sulship of Cento and Tuditanus, and continued his compositions till I was grown up towards the state of manhood. What need I mention 76 Licinius Crassus's studies in the pontifical and civil law? Or those of Publius Scipio,* now lately, made supreme pontiff? And all these I have seen, not only diverting themselves in old age, but eagerly pursuing the several studies they affected. With what unwearied diligence did we behoid " Marcus Cethegus, whom Ennius justly enough called the soul of persuasion, applying himself at a great age to oratory, and th practice of pleading? Upon all which let me ask you, what gratifications of sense, what voluptuous enjoyments in feasting, wine, women, or play, and the like, are to be compared with those noble entertainments? Those pure and serene pleasures of the mind, the rational fruits of knowlege and learning, that grafted on a good natural disposition, cultivated by a liberal education, and trained up in prudence and virtue, are so far from being palled in old age, that they rather continually improve, and grow on the possessor. Excellent therefore was that expression of Solon, which I mentioned before, when he said, that daily learning something, he grew old: for the pleasures arising from such a course, namely those of the mind, must be allowed incomparably to exceed all others.

But I am now come to speak to the pleasures of a country life, with which I am infinitely delighted. To these old age never is an obstruction. It is the life of nature, and appears to me the exactest plan of that which a wise man ought to lead. Here our whole business is with the earth, the common parent of us all, which is never found refractory, never denies what is required of it, nor fails to return back what is committed to it with advantage, sometimes indeed with less, but generally with a very large interest Nor is it the view of this increase only which yields delight, but there arises yet a greater from a contemplation of the powers of the earth, and vegetation for to

* Scipio Nassica, see note 70.

me it is most affecting to behold, how, when the soil is duly labored and mellowed, and receives after harrowing the scattered seed into its genial bosom, warmed with due. heat and moisture, it there cherishes it in its vital embraces; and then opening, shoots it upwards, and rears it into a verdant blade; which taking fast hold with its fibrous roots below, springs up into a jointed stalk, preparing new seed again in its cells, which gradually enlarges from the ear, with the grain exactly ranged in decent rows; and is secured with awns, to defend it from the rapine of the little birds, that would otherwise assail and make prize of it. But why should I enter into particulars, or observe upon the first planting, shooting, and growth of the delicious vine? I should never have done, if I indulged myself in representing at large the pleasure I take in these solaces of my old age. Nor must I dwell on that plastic power seen in all the productions of the earth, which from so small a grain in the fig, or the little stone of a grape, or from the minute seeds of others, raises up such bulky trunks with their shady heads and extended branches. But who can consider the variety in the methods of propagation, by shoots, sprouts, loppings, quicksets and slips, without being seized at the same time with admiration and delight? The vine, that naturally runs low, and cannot rear itself without a support, is for this end provided with tendrils, by which, like so many hands, it lays hold on every thing it meets with, that may raise it; and by these aids expands, and becomes so luxuriant, that to prevent its running out into useless wood, the dresser is obliged to prune off its superfluous wandering branches: after which, from the standing joints, in the ensuing spring, the little bud, called the gem, pushes out the new shoot, whereon the tender young grape is formed; which gradually swelling by nourishment from the earth, is at first austere to the taste, but, guarded with leaves around, that it may neither want due warmth, nor suffer by rays too scorching, it ripens by the sun's enlivening beams, and acquires that delicious sweetness and beautiful form, that equally pleases both the taste

and eye; and then enriches the world with that noble liquor, the advantages of which I need not name. Yet it is not the sense of these, nor of all the advantages of husban dry, as I have said, that so nearly affects me, as the pleasure I find in their culture alone: such as ranging the vines, and their supporting perches in exact and even rows, in arching and binding their tops, lopping off the woody and barren, and training and encouraging the fruitful tendrils, to supply every vacancy; and then contemplating the beauty and order with the process of nature in the whole. What need I mention the pleasure of improving the more barren grounds, and rendering them fruitful, by bringing down water in refreshing rills, on the over-dry; and as carefully carrying it off from the wet and sunken, or by digging, and repeatedly trenching, to render them mellow? Or of the advantages of manure, of which I treated in my 78 book of husbandry, though the learned " Hesiod, amongst his rules on that subject, has not one word of it. And yet Homer, whom I take to have lived some ages before him, makes old Laertes diverting the thoughts of his son Ulysses's absence, by rustic labors and dunging the fields. But besides the pleasures already mentioned, from corn-fields, meads, and vines, there is yet a vast fund for others, from orchards, cattle, bees, and gardens, with the endless varieties of beautiful flowers, that yield an entertainment ever new and ever delighting for in orchards there arises a pleasure not only from the ranges of fruit-bearing trees, all answering to the view in just and exact order; but above all, from their improvement by grafting; the finest invention, in my opinion, in husbandry.

