cf. 1. 
 923, studiorum omnium satietas vitae fecit satietatem; also Lael. § 67, 
 non debent esse amicitiarum sicut aliarum rerum, satietas. 
 
114 DE SENECTUTE 
 
 1055. Haec habui . . . quae dicerem: "This is what I had to 
 say"; gnae dicerem is Subjunctive of purpose. The closing words of 
 the Laelius (§ 104) are identical. Cf. Ad Att. 1, 6, haec habebam fere 
 quae te scire vellem. Cicero elsewhere {Nat. Dear. 3, 93; Balb. 34) 
 varies the expression, writing habeo dicere simply. 
 
 1036. perveniatis: optative subjunct. Cf. 1. 80, quo pervenisti. 
 re ezperti: "having experienced in fact"; i. e. by actual practice. 
 
CRITICAL APPENDIX 
 
 (For the designations ot tlie Mss., the editions, etc., see Manuscripts of the 
 Cato Maior, Introduction, pp. 21-24.) 
 
 § I. ego: the reading of all the best Mss. except P, which reads te. 
 Most of the recent editors adopt ego, but Sommerbrodt and Ben- 
 nett follow the reading of P. 
 
 adiuero: the reading of the best Mss. LPH is adiuvero, but this 
 reading has been uniformly rejected on the supposition that no such 
 form exists. Moore restores it to the text, however, on the ground 
 that here and also for Plautus, R^^d. 305, Terence, Phcyr. 537, Catul- 
 lus, 66, 18, the optative sigmatic aorist forms are attested. Most 
 editors adopt adiuero, the reading of A, which had been conjectured 
 by Lambinus even before de Vries's collation of A, and generally 
 adopted. 
 
 § 2. etiam: L, followed by most of the recent editors except Ben- 
 nett, who omits, -after Halm, on the ground that the locution et . . . 
 et etiam is extremely rare in Cicero. 
 
 etsi te . . . uteretur: Otto thinks these words did not stand in 
 the original draft, but were added in the subsequent revision (A. 
 Otto, Die Interpolationen in Ciceros Cato Maior, etc., p. 95). 
 
 digne satis laudari: LHVEVi, so Mueller and most subsequent edi- 
 tors. But BRSMa read satis laudari digne, and P has laudari satis 
 digne, followed by Halm and Bennett. 
 
 § 3. Ceus: the'Mss. are at variance as to the name. Mueller and 
 some others spell Cius, which is the later spelling of the Empire, not 
 that of the Republic (Ceus). Giesecke, Fleckeisen's Jahrb. 145, 206, 
 tries to establish that Aristo the Stoic of Chios and not the Peri- 
 patetic of Ceos (Keos) is meant. Cf. Schanz, Rom. Lit., p. 325. 
 
 quo maiorem . . . oratio: Meissner, after PoUe's suggestion 
 (Fleckeisen's Jahrb. 131, 807), without sufficient reason, would take 
 this as an interpolation. But Otto (Die Interpolationen, etc., p. 95) 
 looks upon it rather as an evidence of a revision by Cicero 
 himself. 
 
 id tribuito: supported by LP»v and adopted by Sommerbrodt, 
 Anz, Kornitzer and Moore. The Mss. are much at variance. Mueller 
 follows BRSI and Halm, reading attribuito, as do many recent 
 editors. 
 
 § 4. potest malum: PBRS, so Halm and many subsequent editors, 
 on the ground that this order is more in keeping with Cicero's usage. 
 
 115 
 
116 DE SENECTUTE 
 
 But Mueller and some others follow the reading of LHAVy, which is 
 malum potest, disregarding Ciceronian usage. 
 
 adeptam: PHVBRSIv, so Halm, Sommerbrodt, Bennett and 
 Moore, while Mueller reads adepti after LE, followed by most editors. 
 The reading adeptam is preferable to adepti not only as being more 
 forceful, but also as being more likely to have been changed by a 
 copyist unfamiliar with Cicero's usage of the perfect participle of a 
 deponent in a passive sense. 
 
 consolatio: after Mueller, on the authority of LPBRS; some edi- 
 tors read consolatione supported by EIH. 
 
 § 5. discriptae: after Mueller, supported by EA, though most 
 manuscripts read descriptae. 
 
 Quid est enim: most editors interpret this passage thus: "For 
 what is waging war with the Gods after the example of the Giants, 
 if resistance to nature is not?" See Moore's discussion of this point, 
 Amer. Jour. Phil. 23, 440-443. 
 
 §8. Atheniensis: the reading of LAE, adopted by Mueller. Many 
 editors following the reading of the majority of the manuscripts 
 add esses after Atheniensis. But as Reid remarks, the quick suc- 
 cession of esses, fuisses is contrary to Ciceronian usage. 
 
 § 10. eum qui Tarentum recepit: Baiter and Meissner take this 
 as an interpolation, but it is generally accepted as genuine. See 
 Otto, art. cii., p. 103. 
 
 Quaestor deinde, etc. : Anz and Schiche omit deinde and change 
 the order in consequence of the confusion in the manuscripts, 
 which interpolate aedilis or praetor, or both. But there seems to 
 be no sufficient reason to depart from Mueller's text, and so most 
 of the recent editors have followed it. 
 
