The fisher to convert the world began, The pride convincing of vain-glorious man; But soon his followers grew a sovereign lord, And Peter's keys exchang'd for Peter's sword, Which still maintains for his adopted son Vast patrimonies, though himself had none; Wresting the text to the old giants' sense, That Heaven, once more, must suffer violence. Then subtle doctors scriptures made their prize, Casuists, like cocks, struck out each other's eyes; Then dark distinctions reason's light disguis'd, And into atoms truth anatomiz'd.
Then Mahomet's crescent, by our feuds increast, Blasted the learn'd remainders of the East: That project, when from Greece to Rome it came, Made mother Ignorance Devotion's dame; Then, he whom Lucifer's own pride did swell, His faithful emissary, rose from Hell To possess Peter's chair, that Hildebrand, Whose foot on mitres, then on crowns did stand, And before that exalted idol, all
(Whom we call gods on Earth) did prostrate fall. Then darkness Europe's face did overspread, From lazy cells, where Superstition bred, Which, link'd with blind Obedience, so increast, That the whole world, some ages, they opprest; Till through those clouds the Sun of Knowledge brake,
And Europe from her lethargy did wake; Then first our monarchs were acknowledged here, That they their churches' nursing fathers were. When Lucifer no longer could advance His works on the false ground of ignorance, New arts he tries, and new designs he lays, Then his well studied master-piece he plays; Loyola, Luther, Calvin, he inspires,
And kindles with infernal flames their fires, Sends their forerunner, (conscious of th' event) Printing, his most pernicious instrument! Wild controversy then, which long had slept, Into the press from ruin'd cloysters leapt. No longer by implicit faith we err, Whilst every man's his own interpreter; No more conducted now by Aaron's rod, Lay-elders, from their ends create their God; But seven wise men the ancient world aid know, We scarce know seven who think themselves not
When man learn'd undefil'd religion, We were commanded to be all as one; Fiery disputes that union have calcin'd, Almost as many minds as men we find, And when that flame finds combustible earth, Thence fatuus fires and meteors take their birth,
Legions of sects and insects come in throngs; To name them all would tire a hundred tongues. Such were the Centaurs of Ixion's race, Who a bright cloud for Juno did embrace; And such the monsters of Chimæra's behind, Lions before, and dragons were behind.
Then from the clashes between popes and
Debate, like sparks from flints' collision, springs; As Jove's loud thunder-bolts were forg'd by
The like our Cyclops on their anvils beat; All the rich mines of Learning ransack'd are, To furnish ammunition for this war;
Uncharitable zeal our reason whets, And double edges on our passions sets; 'Tis the most certain sign the world's accurst, That the best things corrupted, are the worst : 'Twas the corrupted light of knowledge, hurl'd Sin, death, and ignorance, o'er all the world; That Sun, like this, (from which our sight we have)
Gaz'd on too long, resumes the light he gave ; And when thick mists of doubts obscure his beams,
Our guide is errour, and our visions dreams. 'Twas no false heraldry, when Madness drew Her pedigree from those who too much knew; Who in deep mines for hidden knowledge [coils; Like guns o'er-charg'd, breaks, misses, or reWhen subtle wits have spun their thread too
'Tis weak and fragile like Arachne's line : True piety, without cessation tost By theories, the practic part is lost, And like a ball bandy'd 'twixt pride and wit, Rather than yield, both sides the prize will quit; Then whilst his foe each gladiator foils, The atheist looking on, enjoys the spoils.
Through seas of knowledge we our course ad
Discovering still new worlds of ignorance; And these discoveries make us all confess That sublunary science is but guess. Matters of fact to man are only known, And what seems more is mere opinion; The standers-by see clearly this event, All parties say they're sure, yet all dissent; With their new light our bold inspectors press Like Cham, to show their father's nakedness, By whose example after-ages may Discover, we more naked are than they : All human wisdom, to divine, is folly; This truth the wisest man made melancholy; Hope, or belief, or guess, gives some relief, But to be sure we are deceiv'd, brings grief: Who thinks his wife is virtuous, though not
Than that those years, which others think ex
treme, Nor to yourself, nor us uneasy seem; Under which weight most, like th' old giants, groan,
When Ætna on their backs by Jove was thrown. CATO. What you urge, Scipio, from right reason flows;
All parts of age seem burthensome to those Who virtue's and true wisdom's happiness Cannot discern; but they who those possess, In what's impos'd by Nature find no grief, Of which our age is (next our death) the chief, Which though all equally desire t' obtain, Yet when they have obtain'd it, they complain, Such our inconstancies and follies are,
We say it steals upon us unaware ;
Our want of reasoning these false measures makes, Youth runs to age, as childhood youth o'er-
How much more grievous would our lives ap
To reach th' eighth hundred, than the eightieth year?
