against all pleasure without exception； which is perhaps a feeling
inspired by nature…I fail to perceive even in these very pleasures
that old age is entirely without the power of appreciation。 For
myself； I take delight even in the old…fashioned appointment of
master of the feast； and in the arrangement of the conversation；
which according to ancestral custom is begun from the last place
on the left…hand couch when the wine is brought in； as also in the
cups which； as in Xenophon's banquet； are small and filled by
driblets； and in the contrivance for cooling in summer； and for
warming hy the winter sun or winter fire。 These things I keep up
even among my Sabine countrymen； and every day have a full
dinner…party of neighbours； which we prolong as far into the night
as we can with varied conversation。
But you may urge…there is not the same tingling sensation of
pleasure in old men。 No doubt； but neither do they miss it so
much。 For nothing gives you uneasiness which you do not miss。
That was a fine answer of Sophocles to a man who asked him；
when in extreme old age； whether he was still a lover。 〃Heaven
forbid！〃 he replied； 〃I was only too glad to escape from that； as
though from a boorish and insane master。〃 To men indeed who
are keen after such things it may possibly appear disagreeable and
uncomfortable to be without them； but to jaded appetites it is
pleasanter to lack than to enjoy。 However； he cannot be said to
lack who does not want： my contention is that not to want is the
pleasanter thing。
But even granting that youth enjoys these pleasures with more
zest； in the first place； they are insignificant things to enjoy； as I
have said； and it＇ the second place； such as age is not entirely
without； if it does not possess them in profusion。 Just as a man
gets greater pleasure from Ambivius Turpio if seated in the front
row at the theatre than if he was in the last； yet； after all； the man
in the last row does get pleasure； so youth； because it looks at
pleasures at closer quarters； perhaps enjoys itself more； yet even
old age； looking at them from a distance； does enjoy itself well
enough。 Why； what blessings are these…that the soul； having
served its time； so to speak； in the campaigns of desire and
ambition； rivalry and hatred； and all the passions； should live in its
own thoughts； and； as the expression goes； should dwell apart！
Indeed； if it has in store any of what I may call the food of study
and philosophy； nothing can be pleasanter than an old age of
leisure。 We were witnesses to C。 Gallus…a friend of your father's；
Scipio…intent to the day of his death on mapping out the sky and
land。 How often did the light surprise him while still working out
a problem begun during the night！ How often did night find him
busy on what he had begun at dawn！ How he delighted in
predicting for us solar and lunar eclipses long before they
occurred！ Or again in studies of a lighter nature； though still
requiring keenness of intellect； what pleasure Naevius took in his
_Punic War_！ Plautus in his _Truculentus_ and _Pseudolus_！ I
even saw Livius Andronicus； who； having produced a play six
years before I was born…in the consulship of Cento and
Tuditanus…lived till I had become a young man。 Why speak of
Publius Licinius Crassus's devotion to pontifical and civil law； or
of the Publius Scipio of the present time； who within these last few
days has been created Pontifex Maximus？ And yet I have seen all
whom I have mentioned ardent in these pursuits when old men。
Then there is Marcus Cethegus； whom Ennius justly called
〃Persuasion's Marrow 〃…with what enthusiasm did we see him
exert himself in oratory even when quite old！ What pleasures are
there 'n feasts； games； or mistresses comparable to pleasures such
as these？ And they are all tastes； too； connected with learning；
which in men of sense and good education grow with their growth。
It is indeed an honourable sentiment which Solon expresses in a
verse which I have quoted before…that he grew old learning many a
fresh lesson every day。 Than that intellectual pleasure none
certainly can be greater。
15。 I come now to the pleasures of the farmer； in which ＇ take
amazing delight。 These are not hindered by any extent of old age；
and seem to me to approach nearest to' the ideal wise man's life。
For he has to deal with the earth； which never refuses its
obedience； nor ever returns what it has received without usury；
sometimes； indeed； with less； but generally with greater interest。
For my part； however。 it is not merely the thing produced； but the
earth's own force and natural productiveness that delight me。 For
received in its bosom the seed scattered broadcast upon it；
softened and broken up； she first keeps it concealed therein （hence
the harrowing which accomplishes this gets its name from a word
meaning 〃to hide〃）； next； when it has been warmed by her heat
and close pressure； she splits it open and draws from it the
greenery of the blade。 This； supported by the fibres of the root；
little by little grows up； and held upright by its jointed stalk is
