great author, as Cicero himself obferved when he deigned to be engaged in an office of the fame nature: Non verbum pro verbo (Jays be) neceffe habui reddere, fed genus omnium verborum vimNon enim ea me annumerare lectori putavi oportere, fed tamquam appendere. *

que fervavi.

This it seemed proper to premise with refpect to the verfion: what farther appeared necessary with regard to the original, will be found in the remarks annexed.

*Cic de opt. gen. Orat. 5.

CAT

OR, AN

0:

ESSAY ON OLD-AGE.

To TITUS POMPONIUS ATTICUS."

AH

'H could my numbers charm thy anxious breaft,

And lull the forrows of thy foul to reft; Would't thou not deem the poet's lenient lay, More worth than fums of countless gold could pay ?"

For well may I addrefs you, my friend, in thofe lines of the honest bard,

Far lefs for wealth than probity renowned,”

with which he opens his poem infcribed to Flamininus. 2 I am fenfible at the fame time that when the poet adds,

"Each rifing fun beholds thy ceaseless grief, "And night returning brings thee no relief,"

he holds a language by no means applicable to you. I perfectly well know indeed, the moderation and equanimity you poffefs; and that you have derived from Athens, not only an honourable addition to your name, but that calm and philofophic fpirit which fo peculiarly distinguishes your character. 3 . Nevertheless, I have reafon to believe that the present unpleafing posture of public affairs, fometimes interrupts your tranquillity of mind; as it frequently, I confefs, difcompofes my own. 4 It is not, however, my prefent purpose to offer you any confolation upon

that

a

that fubject: the cafe requires a very powerful application; and I will referve what I have to fay upon it to fome future opportunity. My defign at this time is only to communicate to you a few reflections concerning old-age the infirmities whereof, we are now beginning to feel, or at leaft are advancing faft towards them: and I am defirous of rendering the burthen as eafy as poffible both to you and to myself. I am well convinced indeed that as you have hitherto borne its weight, so you will continue to fupport its increasing preffure, with the fame good fenfe and composure of mind which you have fo happily discovered upon every other important occafion. Nevertheless, having refolved to publish fome reflections upon the subject; I determined to address them to you, who have a peculiar claim

a

B 2

The friendship between Cicero and Atticus having commenced at fchool, they were nearly of the fame age, both of them at this time about the grand climateric. Vid. Corn. Nep. in vit. At.

claim to this pledge of my affection : and it is a prefent to which we may both of us have recourfe with equal. advantage. For myfelf at least, the confiderations I now lay before you have had fo happy an effect on my own mind, as not only to reconcile me to all the inconveniencies of old-age, but to render it even an agreeable state to me.

Can we fufficiently then express our sense of the obligations we owe to Philosophy, who thus inftructs her disciples how to pass through every fucceffive period of human life, with equal fatisfaction and complacency? The advantages to be derived from her precepts in other important fituations, is a topic I have frequently had occafion to expatiate upon; and shall often perhaps again refume: but in the papers I now fend you, my purpofe is to confider thofe advantages with refpect only to our declining years. To have put these reflections into the mouth of an imaginary character, like the Tithonus of Arifto,s would have made but little im

preffion