Of what, in that long space of time hath past, To foolish age will no remembrance last. My age's conduct when you seem t' admire, (Which that it may deserve, I much desire) 'Tis my first rule, on Nature, as my guide Appointed by the gods, I have rely'd; And Nature (which all acts of life designs) Not like ill poets, in the last declines : But some one part must be the last of all, Which, like ripe fruits, must either rot or fall. And this from Nature must be gently borne, Else her (as giants did the gods) we scorn.
LÆL. But, sir, 'tis Scipio's and my desire, Since to long life we gladly would aspire, [ hear, That from your grave instructions we might How we, like you, may this great burthen bear,
CAT. This I resolv'd before, but now shall do With great delight, since 'tis requir'd by you. LAL. If to yourself it will not tedious prove,
Nothing in us a greater joy can move, That as old travellers the young instruct, Your long, our short experience may conduct.
CAT. 'Tis true (as, the old proverb doth re
Equals with equals often congregate.
Two consuls (who in years my equals were) When senators, lamenting I did hear,
That age from them had all their pleasures torn, And them their former suppliants now scorn:
They, what is not to be accus'd, accuse, Not others, but themselves their age abuse : Else this might me concern, and all my friends, Whose cheerful age, with honour, youth at- |
Joy'd that from pleasure's slavery they are free, And all respects due to their age they see. In its true colours this complaint appears The ill effect of manners, not of years; For on their life no grievous burthen lies, Who are well-natur'd, temperate, and wise: But an irhuman and ill-tempered mind, Not any easy part in life can find.
LAL. This I believe; yet others may dispute, Theirage (as yours) can never bear such fruit
Of honour, wealth, and power, to make them sweet;
Not every one such happiness can meet.
CAT. Some weight your argument, my Lælius, bears,
But not so much as at first sight appears. This answer by Themistocles was made, (When a Seriphian thus did him upbraid, "You those great honours to your country owe, Not to yourself")-" Had I at Seripho Been born, such bonour I had never seen, Nor you, if an Athenian you had been." So age, cloath'd in indecent poverty, To the most prudent cannot easy be; But to a fool, the greater his estate, The more uneasy is his age's weight. Age's chief arts, and arms, are to grow wise, Virtue to know, and known to exercise; All just returns to age then virtue makes, Nor her in her extremity forsakes; The sweetest cordial we receive at last, Is conscience of our virtuous actions pasi. I (when a youth) with reverence did look On Quintus Fabius, who Tarentum took; Yet in his age such cheerfulness was seen, As if his years and mine had equal been: His gravity was mixt with gentleness, Nor had his age made his good-humour less; Then was he well in years, (the same that he Was consul, that of my nativity) (A stripling then) in his fourth consulate On him at Capua I in arms did wait. I five years after at Tarentum wan The quæstorship, and then our love began, And four years after, when I prætor was, He pleaded, and the Cincian law did pass. With useful diligence he us'd t' engage, Yet with the temperate arts of patient age He breaks fierce Hannibal's insulting heats; Of which exploits thus our friend Ennius treats, He by delay restor'd the commonwealth, Nor preferr'd rumour before public health.