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I could with pleasure further proceed in enumerating many other recreations, and delightful entertainments the county yields; but I am sensible I have dwelt rather too long on these already. You will however excuse me, I hope, and impute it in part to the pleasure the agreeableness of the subject yields me; and in some part also, if you please, to the talkativeness of old age; a fault that, I must acknowlege, even while I am defending it, most com

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monly attends it. But thus employed Manius Curius after he had triumphed over the Samnites and Sabines and Pyrrhus, spent his old age here in my neighboring farm; which as often as I view, I am seized with wonder, but can never sufficiently admire, either the great moderation of the man, or the regular discipline of his time. Curius,

as he sat one evening by his fire-side, met with a tempting encounter: the Samnites, for whom he was too hard in the field, in hopes of softening him, sent him a large present of gold; but he with a brave disdain rejecting it, sent back the messengers with this answer only, that he wanted none of their gold, but thought it much more glorious to command those who valued it, than to possess it himself. Now, could so great a soul fail, think you, of making his years. easy to himself, and agreeable at any age? But to return to a country-life, that I may not quit the subject I am upon, I mean, my old age: in those days the senators, that is, the senes, or old men of the state, dwelt in the country, and lived on their farms, L. Quinctius Cincinnatus was at his plow, when he was called upon to take upon him the supreme office of dictator. This also was he, by whose command his master of the horse, Servilius Hala, put Spurius Mælius to death, for aspiring to sovereign power, and to make himself absolute in the city. So Curius, and many others of those brave men, were called from time to time off their farms, to take upon them the highest trusts and charges in the state or war: and from hence it is, that the serjeants or messengers that wait on the senate, first had, and to this day retain their name of viatores, or way-men. Now, can we imagine that those great men found themselves distressed by old age, while they would thus in the country give themselves up to all the variety of delightful employments, that the business of it either furnishes or requires? As for me, I must own, I think it impossible that any other kind of life whatever can exceed it. For besides that mankind cannot possibly subsist without it, there is not only a vast pleasure derived from viewing and considering the particulars I have mentioned, but it also fills the heart with joy

to behold, how by proper care and management every thing is produced in abundance, that can be subservient either to the support and real necessities of human life, or even to the pleasures and comforts of it, as well as what is required for the service of the immortal gods. Those therefore who make pleasure their aim, and think there is no other good in life, may here effectually find it. For can there be a greater than to see our labors crowned with full. granaries, our cellars with wine, oil, honey, and all kind of provisions? Our dairies with cheese; and plenty of pigs, kids, lambs, and fowl around us? Our gardens also are, as the country people call it, a lasting flitch, from whence they may constantly cut, and it as constantly supplies them. Here also at suitable times, are our labors seasoned with the agreeable and innocent diversions of hunting and fowling; to say nothing of the delightful prospect of meadows in their verdure, and groves of planted trees; as well as those of vines and olives that have been mentioned already. But I shall wind up, with observing, that as there is nothing more profitable, so there is not in nature, in my opinion, any thing more beautiful or affecting, than to behold a plantation, with all the parts of it, in complete and perfect order. And this, as I have said, is a pleasure, that old age is so far from being incapable of enjoying, that it is by a kind of impulse of nature solicited and drawn to it. For no where else can it meet with such suitable entertainments. Here the cool shades and refreshing breezes, with purling streams, invite abroad to pass the summer's sultry heats; and here good rousing fires furnish large provision against the colder blasts of winter. To others therefore we can freely resign all other diversions, in arms and horses, with their military exercises, and all their accoutrements, their tennis, and every other sport; only, if they please, they may leave us checquers and tables; or even these also we can give up; since old age can be very easy and very happy without such trifling amusements.

All the writings of Xenophon are on many accounts highly useful; and I would advise you diligently to read