Whose dignity as long as life endures. Something of youth I in old age approve, But more the marks of age in youth I love. 410 Who this observes may in his body find Decrepit age, but never in his mind. The seven volumes of my own reports, Wherein are all the pleadings of our courts; All noble monuments of Greece are come Unto my hands, with those of ancient Rome. The pontificial, and the civil law, I study still, and thence orations draw; And to confirm my memory, at night, What I hear, see, or do, by day, recite. 420 These exercises for my thoughts I find; These labours are the chariots of my mind. To serve my friends, the Senate I frequent, And there what I before digested vent; Which only from my strength of mind proceeds, Not any outward force of body needs; Which, if I could not do, I should delight On what I would to ruminate at night. Who in such practices their minds engage, Nor fear nor think of their approaching age, 430 Which by degrees invisibly doth creep: Nor do we seem to die, but fall asleep. THE THIRD PART. Now must I draw my forces 'gainst that host Of pleasures, which i' th'sea of age are lost. O thou most high transcendant gift of age! Youth from its folly thus to disengage. And now receive from me that most divine Oration of that noble Tarentine,[1] Which at Tarentum I long since did hear, When I attended the great Fabius there. 440 Ye gods, was it man's nature, or his fate, Betray'd him with sweet pleasure's poison'd bait? Which he, with all designs of art or power, Doth with unbridled appetite devour: And as all poisons seek the noblest part, Pleasure possesses first the head and heart; Intoxicating both by them, she finds, And burns the sacred temples of our minds. Furies, which reason's divine chains had bound, (That being broken) all the world confound. 450 Lust, murder, treason, avarice, and hell Itself broke loose, in reason's palace dwell: Truth, honour, justice, temperance, are fled, All her attendants into darkness led. But why all this discourse? when pleasure's rage Hath conquer'd reason, we must treat with age. Age undermines, and will in time surprise Her strongest forts, and cut off all supplies; And join'd in league with strong necessity, Pleasure must fly, or else by famine die. 460 Flaminius, whom a consulship had graced, (Then Censor) from the Senate I displaced; When he in Gaul, a Consul, made a feast, A beauteous courtesan did him request To see the cutting off a pris'ner's head; This crime I could not leave unpunished, Since by a private villany he stain'd That public honour which at Rome he gain'd. Then to our age (when not to pleasures bent) This seems an honour, not disparagement. 470 We not all pleasures like the Stoics hate, But love and seek those which are moderate.