The Roman commonwealth restor'd did boast, Nor Appius, with whose strength his sight was lost,
Who, when the senate was to peace inclin'd With Pyrrhus, show'd his reason was not blind. Wh ther's our courage and our wisdom come, When Rome itself conspires the fate of Rome ? The rest with ancient gravity and skill
He spake (for his oration's extent still.) 'Tis seventeen years since he had consul been The second time, and there were ten between; Therefore their argument's of little force, Who age from great employments would divorce, As in a ship some climb the shrouds t' unfold
The sail, some sweep the deck, some pump the
Whilst he that guides the helm, employs his And gives the law to them, by sitting still. Great actions less from courage, strength, and speed,
Than from wise counsels and commands, proceed; Those arts age wants not, which to age belong, Not heat, but cold experience, makes us strong. A consul, tribune, general, I have been, All sorts of war I have past through, and seen; And now grown old, I seem t' abandon it, Yet to the senate I prescribe what 's fit. I every day 'gainst Carthage war proclaim, (For Rome's destruction hath been long her aim) Nor shall I cease till I her ruin see,
Which triumph may the gods design for thee; That Scipio may revenge his grandsire's ghost, Whose life at Cannæ with great honour lost Is on record; nor had he weary'd been With age, if he an hundred years had seen : He had not us'd excursions, spears, or darts, But counsel, order, and such aged arts; Which, if our ancestors had not retain'd, The senate's name our council had not gain'd. The Spartans to their highest magistrate The name of Elder did appropriate : Therefore his fame for ever shall remain, How gallantly Tarentum he did gain, With vigilant conduct: when that sharp reply He gave to Salinator, I stood by, Who to the castle fled, the town being lost, Yet he to Maximus did vainly boast, Twas by my means Tarentum you obtain'd; 'Tis true, had you not lost, I had not gain'd. And as much honour on his gown did wait, As on his arms, in his fifth consulate. When his colleague Carvilius stept aside, The tribune of the people would divide To them the Gallic and the Picene field, Against the senate's will, he will not yield; When being angry, boldly he declares
Such science in his art of augury, No Roman ever was more learn'd than he; Knowledge of all things present and to coine, Remembering all the wars of ancient Rome, Nor only there, but all the world's beside : Dying in extreme age, 1 prophesy'd That which is come to pass, and did discern From his survivors I could nothing learn. This long discourse was but to let you see, That his long life could not uneasy be. Few like the Fabii or the Scipios are Takers of cities, conquerors in war. Yet others to like happy age arrive, Who modest, quiet, and with virtue live : Thus Plato writing his philosophy, With honour after ninety years did die. Th' Athenian story writ at ninety-four By Isocrates, who yet liv'd five years more; His master Gorgias at the hundredth year And seventh, not his studies did forbear: And, ask'd, why he no sooner left the stage, Said, he saw nothing to accuse old age. None but the foolish, who their lives abuse, Age, of their own mistakes and crimes, accuse. All commonwealths (as by records is seen) As by age preserv'd, by youth destroy'd have When the tragedian Nævis did demand, [been. Why did your commonwealth no longer stand ? 'Twas answer'd, that their senators were new, Foolish and young, and such as nothing knew. Nature to youth hot rashness doth dispense, But with cold prudence age doth recompense; But age, 'tis said, will memory decay: So (if it be not exercis'd) it may; Or, if by nature it be dull and slow : Themistocles (when ag'd) the names did know Of all th' Athenians; and none grow so old, Not to remember where they hid their gold. From age such art of memory we learn To forget nothing, which is our concern; Their interest no priest nor sorcerer Forgets, nor lawyer, nor philosopher; No understanding memory can want, Where wisdom studious industry doth plant. Nor does it only in the active live, But in the quiet and contemplative. When Sophocles (who plays when aged wrote) Was by his sons before the judges brought, Because he pay'd the Muses such respect, His fortune, wife, and children to neglect ; Almost condemn'd, he mov'd the judges thus, "Hear, but instead of me, my Oedipus:" The judges hearing with applause, at th' end Freed him, and said, "No fool such lines had 'What poets and what orators can I [penn'd." Recount! what princes in philosophy! Whose constant studies with their age did strive,
Those things were acted under happy stars, From which the coinmonwealth found good ef- But otherwise they came from bad aspects. [fects, Many great things of Fabius I could tell,
Nor did they those, though those did them sur
Old husbandmen I at Sabinum know,
Who for another year dig, plough, and sow;
But his son's death did all the rest excel;
(His gallant son, though young, had consul been) For never any man was yet so old
His funeral oration I have seen
Often; and when on that I turn my eyes,
I all the old philosophers despise. Though he in all the people's eyes seem'd great, Yet greater he appear'd in his retreat; When feasting with his private friends at home, Such counsel, such discourse, from him did come,
But hop'd his life one winter more might hold. Cæcilius vainly said, " Each day we spend Discovers something, which must needs offend." But sometimes age may pleasant things behold, And nothing that offends: he should have told This not to age, but youth, who oftener see What not alone offends, but harts, than we:
That I in him, which he in age, condemn'd, That us it renders odious and contemn'd. He knew not virtue, if he thought this truth; For youth delights in age, and age in youth. What to the old can greater pleasure be, Than hopeful and ingenuous youth to see ; When they with reverence follow where we lead, And in straight paths by our directions tread! And ev'n my conversation here I see, As well receiv'd by you, as yours by me. 'Tis disingenuous to accuse our age Of idleness, who all our powers engage In the same studies, the same course to hold; Nor think our reason for new arts too old. Solon the sage his progress never ceas'd, But still his learning with his days increas'd; And I with the same greediness did seek, As water when I thirst, to swallow Greek; Which I did only learn, that I might know These great examples which I follow now: And I have heard that Socrates the wise, Learn'd on the lute for his last exercise. Though many of the ancients did the same, To improve knowledge was my only aim.
