After speaking of the Gods and our country, what person deserves
to be mentioned more than, or prior to our parents? Hence it is
requisite that we should discourse about them. He, therefore, will
not err who says, that they are certain secondary and terrestrial
Gods; since on account of their proximity to us, they are, if it
be lawful so to speak, more to be honoured by us than the Gods
themselves[45]. But it is necessary, previously, to assume, that the
only measure of gratitude towards them is a perpetual and unremitting
promptitude to repay the benefits we have received from them; since,
though we should perform many things for their sake, yet they will be
far less than what they deserve. At the same time, also, it may be
said, that these our deeds are nearly theirs, because they produced
us by whom they are performed. As therefore, if the works of Phidias
and of other artists should themselves produce certain other things,
we should not hesitate to say that these latter, also, were the works
of the artists; thus, likewise, it may be justly said, that our
performances are the deeds of our parents; through whom we likewise
derived our existence. Hence, in order that we may easily apprehend
the duties which we owe them, it will be requisite to have this
sentence perpetually at hand, that our parents should be considered
by us as the images of the Gods; and by Jupiter, as domestic Gods,
our benefactors, kindred, creditors, lords, and most stable friends.
For they are most stable images of the Gods, possessing a similitude
to them beyond the power of art to effect. For they are the guardian
Gods of the house, and live with us; and besides this, they are
our greatest benefactors, imparting to us things of the greatest
consequence; and, by Jupiter, bestowing on us not only what we
possess, but also such things as they wish to give us, and for which
they themselves pray. Farther still, they are likewise our nearest
kindred, and the causes of our alliance with others. They are, also,
creditors of things of the most honourable nature, and only repay
themselves by taking what we shall be benefited by returning. For
what gain can be so great to a child as piety and gratitude to his
parents? They are most justly, too, our lords: for of what can we
be in a greater degree the possession, than of those through whom
we exist? Moreover, they are perpetual and spontaneous friends and
auxiliaries; at all times, and in every circumstance, affording us
assistance. Since, however, the name of parent is the most excellent
of all the before-mentioned appellations, according to which we
also denominate the Gods themselves; something else must also be
added to this conception; viz. that children should be persuaded
that they dwell in their father’s house, as if they were certain
ministers and priests in a temple, appointed and consecrated for this
purpose by nature herself; who entrusted a reverential attention to
their parents to their care. Since of attentive regard, therefore,
one kind pertains to the body, but another to the soul, we shall
readily perform what each of these requires, if we are willing to
do that which reason persuades us to do. But reason persuades us to
pay less attention to the body than to the soul; though attention
to the former is necessary. We should, therefore, procure for our
parents liberal food, and such as is adapted to the imbecility of
old age; and besides this, a bed, sleep, unction, a bath, garments;
and in short, all the necessaries which the body requires, that they
may never at any time experience the want of any of these; in thus
acting, imitating their care about our nurture, when we were infants.
Hence, we should compel ourselves to employ a certain prophetic
attention to them, in order to discover what they particularly desire
of things pertaining to the body, though they should not indicate
the object of their wish[46]. For they divined many things respecting
us, when we frequently signified by inarticulate and mournful sounds,
that we were in want of certain things, but were unable to indicate
clearly the subjects of our wants. So that our parents, by the
benefits which they formerly conferred upon us, become the preceptors
to us of what we ought to bestow on them.
With respect to the souls of our parents, we should, in the first
place, procure for them hilarity; which will be especially obtained,
if we are conversant with them by night and by day, unless something
prevents us, walking, being anointed, and living together with them.
For as to those who are undertaking a long journey, the converse of
their families and friends is most delightful, after the manner of
those that accompany a solemn procession; thus, also, to parents
who are now verging to the grave, the sedulous and unremitting
attention of their children is most acceptable, and most dear.
Moreover, if at any time they should act wrong, which frequently
happens to be the case with many, and especially with those who have
been educated in a more vulgar manner; they should be corrected
indeed, yet not by Jupiter with reprehension, as we are accustomed
to do to our inferiors or equals, but as it were, with exhortation;
and not as if they had erred through ignorance, but as if they had
committed an oversight, through inattention; and that if they had
attended, they would by no means have erred. For admonitions, and
especially if they are vehement, are grievous to those that are
old. Hence, it is necessary, that the remedy of their oversight
should be accompanied by mild exhortation, and a certain elegant
artifice. Children, likewise, increase the joy of their parents, by
performing for them servile offices, such as washing their feet,
making their bed, and waiting on them after the manner of servants.
For they are not a little delighted, when they receive necessary
servile attentions from the most dear hands of their children, and
make use of their ministrant works. But parents will be especially
gratified when their children are seen to honour those whom they love
and very much esteem. On which account, it is fit that children
should affectionately love the kindred of their parents, and pay a
proper attention to them, and in a similar manner should love the
friends of, and all those that are dear to their parents. And this
being admitted, we shall be enabled to collect many other duties of
children to their parents, which are neither small nor casual. For
since our parents are gratified by the attention which we pay to
those whom they love, but we are in a most eminent degree beloved by
our parents, it is evident that we shall very much please them, by
paying a proper attention to ourselves.