1SCIPIO. 1Often, together with Gaius Laelius here, I am accustomed to wonder, Marcus Cato, both at your outstanding and perfect wisdom in all other matters and above all at this, that I have never noticed old age being burdensome to you, though it is so hateful to most old men that they say they bear a weight heavier than Etna. 1CATO. 1It is no very difficult thing, Scipio and Laelius, that you seem to wonder at. 1For those who have no resource within themselves for living well and happily, every age is burdensome; 1but those who seek all good things from themselves can think nothing evil that the necessity of nature brings.
1In this class first of all is old age, which all men wish to reach, and yet, once they have reached it, they find fault with it; 1so great is the inconsistency and perversity of folly. 1They say that it creeps upon them sooner than they had thought. 1First, who forced them to think falsely? 1For how does old age creep upon youth more quickly than youth upon childhood? 1Next, how would old age be less burdensome to them if they were living their eight-hundredth year than if they were living their eightieth? 1For past time, however long, once it had flowed away, could not soothe a foolish old age with any consolation.
5Therefore, if you are accustomed to wonder at my wisdom — and I wish it were worthy of your opinion and of my surname — I am wise in this, that I follow nature, the best of guides, as a god, and obey her; 5and it is not likely that, when the other parts of life have been well laid out, the last act has been neglected by her as if by a lazy poet. 5But still there had to be something final and, as with the berries of trees and the fruits of the earth, something withered, as it were, and ready to fall in its timely ripeness, which the wise man must bear with a calm mind.
5For what else is it to war with the gods after the manner of the Giants but to fight against nature? 6LAELIUS. 6And yet, Cato, you will do us a very great kindness — I may promise for Scipio too — if, since we hope, or at least certainly wish, to become old men, we learn from you long beforehand by what methods we can most easily bear the growing weight of age. 6CATO. 6I will indeed, Laelius, especially if, as you say, it is going to be welcome to each of you. 6LAELIUS. 6We do indeed wish, Cato, unless it is troublesome, to see what sort of place it is that you have reached, as though you had completed some long road which we too must set out upon.