And all that 's in them (not thy arm) are dead; This folly every looker-on derides,
To glory only in thy arms and sides. Our gallant ancestors let fall no tears, Their strength decreasing by increasing years; But they advanc'd in wisdom every hour, And made the commonwealth advance in power. But orators may grieve, for in their sides, Rather than heads, their faculty abides; Yet I have heard old voices loud and clear, And still my own sometimes the senate hear. When th' old with smooth and gentle voices plead, They by the ear their well pleas'd audiencelead: Which, if I had not strength enough to do, I could (my Lælius, and my Scipio) What's to be done, or not be done, instruct, And to the maxims of good life conduct. Cneius and Publius Scipio, and (that man Of men) your grandsire, the great African, Were joyful, when the flower of noble blood Crowded their dwellings, and attending stood, Like oracles their counsels to receive,
How in their progress they should act, and live. And they whose high examples youth obeys,
Are not despised, though their strength decays, And those decays (to speak the naked truth, Though the defects of age) were crimes of youth. Intemperate youth (by sad experience found) Ends in an age imperfect and unsound.
Cyrus, though ag'd, (if Xenophon say true) Lucius Metellus (whom when young I knew) Who held (after his second consulate) Twenty-two years the high pontificate; Neither of these, in body or in mind, Before their death the least decay did find. I speak not of myself, though none deny To age, to praise their youth, the liberty: Such an unwasted strength I cannot boast, Yet now my years are eighty-four almost: And though from what it was my strength is far, Both in the first and second Punic war, Nor at Thermopylæ, under Glabrio, Nor when I consul into Spain did go; But yet I feel no weakness, nor hath length Of winters quite enervated my strength; And 1 my guest, my client, or my friend, Still in the courts of justice can defend : Neither must I that proverb's truth allow, "Who would be ancient, must be early so." I would be youthful still, and find no need To appear old, till I was so indeed. And yet you see my hours not idle are, Though with your strength I cannot mine com-
Yet this centurion's doth your's surmount, Not therefore him the better man I count. Milo, when entering the Olympic game, With a huge ox upon his shoulder came. Would you the force of Milo's body find, Rather than of Pythagoras's mind ? The force which Nature gives with care retain, But, when decay'd, 'tis folly to complain; In age to wish for youth is full as vain, As for a youth to turn a child again. Simple and certain Nature's ways appear, And she sets forth the seasons of the year. So in all parts of life we find her truth, Weakness to childhood, rashness to our youth; To elder years to be discreet and grave, Then to old age maturity she gave. (Scipio) you know, how Massinissa bears His kingly port at more than ninety years! When marching with his foot, he walks till night; When with his horse, he never will alight; Though cold or wet, his head is always bare; So hot, sodry, his aged members are. You see how exercise and temperance
Ev'n to old years a youthful strength advance. Our law (because from age our strength retires) No duty which belongs to strength requires, But age doth many men so feeble make, That they no great design can undertake; Yet, that to age not singly is apply'd, But to all man's infirmities beside.