enclosed in sheaths； as being still immature。 When it has emerged
from them it produces an ear of corn arranged in order； and is
defended against the pecking of the smaller birds by a regular
palisade of spikes。
Need I mention the starting； planting； and growth of vines？ I can
never have too much of this pleasure…to let you into the secret of
what gives my old age repose and amusement。 For I say nothing
here of the natural force which all things propagated from the
earth possess…the earth which from that tiny grain in a fig； or the
grape…stone in a grape； or the most minute seeds of the other
cereals and plants； produces such huge trunks and boughs。
Mallet…shoots； slips； cuttings； quicksets； layers…are they not enough
to fill anyone with delight and astonishment？ The vine by nature is
apt to fall； and unless supported drops down to the earth； yet in
order to keep itself upright it embraces whatever it reaches with its
tendrils as though they were hands。 Then as it creeps on；
spreading itself in intricate and wild profusion； the dresser's art
prunes it with the knife and prevents it growing a forest of shoots
and expanding to excess in every direction。 Accordingly at the
beginning of spring in the shoots which have been left there
protrudes at each of the joints what is termed an
From this the grape emerges and shows itself； which； swollen by
the juice of the earth and the heat of the sun； is at first very bitter
to the taste； but afterwards grows sweet as it matures； and being
covered with tendrils is never without a moderate warmth； and yet
is able to ward off the fiery heat of the sun。 Can anything be richer
in product or more beautiful to contemplate？ It is not its utility
only； as I said before； that charms me； but the method of its
cultivation and the natural process of its growth： the rows of
uprights； the cross…pieces for the tops of the plants； the tying up of
the vines and their propagation by layers； the pruning； to which I
have already referred； of some shoots； the setting of others。 I need
hardly mention irrigation； or trenching and digging the soil； which
much increase its fertility。 As to the advantages of manuring I have
spoken in my book on agriculture。 The learned Hesiod did not say
a single word on this subject； though he was writing on the
cultivation of the soil； yet Homer； who in my opinion was many
generations earlier； represents Laertes as softening his regret for
his son by cultivating and manuring his farm。 Nor is it only in
cornfields and meadows and vineyards and plantations that a
farmer's life is made cheerful。 There are the garden and the
orchard； the feeding of sheep； the swarms of bees； endless varieties
of flowers。 Nor is it only planting out that charms： there is also
grafting…surely the most ingenious invention ever made by
husbandmen。
i6。 I might continue my list of the delights of country life； but
even what I have said I think is somewhat over long。 However； you
must pardon me； for farming is a very favourite hobby of mine；
and old age is naturally rather garrulous…for I would not be thought
to acquit it of all faults。
Well； it was in a life of this sort that Manius Curius； after
celebrating triumphs over the Samnites； the Sabines； and Pyrrhus；
spent his last days。 When I look at his villa…for it is not far from
my own…I never can enough admire the man's own frugality or the
spirit of the age。 As Curius was sitting at his hearth the Samnites；
who brought him a large sum of gold； were repulsed by him； for it
was not； lie said； a fine thing in his eyes to possess gold； but to rule
those who possessed it。 Could such a high spirit fail to make old
age pleasant？
But to return to farmers…not to wander from my own metier。 Tn
those days there were senators； _i。 e_。 old men； on their farms。 For
L。 Quinctius Cincinnatus was actually at the plough when word
was brought him that he had been named Dictator。 It was by his
order as Dictator； by the way； that C。 Servilius Ahala； the Master
of the Horse； seized and put to death Spurius Maelius when
attempting to obtain royal power。 Curius as well as other old men
used to receive their summonses to attend the Senate in their
farm…houses； from which circumstance the summoners were called
_viatores_ or 〃travellers。〃 Was these men's old age an object of
pity who found their pleasure in the cultivation of the land？ In my
opinion； scarcely any life can be more blessed； not alone from its
utility （for agriculture is beneficial to the whole human race）； but
also as much from the mere pleasure of the thing； to which I have
already alluded； and from the rich abundance and supply of all
things necessary for the food of man and for the worship of the
gods above。 So； as these are objects of desire to certain people； let
us make our peace with pleasure。 For the good and hard…working
farmer's wine…cellar and oil…store； as well as his larder； are always
well filled； and his whole farm…house is richly furnished。 It
abounds in pigs； goats； lambs； fowls； milk； cheese； and。 honey。
Then there is the garden； whi