of being. O that the immortal gods may reserve for you, Scipio, this honor, that you may fully accomplish what your grandfather[1] left to be yet done! This is the thirty-third year since his death; but the memory of such a man all coming years will hold in special honor. He died the year before my censorship, nine years after my consulate, during which he was chosen Consul for the second time. If he had lived till his hundredth year, would he have had reason to regret his old age? He would not, indeed, have sought added distinction by running, or leaping, or hurling the spear, or handling the sword, but by counsel, reason, judgment. Unless these were the characteristics of seniors in age, our ancestors would not have called the supreme council the Senate. Among the Lacedaemonians, too, the corresponding name is given to the magistrates of the highest grade, who are really old men.[2] But if you see fit to read or hear the history of foreign nations, you will find that states have been undermined by young men, maintained and restored by old men.
"Say, how lost you so great a state so soon?"
For this men ask, as it is asked in Naevius's play of The School, and with other answers this is among the first:—
"A brood came of new leaders, foolish striplings."