 Noenum: Lachmann's conjecture (cf. Lucr. 3, 199) for non enim 
 of the manuscripts. But this etymology of non (from noenum) has 
 not met with general favor. F. W. Thomas, Class. Rev. 5, 378, thinks 
 non cannot be a corruption of noenum, because noenum is known to 
 have been in use in the time of Ennius and even as late as Varro 
 and nolo occurs as far back as the XII Tables. Thomas would derive 
 non from no + ni (asseverative), cf. Stolz, Hist. Gram., 1, 131. In 
 his edition of Ennius Vahlen retains non enim, after the Mss. 
 
 plusque: the Mss. all read posfgwe, adopted by Mueller ; likewise De 
 Off. 1, 84, reads postque as does also Yahlen in his edition of Ennius, 
 (12, 370) as well as Lucian Mueller. Bernays conjectured plusque, 
 which some editors, notably Bennett and Moore, adopt. There seems 
 no sufficient reason to reject the overwhelming authority of the Mss. 
 and read plusque:'' 
 
 § II. fuerat in arce: the Mss. are at variance. Mueller reads /«- 
 gerat in arcem, supported by v. Most of the recent editors read fuerat 
 
CRITICAL APPENDIX 117 
 
 in arce, which is probably the correct reading, in view of the long 
 period of three years during which Macatus defended tlie city. On 
 Cicero's error here in confusing Salinator with Macatus, see Katha- 
 rine Allen, Amer. Jour. Phil. 19, 437. 
 
 § 12. mortem fllii: P here reads mortem M. filii and AViv mortem 
 marci filii, implying that the son's name was Marcus, whereas his 
 name was really Quintus. 
 
 bella: bracketed by Sommerbrodt, Moore, Otto {art. cit., p. 103) 
 and others as spurious and explained as a gloss on domestica and 
 externa which crept into the text. But because Cicero employed the 
 general terms domestica and externa in some passages, it does not fol- 
 low that he did not write bella here. In view of the unanimity of the 
 Mss. it seems best to retain bella. 
 
 turn cupide fruebar: since the Mss. and editors are so greatly at va- 
 riance here, it seems best to follow Mueller's order, especially since 
 no real advantage is secured by altering the position of turn. 
 
 §13. Quorsus: the Mss. are overwhelmingly in favor of gworsiis; 
 V' reads quorsum, adopted by Mueller. Since the manuscript read- 
 ing makes good sense, there is no sufficient reason to reject quorsus 
 and adopt quorsum. 
 
 quarto et nonagesuno: the reading of LE; but most Mss. omit et. 
 Merguet's Lexicon zu Cicero shows that et in similar expressions is 
 never omitted in Cicero's orations and only once in his philosophical 
 writings (De Off. 2, 29). Therefore et ought to be retained here not- 
 withstanding the rule that et is usually omitted in compounds when 
 the smaller numeral precedes. 
 
 § 14. Olympia: so Vv, followed by Mueller and most subsequent 
 editors. BIRSH read Olimpia. Reid, Bennett and Moore adopt 
 Olumpia, a close imitation of the Greek. But L. Mueller {Ennius, 
 Bk. 17) and Vahlen {Ennius, Bk. 12, 374) read Olympia. 
 
 undevicesimo: Mss. generally read annum enim, undeincesimum ; 
 L reads undevicensimum, which Mueller adopts. But most of the re- 
 cent editors emend into anno enim undevicesimo. 
 
 suasissem: the reading of the Mss. except P and H {suasisset). 
 ■Forchammer conjectured suasi from this variant reading suasisset 
 {suasi. Sed), which presupposed the change of final d (in sed) into 
 t {set), — common enough in Mss. Mueller adopts Forchammer's 
 conjecture, writing suasi. Sed — . But the manuscript reading 
 makes good sense and Hale {Cum-Constructions, p. 189) defends 
 suasisset here. It would seem then- that the manuscript reading 
 should be followed, and many recent editors accordingly read 
 suasissem. 
 
 § 15. omnibus fere: so PVE, adopted by most editors; but most 
 of the Mss. read fere omnibus, followed by Mueller and others. The 
 
118 DE SENECTUTE 
 
 fact that fere generally, not always, follows the word it modifies 
 (cf. Kiehs, Antibarbarus, 6th ed., I, p. 533) may be cited in defense 
 of the reading omnibus fere. See Merguet's Lexikon zu Cicero, art., 
 fere. 
 
 Quibus: so the Mss. and the editors. Lutjohan {Rhein. Mus- 
 37, 500) would emend to read Quibus omnibus f, or would substi- 
 tute omnibus ior,guibus. 
 
 § i6. dementis: the Mss. and the editors are divided between de- 
 mentes and dementis. Mueller has dementes. L. Mueller {Ennius, 
 Bk. 6, 205) and Vahlen (Ennius, Bk. 6, 202) both read dementes. 
 
 viai: restored by Lambinus and adopted by all recent editors. 
 
 §17. nonfacitea: Mueller reads fadat . . /aciai following the 
 Mss., most of which join these words to the preceding sentence and 
 read in puppi nan facial ea . facial. But V reads npn facit m 
 the first place and S reads facil in the second, which Halm adopted 
 thus retaining fadt in both places. Sommerbrodt, Weiszenfels, 
 Deiter, Anz, Drenckhahn, Ley, Schiche and Bennett, among recent 
 editors, read fadt . . . fadt. Moore conjectures ne for nan, assum- 
 ing ne fadat to be a concessive clause. 
 
 aut celeritate: Sommerbrodt, without sufficient reason (cf. A. 
 Otto, art. cil., p. 102), assumes these words to be spurious, bracket- 
 ing them and following Halm, with good manuscript authority 
 (PHBRSMa), writes velocitalibus before. 
 
 § 18. Karthagini male: the reading of HERS et al. LPAVIB in- 
 sert cui, which reading Mueller accepts, assuming a lacuna after 
 Karthagini: No doubt the text is corrupt, but the restoration 
 makes sense. 
 
 excisam: Reid after Halm rejects exdsam (from excido, " to raze ") 
 on the ground that exsdndo and not excido is the proper word for 
 "razing" a city, and hence writes exscisam. But, as Bennett re- 
 marks, there is abundant testimony to show that excido as well as 
 exsdndo is frequently used in this sense. Sommerbrodt following 
 Lambinus writes exdssam. 
 
