Poetical Works of Edmund Waller and Sir John Denham Part 47

Great actions less from courage, strength, and speed, Than from wise counsels and commands proceed; Those arts age wants not, which to age belong, Not heat but cold experience make us strong.

A Consul, Tribune, General, I have been, All sorts of war I have pa.s.s'd through and seen; 140 And now grown old, I seem t'abandon it, Yet to the Senate I prescribe what's fit.

I every day 'gainst Carthage war proclaim, (For Rome's destruction hath been long her aim) Nor shall I cease till I her ruin see, Which triumph may the G.o.ds design for thee; That Scipio may revenge his grandsire's ghost, Whose life at Cannae with great honour lost Is on record; nor had he wearied been With age, if he an hundred years had seen; 150 He had not used excursions, spears, or darts, But counsel, order, and such aged arts, Which, if our ancestors had not retain'd, The Senate's name our council had not gain'd.

The Spartans to their highest magistrate The name of Elder did appropriate: Therefore his fame for ever shall remain, How gallantly Tarentum he did gain, With vig'lant conduct; when that sharp reply He gave to Salinator, I stood by, 160 Who to the castle fled, the town being lost, Yet he to Maximus did vainly boast, 'Twas by my means Tarentum you obtain'd;-- 'Tis true, had you not lost, I had not gain'd.

And as much honour on his gown did wait, As on his arms, in his fifth consulate.

When his colleague Carvilius stepp'd aside, The Tribune of the people would divide To them the Gallic and the Picene field; Against the Senate's will he will not yield; 170 When, being angry, boldly he declares Those things were acted under happy stars, From which the commonwealth found good effects, But otherwise they came from bad aspects.

Many great things of Fabius I could tell, But his son's death did all the rest excel; (His gallant son, though young, had Consul been) His funeral oration I have seen Often; and when on that I turn my eyes, I all the old philosophers despise. 180 Though he in all the people's eyes seem'd great, Yet greater he appear'd in his retreat; When feasting with his private friends at home, Such counsel, such discourse from him did come, Such science in his art of augury, No Roman ever was more learn'd than he; Knowledge of all things present and to come, Rememb'ring all the wars of ancient Rome, Nor only there, but all the world's beside; Dying in extreme age, I prophesied 190 That which is come to pa.s.s, and did discern From his survivors I could nothing learn.

This long discourse was but to let you see That his long life could not uneasy be.

Few like the Fabii or the Scipios are Takers of cities, conquerors in war.

Yet others to like happy age arrive, Who modest, quiet, and with virtue live: Thus Plato writing his philosophy, With honour after ninety years did die. 200 Th' Athenian story writ at ninety-four By Isocrates, who yet lived five years more; His master Gorgias at the hundredth year And seventh, not his studies did forbear: And, ask'd why he no sooner left the stage?

Said he saw nothing to accuse old age.

None but the foolish, who their lives abuse, Age of their own mistakes and crimes accuse.

All commonwealths (as by records is seen) 209 As by age preserved, by youth destroy'd have been.

When the tragedian Naevius did demand, Why did your commonwealth no longer stand?

'Twas answer'd, that their senators were new, Foolish, and young, and such as nothing knew; Nature to youth hot rashness doth dispense, But with cold prudence age doth recompense.

But age, 'tis said, will memory decay, So (if it be not exercised) it may; Or, if by nature it be dull and slow.

Themistocles (when aged) the names did know 220 Of all th'Athenians; and none grow so old, Not to remember where they hid their gold.

From age such art of memory we learn, To forget nothing which is our concern; Their interest no priest nor sorcerer Forgets, nor lawyer, nor philosopher; No understanding memory can want, Where wisdom studious industry doth plant.

Nor does it only in the active live, But in the quiet and contemplative; 230 When Sophocles (who plays when aged wrote) Was by his sons before the judges brought, Because he paid the Muses such respect, His fortune, wife, and children to neglect; Almost condemn'd, he moved the judges thus, 'Hear, but instead of me, my Oedipus.'

The judges hearing with applause, at th'end Freed him, and said, 'No fool such lines had penn'd'.

What poets and what orators can I Recount, what princes in philosophy, 240 Whose constant studies with their age did strive?

Nor did they those, though those did them survive.

Old husbandmen I at Sabinum know, Who for another year dig, plough, and sow.

