and his strength falls short of his good-will. But from the ministers
of Jupiter, the counsellor, orator, and patron of cities, we expect
not the works of feet and hands, but those of counsel, providence, and
reason,—not such as raises a noise and shouting amongst the people, but
such as has it in understanding, prudent solicitousness, and safety;
by which the derided hoariness and wrinkles appear as witnesses of his
experience, and add to him the help of persuasion, and the glory of
ingenuity. For youth is made to follow and be persuaded, age to guide
and direct; and that city is most secure, where the counsels of the old
and the prowess of the young bear sway. And this of Homer,[38]
A council first of valiant old men
He called in Nestor’s ship,
is wonderfully commended. Wherefore the Pythian Apollo called the
aristocracy or council of noblemen in Lacedaemon, joined as assistants
to their kings, Πρεσβυγενεῖς (or the _ancients_), and Lycurgus named
it plainly Γέροντες (or the _council of old men_); and even to this
day the council of the Romans is called the senate (from _senium_,
signifying _old age_). And as the law places the diadem and crown, so
does Nature the hoariness of the head, as an honorable sign of princely
dignity. And I am of opinion, that γέρας (signifying _an honorable
reward_) and γεραίρειν (signifying _to honor_) continue still in use
amongst the Greeks, being made venerable from the respect paid to old
men, not because they wash in warm water and sleep on softer beds than
others, but because they have as it were a king-like esteem in states
for their prudence, from which, as from a late-bearing tree, Nature
scarcely in old age brings forth its proper and perfect good. Therefore
none of those martial and magnanimous Achaeans blamed that king of
kings, Agamemnon, for praying thus to the Gods,
O that among the Greeks I had but ten
Such counsellors as Nestor;[39]
but they all granted, that not in policy only, but in war also, old age
has great influence;
For one discreet advice is much more worth
Than many hands,[40]
and one rational and persuasive sentence effects the bravest and
greatest of public exploits.
11. Moreover, the regal dignity, which is the perfectest and greatest
of all political governments, has exceeding many cares, labors, and
difficulties; insomuch that Seleucus is reported ever and anon to
have said: If men knew how laborious are only the writing and reading
of so many epistles, they would not so much as stoop to take up a
diadem thrown on the ground. And Philip, when, being about to pitch
his camp in a fair and commodious place, he was told that there was
not there forage for his regiments, cried out: O Hercules, what a life
is ours, if we must live for the conveniency of asses! It is then time
to persuade a king, when he is now grown into years, to lay aside his
diadem and purple, and putting on a coarse coat, with a crook in his
hand, to betake himself to a country life, lest he should seem to act
superfluously and unseasonably by reigning in his old age. But if the
very mentioning such a thing to an Agesilaus, a Numa, or a Darius would
be an indignity; let us not, because they are in years, either drive
away Solon from the council of the Areopagus, or remove Cato out of the
senate; nor yet let us advise Pericles to abandon the democracy. For it
is besides altogether unreasonable and absurd, that he who has in his
youth leaped into the tribunal should, after he has discharged all his
furious ambitions and impetuous passions on the public, when he is come
to that maturity of years which by experience brings prudence, desert
and abandon the commonwealth, having abused it as if it were a woman.
12. Aesop’s fox indeed would not permit the hedge-hog, who offered it,
to take from him the ticks that fed upon his body. For, said he, if
thou remov’st those that are full, other hungry ones will succeed them.
So it is of necessity, that a commonwealth which is always casting
off those who grow old must be replenished with young men, thirsting
after glory and power, and void of understanding in state affairs. For
whence, I pray, should they have it, if they shall have been neither
disciples nor spectators of any ancient statesman? For if treatises of
navigation cannot make those skilful pilots who have not often in the
stern been spectators of the conflicts against the waves, winds, and
pitchy darkness of the night,
When the poor trembling seaman longs to see
The safety-boding twins, Tyndaridae;
how should a raw young man take in hand the government of a city, and
rightly advise both the senate and the people, having only read a book
or written an exercise in the Lyceum concerning policy, though he
has seldom or never stood by the reins or helm, when grave statesmen
and old commanders have in debating alleged both their experiences
and fortunes, whilst he was wavering on both sides, that so he might
with dangers and transacting of affairs gain instruction? This is not
to be said. But if it were for nothing else, yet ought an old man to
manage in public affairs, that he may instruct and teach those who
are young. For as those who teach children reading and music do, by
pronouncing and by singing notes and tunes before them, lead and bring
on their scholars; so an old statesman, not by speaking and dictating
exteriorly, but by acting and administering public affairs, directs
and breeds up a young one, who is by his deeds joined with his words
interiorly formed and fashioned. For he who is exercised after this
manner, not amongst the disputes of nimble tongued sophisters, as in
the wrestling-schools and anointings, where there is not the least
appearance of any danger, but really, and as it were in the Olympian
and Pythian games, will tread in his teacher’s steps,