 § 19. sextus: a, conjecture of Manutius (UI=III), adopted by 
 Baiter, Lahmeyer, Meissner, Schiche, Kornitzer, Anz, Moore, Deiter 
 and others. The Mss. read lertius, followed by Halm, Mueller, Reid 
 and Bennett. Since it is uncertain when Scipio Africanus died, the 
 matter cannot be definitely settled whether sextus or terlius is the 
 proper word here. But sextus seems more in harmony with the facts. 
 Sommerbrodt substitutes quintus. 
 
 § 20. percontantur in Naevi poetae Ludo: this passage has proved 
 a crux to the editors. Mueller reads percontantur ut est in Naevi 
 poetae Ludo, which is far from satisfactory. Various emendations 
 have been suggested, but none has met with general approval. The 
 
CRITICAL APPENDIX 119 
 
 obvious corruption lies in percontantur ut est and in Ludo. For the 
 manuscript reading percontantur Mommsen conjectured percon- 
 tantihus, and Deiter {Philologus 46, 175) percontanti, botli omitting 
 ut est. Reid, Bennett and Egbert omit ut est simply. Moore (Amer. 
 Jour. Phil. 23, 436) ingeniously conjectures that ut est of the Mss. 
 is a corruption of Veientes, but his clever conjecture meets with cer- 
 tain palteographical objections. For Ludo Ribbeck conjectured 
 Lupo, connecting the quotation with a fragment of Nasvius pre- 
 served in Festus (Mueller's ed., p. 270). Bennett adopts this emenda- 
 tion. But Ribbeck, in his Tragicorum Romanorum Fragmenta, 3rd 
 ed., I, p. 321, does not now identify the play Lupus with the Romu- 
 lus of Nsevius, but regards them as separate and distinct plays. 
 Perhaps we should not go far wrong to read here Lupo, after Rib- 
 beck, for Ludo (supported by the best Mss., though some read libro). 
 Moore has called attention to the suspicious use of poetae in com- 
 bination with the name Nsevius as not in keeping with Cicero's 
 practice. Havet (Acad, des Inscrip. et belles Lettres, yr. 1900, p. 
 148) would read these verses: Cedo qui vos rem publicam tantam 
 amistis tarn dto ? Proventabant oratores novi, stulti, adulescentuli. 
 
 § 22. Quid iuris consult! ? : Mueller punctuates thus : Quid ? juris 
 consulti, quid? 
 
 § 23. num Hesiodum: Mueller omits num which is found in all the 
 Mss. and retained by most of the editors. I follow the majority of 
 editors and retain it. 
 
 in suis studiis: Meissner brackets these words. See A. Otto, art. 
 cit., p. 103. .. 
 
 § 24. saccule: the reading of all the Mss., though where the line is 
 quoted in Tusc. Disp. 1, 31, the Mss. read saeclo. 
 
 prosient; the manuscript evidence is overwhelmingly in favor of 
 prosint, which Mueller and most editors follow. Yet some editors 
 adopt the earlier form prosient. Ribbeck {Trag. Rom. Frag., 3rd 
 ed., II, p. 80) reads prosint and makes the verse a senarius. G. Her- 
 mann and Heine make it cretic. It is usually treated as bacchiac. 
 
 § 25. eumpse esse: a conjecture of Fleckeisen, which has been gen- 
 erally adopted for the variant readings of the Mss. 
 
 § 26. discebant . . . antiaui: bracketed by Sommerbrodt and 
 Schiche and some others, but defended by A. Otto, art. cit., p. 102. 
 
 § 27. Kec: so most Mss. and editors. VBEIS read ne, which a 
 few editors adopt. 
 
 §28. Omnino: Knapp {Class. Rev. 14, 214) rejects the favorite 
 interpretation of this passage and takes omnino as looking backward 
 as a correction and not forward to sed tamen. See Moore, Amer. 
 Jour. Phil. 23, 436-437. 
 
 splendescit: this reading, though supported by the Mss., is re- 
 
120 DE SENECTUTE 
 
 garded by some editors as very questionable, on tlie ground of not 
 being suited to tiie context. Because of objection to splendescit Henn- 
 ings (Fleckeisen's Jahr. 147, 781) conjectured s{u)plendescit, i. e., 
 *sublentescit (cf. Barendt, Class. Rev. 13, 402; 14, 356). See A. Kor- 
 nitzer's discussion in Berliner Philologische W ochenschrift 25, p. 510. 
 
 persaepe ipsa: so most of tiie Mss. and editors. Mueller follows L 
 reading per se ipsa. The former seems the more forceful and has 
 better manuscript support. 
 
 compta: LHA et al. followed by Mueller. But the Mss. vary, and 
 BO do the editors. Of recent editors Reid, Egbert, Kornitzer, Drenck- 
 hahn and Weiszenfels have composita ; Sommerbrodt, Meissner, 
 Ley, Deiter, Schiche, Bennett have compta : Anz has sedata. Moore 
 reads cocta and defends it by a corrupt variant reading in Nonius, 
 who quotes this passage. 
 
 § 29. an ne illas: so Mueller, adopting a conjecture of Halm for 
 the corrupt annates of most of the Mss. Some editors adopt another 
 conjecture of Halm, reading an ne eas, while some adopt an ne tales, 
 a conjecture of Schenkl for an tales, the reading of S. 
 
 relinquimus: it seems better to follow the consensus of a majority 
 of the Mss. in favor of relinquimus than to adopt with Mueller re- 
 linquemus, the reading of L, especially since no advantage is gained 
 thereby. 
 
 ipsa ista: so LPAvMa, adopted by Mueller; HVBRES read ista 
 ipsa, which is the usual order in Cicero. Cicero hardly bound him- 
 self by a fixed rule, as Moore observes, and the consensus of the two 
 best Mss. ought to determine the matter. 
 
 § 33. Utrum igitur: a conjecture of Manutius, confirmed on the 
 discovery of H. PVvS read vivum igitur ; BER read vivum utrum 
 igitur. Editors vary. 
 