That Scipio, who adopted you, did fall Into such pains, he had no health at all: Who else had equall'd Africanus' parts, Exceeding him in all the liberal arts. Why should those errours then imputed be To age alone, from which our youth's not free? Every disease of age we may prevent, Like those of youth, by being diligent. When sick, such moderate exercise we use, And diet, as our vital heat renews ; And if our body thence refreshment finds, Then must we also exercise our minds. If with continual oil we not supply
Our lamp, the light for want of it will die:
Though bodies may be tir'd with exercise, No weariness the mind could e'er surprise. Cæcilius the comedian, when of age He represents the follies on the stage; They're credulous, forgetful, dissolute, Neither those crimes to age he doth impute, But to old men to whom those crimes belong. Lust, petulance, rashness, are in youth more
Than age, and yet young men those vices hate, Who virtuous are, discreet and temperate : And so what we call dotage, seldom breeds In bodies, but where Nature sows the seeds. There are five daughters, and four gallant sons, In whom the blood of noble Appius runs,
With a most numerous family beside, Whom he alone, though old and blind, did guide, Yet his clear-sighted mind was still intent, And to his business like a bow stood bent: By children, servants, neighbours, so esteem'd, He not a master, but a monarch seem'd.
All his relations his admirers were,
Intoxicating both, by them, she finds, And burns the sacred temples of our minds. Furies, which, reason's divine chains had bound, (That being broken) all the world confound. Lust, Murder, Treason, Avarice, and Hell Itself broke loose, in Reason's palace dwell; Truth, Honour, Justice, Temperance, are fled, All her attendants into darkness led.
But why all this discourse? when pleasure's rage Hath conquer'd reason we must treat with age. Age undermines, and will in time surprise Her strongest forts: and cut off all supplies; And join'd in league with strong necessity, Pleasure must fly, or else by famine die. Flaminius, whom a consulship had grac'd, (Then censor) from the senate I displac'd; When he in Gaal, a consul, made a feast, A beauteous courtezan did him request To see the cutting off a prisoner's head; This crime I could not leave unpunished, Since by a private villainy he stain'd That public honour, which at Rome he gain'd.
His sons paid reverence, and his servants fear: Then to our age (when not to pleasures bent)
The order and the ancient discipline Of Romans did in all his actions shine. Authority kept up old age secures, Whose dignity as long as life endures. Something of youth I in old age approve, But more the marks of age in youth I love. Who this observes, may in his body find Decrepit age, but never in his mind. The seven volumes of my own Reports, Wherein are all the pleadings of our courts; All noble monuments of Greece are come Unto my hands, with those of ancient Rome. The pontificial, and the civil law, 1 study still, and thence orations draw. And to confirm my memory, at night, What I hear, see, or do, by day I still recite. These exercises for my thoughts I find, These labours are the chariots of my mind. To serve my friends, the senate I frequent, And there, what I before digested, vent. Which only from my strength of mind proceeds, Nor any outward force of body needs : Which, if I could not do, I should delight On what I would to ruminate at night. Who in such practices their minds engage, Nor fear nor think of their approaching age; Which by degrees invisibly doth creep: Nor do we seem to die, but fall asleep,
This seems an honour, not disparagement. We, not all pleasures, like the Stoics, hate; But love and seek, those which are moderate. (Though divine Plato thus of pleasures thought, They us, with hooks and baits, like fishes caught) When quæstor, to the gods, in public calls I was the first who set up festivals. Not with high tastes our appetites did force, But fill'd with conversation and discourse; Which feasts convivial meetings we did name: Not like the ancient Greeks, who, to their shame, Call'd it a compotation, not a feast; Declaring the worst part of it the best. Those entertainments I did then frequent Sometimes with youthful heat and merriment: But now I thank my age, which gives me ease From those excesses; yet myself I please With cheerful talk to entertain my guests, (Discourses are to age continual feasts) The love of meat and wine they recompense, And cheer the mind, as much as those the sense, I'm not more pleas'd with gravity among The ag'd, than to be youthful with the young; Nor 'gainst all pleasures proclaim open war, To which, in age, some natural motions are. And still at my Sabinum I delight
To treat my neighbours till the depth of night. But we the sense of gust and pleasure want Which youth at full possesses, this I grant; But age seeks not the things which youth re-
And no man needs that which he not desires. When Sophocles was ask'd, if he deny'd Himself the use of pleasures, he reply'd "I humbly thank th' immortal gods, who me From that fierce tyrant's insolence set free." But they, whom pressing appetites constrain, Grieve when they cannot their desires obtain. Young men the use of pleasure understand, As of an object new, and near at hand: Though this stands more remote from age's sight, Yet they behold it not without delight: As ancient soldiers, from their duties eas'd, With sense of honour and rewards are pleas'd; S) from ambitious hopes and lusts releast, Delighted with itself, our age doth rest.
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