 § 34. Ne sint: so R, followed by Halm, Baiter, Bennett and Moore. 
 PH have ne desint, LBIS non sunt, adopted by Mueller and others. 
 Ne sint seems best suited to the context. 
 
 § 35. sint: so LPHVER et al., adopted by Mueller. BIS have 
 sunt, followed by Halm and some of the recent editors. But sint 
 has the support of the best Mss. and can be defended and should 
 . then be adopted. 
 
 morbiun: so PHVvMa, followed by many editors including Ben- 
 nett and Moore. L has morborum vim, adopted by Mueller, Som- 
 merbrodt, Schiche, Anz and others. 
 
 §36. se exercendo: so LAVvER, followed by Sommerbrodt, 
 Schiche, Moore. Mueller and others omit se, contrary to the Mss. 
 PHBSI read exercitando. 
 
 comicos: so all the editors for comicus of the Mss. 
 
 I 38. emancipata: some few editors prefer the SLTchaic mancipata 
 
CRITICAL APPENDIX 121 
 
 which reposes on good manuscript authority, though Nonius's 
 citation (105, 15 M) supports emancipata. 
 
 agere non possetn: there is some confusion here in the Mss., 
 though the majority favor agere non possem, adopted by Mueller. 
 LA read age (rem) in ras., omitting the rest of the sentence, and 
 so some editors make the sentence close with agerem. 
 
 § 41. longior: so LPVvHAI, followed by most editors. Mueller 
 follows BRES reading longinguior. It is true that longior here in 
 the sense demanded by tlie context is contrary to Ciceronian usage, 
 but it has the consensus of all the best Mss. Krebs {Antibarbarus 
 der Lateinische Sprache, 6th ed., II, p. 31) cites this passage as an 
 example of longus in Cicero with other than a temporal sense. 
 
 § 44. quod videlicet . . . pisces: regarded by some editors as 
 an interpolation, but defended by A. Otto, op. at., p. 101. 
 
 § 46. et refrigeratio . . . hjbernus: omitted by Kornitzer and 
 bracketed by Brieger, Anz and Sommerbrodt, but defended by A. 
 Otto {op. cit., 96) as genuine and not a repetition of § 57, end. 
 
 § 47. desideratio: the reading of all the Mss. except L, which has 
 desideratur. It is true, desideratio is extremely rare, occurring only 
 in Vitruvius elsewhere. But desideratio harmonizes better with 
 titillatio tlian desideratur and the overwhelming manuscript evidence 
 in its favor justifies its retention by Mueller and other editors. Cf . 
 Kornitzer, in Berliner Wochenschrift 25, 511. 
 
 nihil autem . . . desideres: PoUe (Fleckeisen's Jahrbuecher 131, 
 p. 807), without sufficient reason, doubts the genuineness of this 
 passage, but it is defended by A. Otto {op. dt., 99). 
 
 §48. tamen: some of the Mss. including LP orait tamen; it is re- 
 tained by Mueller on the authority of HVRE, and it occurs in 
 Nonius (417, 23 M). 
 
 § 49. Vivere videbamus: a conjecture of Iwan Mueller {Bursian's 
 Jahresb. 26, 2, p. 126) for mori videbamus of the Mss. Moore emends 
 into vivere mode vid., Bennett exerreri vid. Mueller adopts the read- 
 ing of the Mss. which does not comport with the context, but obe- 
 lizes it, mdicating his belief that the passage is corrupt. Various 
 other emendations have been suggested, but none has met with 
 general favor. 
 
 § 50. Vidi . . . Livium: Hendrickson {Amer. Jour. Phil. 19, 291 
 and 437) maintains that these words are not a mere didactic di- 
 gression, but an intentional emphasizing of the age of Livius in 
 order to overthrow a popular error which Accius gave currency to 
 and which Cicero himself formally repudiated in his Brutus (§ 72). 
 
 §51. imperium: for this Manutius suggested imperadmOT, but the 
 conjecture did not commend itself to editors. See Lunak's advo- 
 cacy of the same {Philologus 52, 347). 
 
122 DE SENECTUTE 
 
 nee umauam: so all the Mss. except L, which has ne cuiquam; 
 Mommsen emended this into nee cuiauam, but few have adopted it. 
 
 dein: the reading of all the Mss. except P, which has deinde, 
 adopted by Mueller and most editors. Moore has dein which seems 
 preferable, both in view of its overwhelming manuscript support 
 and because Cicero frequently used this abbreviated form before 
 words beginning with a consonant (and deinde regularly before 
 vowels). Cf. Neue, Formenlehre d. Lutein. Sprache, 3rd ed., II, p. 
 672; Lindsay, p. 122; and Stolz, Hist. Gram. d. Lutein. Sprache, 
 I, p. 307. 
 
 ex quibus: the reading of LPV, followed by Mueller; other Mss. 
 have e quibus. But Cicero generally uses ex before consonants. Cf. 
 Neue, op. cit., II, p. 868. 
 
 § 52. requietem: the reading of most Mss. except LAV, which have 
 requiem, followed by Mueller. Editors are divided. But Cicero regu- 
 larly wrote requietem (cf. De Leg. 2, 2; 2, 29; De Fin. 5, 54) and 
 Priscian who cites this passage (242 K) also favors requietem here, 
 not to mention the preponderance of the manuscript support. 
 
 viviradices : generally adopted by the editors on the authority 
 of Cato, De Be Rus. 33, 3, and Varro, De Re Rus. 1, 35, 1, for vites 
 radices the reading of the Mss. 
 
 § 53. dein: the reading of all the Mss. except H (de inde) and one 
 or two inferior Mss. Yet Mueller, after Halm, reads deinde, strangely 
 enough. 
 
 § 54. dixi, etc. : Liitjohann (Rhein. Mus. 37, 502) would strike out 
 these words as an interpolation, but A. Otto defends them (op. cit., 
 p. 106). 
 
 § 55. haec: reading of LAPa, adopted by Mueller and most of 
 the recent editors; PHV and some other Mss. read ea, adopted by 
 Bennett and Schiche. 
 
 triumphavisset: the reading of LPAVvS, followed by Meissner 
 and Moore; HBEIR have triumphasset, followed by Mueller and 
 others. The best Mss. support triumphuvisset. 
 
 a mea: the Mss. all read a me, followed by Mueller and others. 
 Maehly conjectured mea which Mueller regarded as probable, but 
 not necessary, and this reading is followed by Bennett, Meissner, 
 Anz, Kornitzer and Deiter. Since Tneu admiruri might readily be 
 corrupted into me admirari and since there seems to be little or no 
 warrant in Ciceronian usage for the use of the personal pronoun in 
 the sense the passage demands, it seems best to adopt Maehly's 
 emendation. 
 
 § 56. quam: the reading of v and one of the inferior Paris Mss. 
 collated by Dahl. The other Mss. read qua, followed by Schiche, 
 Kornitzer, Moore. Mueller writes de quu, the conjecture of Opitz 
 
CRITICAL APPENDIX 123 
 
 (Fleckeisen's Jahrb., yr. 1873, p. 610), assuming that de was dropped 
 in copying through the proximity of the preceding delectaiione. But 
 it is more probable that a stroke over the a in qua {quA) was lost in 
 the best Mss. and the evidence of P'v tends to confirm this. Halm, 
 Sommerbrodt, Reid and Bennett have quam, which seems preferable 
 to qua or to de qua. 
 
 § s8. Sibi habeant igitur: so LVvP^BRISH, followed by Mueller 
 and others; PE read habeant igitur sibi, followed by Moore. Som- 
 merbrodt brackets this entire section 58, regarding it as an inter- 
 polation (Fleckeisen's Jahrbuecher 123, 139). Lutjohann {Rhein. 
 Mus. 37, 499) thinks the passage genuine, but that it does not be- 
 long just at this point, having been inserted here only ^tentatively 
 at first. Cf. A. Otto (op. cit., p. 96), who defends it as genuine. 
 
 utriun: so most Mss. and editors; PHVI read urium. Some editors 
 (Reid, Bennett, Egbert) stumble at the use of utrum here and emend 
 into ut which has no manuscript support; others emend into «i- 
 cumque. But these emendations are unnecessary. 
 
 § 59. directos: the reading of all the Mss. and of most of the edi- 
 tors. Mueller, on the authority of Nonius (401, 1 M), writes derectos, 
 which seems without warrant in view of the manuscript evidence, 
 especially since directos, "arranged," makes sense. 
 
 § 6i. Hunc unum: conjecture of Madvig, adopted by Mueller 
 and most editors, for unicum of the Mss. 
 
 est totum carmen: so PP^EHVv, followed by Lahmeyer, Reid, 
 Bennett, Anz, Moore. BRS read totum est carmen, and LA est itiotum 
 carmen, which Mommsen emended into est id totum carmen, adopted 
 by Sommerbrodt and Deiter. Other Mss. read est carmen, followed 
 by Mueller and probably a majority of recent editors. But the man- 
 uscript evidence clearly seems to justify the retention of totum in 
 the text. 
 
 iam ante: the reading of LPHVvRES and defended by Vahlen 
 (Zeitschrijt f. d. oesterr. Gymn. 24, 246) and Plasberg {Rhein. Mus. 
 53, 85). AI read ut jam ante, followed by Mueller and most recent 
 editors. Moore writes jam ante, which doubtless has a preponder- 
 ance of manuscript support and makes good sense. 
 
 § 65. omnis natura: so LAVP^BRSI, followed by Mueller and 
 most editors. PHE read a^tas naturae. Bezzenberger conjectured 
 aeta^ matura, adopted by Schiche; Moore conjectured aetas naturave, 
 approved by Kornitzer {Berliner Wochenschrift 25, 511) and Som- 
 merbrodt conjectured hominis natura. Mueller's reading is satisfac- 
 tory. 
 
 §67. est tarn: the reading of REv and Nonius (294, 13 M), 
 adopted by editors generally for etiam of the best Mss. which does 
 not suit the passage. 
 
124 DE SENECTUTE 
 
 est istud: conjecture of Wesenberg, adopted by the editors for est 
 isHus of the best Mss. (LPHVvABISMa) . 
 
 § 68. cum: the reading of all the Mss. followed by many editors, 
 Schiche, Deiter, Anz, Moore. Lambinus conjectured guod, followed 
 by Mueller, Ley and Drenckhahn. Sommerbrodt conjectured quo- 
 niam, adopted by Reid, Bennett, Meissner and Weiszenfels. But the 
 manuscript reading cum can be explained as an original explicative 
 CMm-clause parallel with a ^Mod-clause (cf. G. 582; L. 1874). (Cf. 
 De Orat. 2, 154, quo etiam maior habendus est cum illam sapientiam 
 . . . cognovit; also Ter., Ph. 967, Quom e medio excessit.) Hale 
 {Cum Construe., p. 243) defends cufn here. 
 
 § 69. supremum: the reading of all the Mss. except L, which 
 reads summum followed by Mueller, Anz, Ley, Meissner, Weiszenfels. 
 Sommerbrodt, Kornitzer, Schiche, Moore, Deiter read supremum,, 
 which seems justified by the preponderance of the manuscript evi- 
 dence. 
 
 § 70. Neaue . . . veniendum: the genuineness of this passage 
 has been questioned, but it is defended by A. Otto (op. Ht., p. 97). 
 
 sapifenti: so BRSV and most editors; LPHAEv read sapientibus, 
 followed by Sommerbrodt, Meissner, Reid, Schiche. The sing, is 
 preferable for reasons of balance {histrioni) and euphony, especially 
 in view of the possible corruption into the plur. on account of the 
 following usque. 
 
 § 71. vix evelluntur: so LPHA, followed by Mueller and all re- 
 cent editors except Bennett and Meissner, who write to evelluntur, 
 on the authority of BIRSv. 
 
 § 72. possis: the reading of most Mss. and most editors. L has 
 posset and P has possit, followed by Mueller, Reid, Kornitzer. The 
 subjunctive here cannot be defended except in the indefinite sing, 
 (ideal second person). 
 
 mortemque contem.nere: bracketed by Mueller, Sommerbrodt, 
 Ley as an interpolation or as indicating a lacuna (cf. Luetjohann, 
 Rhein. Mus. 37, 504; A. Otto, op. cit., p. 101). If these words indi- 
 cate a lacuna, the sense is not impaired, and it may be assumed 
 that the words are genuine, and should be restored to the text. 
 
 Ut navem . . . dissolvit: regarded by some as spurious; A. Otto 
 {op. cit., p. 98) brackets sic to the end. Editors retain in the text, 
 but Anz brackets sic to end. 
 
 § 73. elogium est: the reading of most of the Mss., followed by 
 many of the editors. LP omit est. Mueller, after Halm and Baiter, 
 writes est elogium, as do Moore and others. 
 
 dacrumis: conjecture of Bergk, adopted by most of the recent 
 editors, for lacrumis of the Mss., followed by Mueller. The allitera- 
 tion demands dacrumis. 
 
CRITICAL APPENDIX 125 
 
 §75. recorder: the reading of most Mss., followed by Mueller 
 and most editors. Sommerbrodt and Reid have recordor, on the 
 authority of SE. The subjunctive seems demanded. 
 
 saepe profectas: the reading of QRMa, followed by Mueller and 
 editors generally. LA read se profectas; PYvP^HI read esse pro- 
 fectas. 
 
 § 76. This section is thought by some to have been transposed 
 with § 73. Cf. A. Otto, op. cit., p. 95; also Luetjohann, Bhein. Mus. 
 37, p. 501, who would rearrange. 
 
 studiorum: the reading of the best Mss., followed by Mueller and 
 most editors. Halm, Baiter, Lahmeyer, Reid have rerum, on the 
 authority of ERMa. 
 
 § 77. EQuidem non: the reading of a, majority of the Mss. 
 (BIRSBH), followed by Sommerbrodt, Anz, Bennett, Deiter. LP 
 have non enim, followed by Mueller and most editors. The varia- 
 tion in the Mss. may be explained by assuming non equidem to be 
 the true reading, which in some cases was corrupted into enim 
 and subsequently transposed, giving non enim of some codices. 
 Moore has equidem, — hon enim. 
 
 tuum, Scipio, tuumque, Laeli: the suggestion of Baiter, adopted 
 by Schiche, Meissner, Kornitzer, Bennett, Moore and others. 
 VvBSMa have P. Scipio tuque C. Laeli, followed by Mueller, Ley, 
 Novak, Deiter and others. LP have tu, Scipio, tuque, Laeli. As 
 Mueller observes, the best Mss. often omit praenomina which here 
 seem out of place. 
 
 § 78. It is to be noted that P breaks off abruptly with the 
 words quin ex in this section, and from this point on we can only 
 infer its readings from H. 
 
 tantae scientiae: bracketed by Baiter, but defended by A. Otto 
 (op. cit., p. 103). 
 
 esset natura: so LBISMa, followed by Mueller, Sommerbrodt, 
 Anz, Ley, Deiter and others; HAVPa have natura esset, followed 
 by Meissner, Novak and others. 
 
 Haec Platonis fere: the reading of all the editors except Moore. 
 Pb reads Platonis fere sunt ; BISVAd read Plato vester ; Ma reads 
 Plato dicit vester, and others read Platonis fere. A. Otto, op. dt., 
 p. 103-104, thinks these words a mere gloss that crept into the text, 
 and Moore rejects them as an interpolation, omitting them from 
 his text. Moore calls attention to the fact that no passage in Plato 
 has been found upon which Cicero could base his argument for the 
 immortality of the soul from the unlimited faculties of the mind. 
 It is quite plausible that a marginal note calling attention to Cicero's 
 indebtedness to Plato by a copyist may have been incorporated by 
 a later hand into the text. But the evidence is not conclusive, and 
 
126 DE SENECTUTE 
 
 at most the words should be bracketed only, not stricken from the 
 text. 
 
 § 79. autem: regarded by A. Otto (see above) as an interpola- 
 tion by the same hand as Hciec Platonis fere. 
 
 § 80. discessit: the reading of LHAV, adopted by Anz, Reid, 
 Moore. BS read discesserit and the remaining Mss. read discedit, fol- 
 lowed by Mueller and most editors. Discessit is the natural oppo- 
 site of cum adest and has the support of the best Mss. 
 
 § 81. corporum: the reading of LHVBISMa, followed by Schiche, 
 Anz, Kornitzer, Moore, Deiter. The other Mss. read corporis, adopted 
 by Mueller and many recent editors. Either reading suits the sense, 
 but corporum has the stronger manuscript support. 
 
 § 82. ad se ipsos pertinere : conjecture of Opitz (Fleckeisen's 
 Jahrb., yr. 1873, p. 611) adopted by Mueller and most of the recent 
 editors. Most Mss. (LHVvP^BISMa) Tea.d ad se posse pertinere j and 
 ER read ad se pertinere, followed by Halm, Baiter and Schiche. 
 
 melius multo: the reading of all the Mss. except E, which trans- 
 poses the words. Mueller and all subsequent editors have melius 
 multo except Bennett who follows E. Cicero regularly writes multo 
 melius, but not invariably, as Moore points out, and the evidence 
 of the Mss. here is too strong to be set aside. 
 
 labore et contentione: the reading of L (according to Dahl) 
 VvAIAd, followed by Sommerbrodt, Moore, Meissner-Landgraf. 
 P^Ma read aut labore et contentione, and R labore aut contentione, 
 followed by Mueller who attributes this reading to LE as well as R. 
 In view of Mueller's error the reading labore et contentione, since it 
 makes good sense and has the best manuscript support, should be 
 followed. Editors are divided. 
 
 immortalitatem et gloriam: the reading of LHAVP^, followed by 
 Mueller and all of the recent editors except Reid. BSI have in- 
 martalitatis gloriam, followed by Halm, Baiter, Reid. Some of the 
 inferior Mss. offer variant readings. 
 
 § 83. cuius: for this reading of LARv followed by the editors 
 in general, the inferior Mss. have cui followed by Halm and Baiter. 
 
 solos: the reading of LAVvP^BEIS, followed by Mueller and most 
 of the recent editors. Sommerbrodt, Meissner and Reid have solum 
 on the authority of PbMa and Nonius (270, 40 M). 
 
 §84. habet enim vita: the reading of LAVvSI, followed by 
 Mueller and most editors. Sommerbrodt writes enim vita habet on 
 inferior manuscript authority. 
 
 habeat: so the editors for habet of the Mss 
 
 e: so the editors and inferior Mss. LHAEvP'' omit. 
 
 devorsorium: so L, followed by Mueller and most editors (Moore 
 writes the later form deversorium). Other Mss. have diversorium. 
 
CRITICAL APPENDIX 127 
 
 in: so most editors, on tiie autiiority of the inferior Mss. and 
 Nonius (524, 31 M) . Most Mss. read ad and L omits. 
 
 § 85. Quodsi non . . . satietate: Sommerbrodt and Anz bracket 
 as an interpolation. 
 
 defatigationem: so APbNB et al., followed by Bennett, Moore. 
 RISVMa have defeiigationem, followed by Sommerbrodt, Meissner- 
 Landgraf, Reid. HE and some inferior Mss. read defectionem, fol- 
 lowed by Mueller and most of the recent editors. The antithesis 
 (^saturitas) and the sense seem to demand defatigationem rather than 
 defectionem. 
 
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 for students. Map and illustrations. 484 pages, f 1.25. 
 
 Davidson's Prolegomena to Tennyson's In Memoriam. A critical analysis, with an index 
 of the poem. 50 cts. 
 
 De Quincey's Confessions of an Opium Eater. (G. A. Wauchofe.) 50 cts. 
 
 Hall's Beowulf. A metrical translation. 75 cts. Student's edition, 30 cts. 
 
 Hawthorne and Lemmon's American Literature. Contains sketches, characterizations, 
 and selections. Illustrated with portraits. ]Si.i2. 
 
 Hodgkin's Nineteenth Century Authors. Gives aids for library study of 26 authors. 
 Price, 5 cts. each, or ^3.00 per hundred. Complete in i.lOth. 60 cts. 
 
 Howes'sPrimer of English Literature. Illustrated. 50 cents. 
 
 Meiklejohn's History Of English Language and Literature. Revised. 60 cts. 
 
 Milton's Select Poems. (A. P. Walker.) Illustrated. 488 pages, sects. 
 
 Moulton's Four Years of Novel-Reading. A reader's guide. 50 cts. 
 
 Moulton'S Literary Study of the Bible. An account of the leading forms of literature 
 represented, without reference to theological matters. $2.co. 
 
 Plumptre's Translation of Aeschylus. With biography and appendix. Si.oo. 
 
 Elumptre's Translation of Dante. Five vols. Illustrated. Studert's edit on, 50 cts. per 
 vol. Library edition, $4.00 per set. 
 
 Plumptre's Translation of Sophocles. With biography and appendix. $1.00. 
 
 Shelley's Prometheus Unbound. (Vida D. Scudder.) 60 cts 
 
 Simonds's Introduction to the Study of English Fiction. With illustrative selections, 
 80 cts. Briefer edition, without illustrative selections. Boards. 30 cts. 
 
 Simonds's Sir Thomas Wyatt and His Poems. With critical analysis. 50 cts. 
 
 Webster's Speeches. (A.J.George.) Nine select speeches with notes. 75 cts. 
 
 Whitcomb's The Study of a Novel. 251 pages. Ii.j;. 
 
 Wordsworth's Prefaces and Essays on Poetry. (A. J. George.) 50 cts. 
 
 Wordsworth's Prelude. (A. J. George.) Annotated. 75 cts. 
 
 Selections from Wordsworth. (A. J Grorge). 168 poems chosen with a view to illus- 
 trate the growth of the poet's mind and art. 75 cts. 
 
 See also our list 0/ books in Higher English and English Classics. 
 
 D. C. HEATH & CO., Publishers, Boston, New York, Chicago 
 
History 
 
 Allen's History Topics. Covers Ancient, Modern, and American history and gives an 
 excellent list of books of reference. 121 pages. Paper, 25 cents. 
 
 Allen's TopicEQ Outline of English History. Including references for literature. Boards, 
 23 cents ; cloth, 40 cents. 
 
 Boutwell's The Constitution of the United States at the End of the First Century. 
 Presents the Constitution as it has been interpreted by decisions of the United States Su- 
 preme Court from 1789 to 1889. 430 pages. Buckram. $?..$o ; law sheep, $3.50. 
 
 Fisher's Select Bibliography of Ecclesiastical History. An annotated list of the most 
 essential books for a theological student's library. 15 cents. 
 
 Fllckinger's Civil Government: as Developed in the States and the United States. 
 An historical and analytic study of civil institutions, for schools and colleges. 374 pages. 
 Cloth, 1 1. 00. 
 
 Hall's Method of Teaching History. " Its excellence and helpfulness ought to secure it 
 many readers." — The Nation, 405 pages. $1.50. 
 
 Pratt's America's Story for America's Children. A series of history readers for ele- 
 mentary schools. 
 
 I. The Beginner's Book. Cloth. 60 illustrations. 132 pagesf. 35 cents. 
 II. Discoverers and Explorers: 1000 to i6og. Cloth. 152 pages. 52 illus. 40 cents. 
 III. The Earlier Colonies: 1601 to 1733. Cloth. 160 pages. Illus. 40 cents. 
 IV. The Later Colonies. Cloth. Illus. 160 pages. 40 cents. 
 V. The Revolution and.the Republic. Cloth. Illus. 160 pages. 40 cents. 
 
 Sheldon's American History. Follows the "seminary" or laboratory plan. " By it the 
 pupil is not robbed of the right to do his own thinking." Half leather. J1.12. 
 
 Teacher's Manual to Sheldon's American History. 60 cents. 
 
 Sheldon's General History. For high schools and colleges. The only general history 
 following the " seminary " or laboratory plan. Half leather. 572 pages. ;ji.6o. 
 
 Teacher's Manual to Sheldon's History, Puts into the instructor's hand the key to the 
 above system. 172 pages. 85 cents. 
 
 Sheldon's Greek and Roman History. Contains the first 250 pages of the General 
 History. $1.00. 
 
 Sheldon-Barnes's Studies in Historical Method. Suggestive studies for teachers snd 
 students. Cloth. 160 pages. 90 cents. 
 
 Shumway's A Day in Ancient Rome. With 59 illustrations. Should find a place as a 
 suPPUtneniary reader in every high-school class studying Cicero, Horace, Tacitus, etc. 
 ^ pages. Paper, 30 cents ; cloth, 75 cents. 
 
 Thomas's Elementary History of the United States. For younger grades. Maps and 
 illustrations. Cloth. 357 pages. 60 cents. 
 
 Thomas's History of the United States. Revised and rewritten. Edition of 1901. For 
 schools, academies, and the general reader. A narrative history with copious references 
 to sources and authorities. Fully illustrated. 592 pages. Half leather. $1.00. 
 
 English History Readers. English history for grammar grades. 
 
 VtTilson's Compendium of United States and Contemporary History. For schools and 
 the general reader. 114 pages. 40 cents. 
 
 ^il90n's The State. Elements of Historical and Practical Politics. A book on the 
 organization and functions of government. Revised edition, largely rewritten. 69;^ 
 pages. $2.00. 
 
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 D. C. HEATH & CO., Publishers,Boston, NewYork,Chicago 
 
Mathematics 
 
 Anthony and Ashley's Descriptive Geometry. $2.00. 
 
 Barton's Plane Surveying. With complete tables. $1,50. 
 
 Barton's Theory of Equations. A treatise for college classes. $1 50. 
 
 Bauer and Brooke's Trigonometry. Plane and spherical. $1.50. 
 
 Bowser's College Algebra. A full treatment of elementary and advanced topics. $1.50. 
 
 Bowser's Elements of Plane and S|>herical Trigonometry. 90 cts. ; with tables, $1.40. 
 
 Bowser's Treatise on Plane and Spherical Trigonometry. $1.50. 
 
 Bowser's Five-Place Logarithmic Tables. 50 cts. 
 
 Candy's Plane and Solid Analjrtic Geometry. $1 50. With supplement, $2.00. 
 
 Fine's Number System in Algebra. Theoretical and historical. $1.00. 
 
 Gilbert's Algebra Lessons. Three numbers: No. t, to Fractional Equations: No. 2, 
 
 through Quadratic Equations; No. 3, Higher Algebra. Each number, per dozen, $1.44. 
 Hopkins's Plane Geometry. Follows the inductive method. 75 cts. 
 Howland's Elements of the Conic Sections. 75 cts. 
 
 Lyman's Geometry Exercises. Supplementary work for drill. Per dozen, $1.60. 
 McCurdy's Exercise Book in Algebra. A thorough drill book. 60 cts. 
 Nichols's Analytic Geometry. A treatise for college courses. $1.25. 
 Nichols's Calculus. Differential and Integral. $2.00. 
 Osborne's Differential and Integral Calculus. Revised. $2.00. 
 Peterson and Baldwin's Problems in Algebra. For texts and reviews. 30 cts. 
 Robblns's Surveying and Navigation. A brief and practical treatise. 50 cts 
 Schwatt's Geometrical Treatment of Curves. $1.00, 
 
 Waldo's Descriptive Geometry. Contains a large number of problems. 80 cts 
 Wells's Academic Arithmetic. With or without answers $1.00. 
 Wells's First Course in Algebra. A one-year course. $i.oo. 
 Wells's Algebra for Secondary Schools. $1.20. 
 
 Wells's Text-Book in Algebra. A maximum elementary course. $1.40 
 Wells's Essentials of Algebra. For secondary schools. $1.10. 
 Wells's Academic Algebra. With or without answers. $1 o3. 
 Wells's New Higher Algebra. For schools and colleges. $1.32. 
 Wells's University Algebra. Octavo. $1.50. 
 
 Wells's College Algebra. $1.50. Part II, beginning with quadratics. $1.32 
 Wells's Advanced Course In Algebra. $1.50. 
 Wells's New Geometry. $1.25. Plane, 75 cts. Solid, 75 cts. 
 Wells's Essentials of Geometry. $1.25. Plane, 75 cts. Solid, 75 cts. 
 Wells's New Plane and Spherical Trigonometry. For colleges and technical schools 
 
 $1.00. With six-place tables, $1.25. With Robbins's Surveying and Navigalion, $1.50. 
 Wells's Complete Trigonometry. Plane and Spherical, go cts. With tables, $1.08. 
 
 Plane, bound separately, 75 cts. 
 Wells's New Six-Place Logarithmic Tables. 60 cts. 
 Wells's Four-Place Tables. 25 cts. 
 Wright's Exercises in Concrete Geometry. 30 cts. 
 
 For Arithmetics see our list 0/ books in Elementary Mathematics. 
 
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