For never any man was yet so old, But hoped his life one winter more might hold.

Caecilius vainly said, 'Each day we spend Discovers something, which must needs offend;'

But sometimes age may pleasant things behold, And nothing that offends. He should have told 250 This not to age, but youth, who oft'ner see What not alone offends, but hurts, than we.

That, I in him, which he in age condemn'd, That us it renders odious, and contemn'd.

He knew not virtue, if he thought this truth; For youth delights in age, and age in youth.

What to the old can greater pleasure be, Than hopeful and ingenious youth to see, When they with rev'rence follow where we lead, And in straight paths by our directions tread? 260 And e'en my conversation here I see, As well received by you, as yours by me.

'Tis disingenuous to accuse our age Of idleness, who all our powers engage In the same studies, the same course to hold; Nor think our reason for new arts too old.

Solon the sage his progress never ceased, But still his learning with his days increased; And I with the same greediness did seek, As water when I thirst, to swallow Greek; 270 Which I did only learn, that I might know Those great examples which I follow now: And I have heard that Socrates the wise, Learn'd on the lute for his last exercise.

Though many of the ancients did the same, To improve knowledge was my only aim.

THE SECOND PART.

Now int' our second grievance I must break, 277 'That loss of strength makes understanding weak.'

I grieve no more my youthful strength to want, Than, young, that of a bull, or elephant; Then with that force content, which Nature gave, Nor am I now displeased with what I have.

When the young wrestlers at their sport grew warm, Old Milo wept, to see his naked arm; And cried, 'twas dead. Trifler! thine heart and head, And all that's in them (not thy arm) are dead; This folly every looker on derides, To glory only in thy arms and sides.

Our gallant ancestors let fall no tears, Their strength decreasing by increasing years; 290 But they advanced in wisdom every hour, And made the commonwealth advance in power.

But orators may grieve, for in their sides, Rather than heads, their faculty abides; Yet I have heard old voices loud and clear, And still my own sometimes the Senate hear.

When th'old with smooth and gentle voices plead, They by the ear their well-pleased audience lead: Which, if I had not strength enough to do, I could (my Laelius, and my Scipio) 300 What's to be done, or not be done, instruct, And to the maxims of good life conduct.

Cneius and Publius Scipio, and (that man Of men) your grandsire, the great African, Were joyful when the flower of n.o.ble blood Crowded their dwellings, and attending stood, Like oracles their counsels to receive, How in their progress they should act and live.

And they whose high examples youth obeys, 309 Are not despised, though their strength decays; And those decays (to speak the naked truth, Though the defects of age) were crimes of youth.

Intemp'rate youth (by sad experience found) Ends in an age imperfect and unsound.

Cyrus, though aged (if Xenophon say true), Lucius Metellus (whom when young I knew), Who held (after his second consulate) Twenty-two years the high pontificate; Neither of these in body, or in mind, Before their death the least decay did find. 320 I speak not of myself, though none deny To age, to praise their youth the liberty: Such an unwasted strength I cannot boast, Yet now my years are eighty-four almost: And though from what it was my strength is far, Both in the first and second Punic war, Nor at Thermopylae, under Glabrio, Nor when I Consul into Spain did go; But yet I feel no weakness, nor hath length Of winters quite enervated my strength; 330 And I, my guest, my client, or my friend, Still in the courts of justice can defend: Neither must I that proverb's truth allow, 'Who would be ancient, must be early so.'

I would be youthful still, and find no need To appear old, till I was so indeed.

And yet you see my hours not idle are, Though with your strength I cannot mine compare; Yet this centurion's doth your's surmount, Not therefore him the better man I count. 340 Milo when ent'ring the Olympic game, With a huge ox upon his shoulder came.

Would you the force of Milo's body find, Rather than of Pythagoras's mind?

The force which Nature gives with care retain, But when decay'd, 'tis folly to complain.

In age to wish for youth is full as vain, As for a youth to turn a child again.

Simple and certain Nature's ways appear, As she sets forth the seasons of the year. 350 So in all parts of life we find her truth, Weakness to childhood, rashness to our youth; To elder years to be discreet and grave, Then to old age maturity she gave.

(Scipio) you know, how Ma.s.sinissa bears His kingly port at more than ninety years; When marching with his foot, he walks till night; When with his horse, he never will alight; Though cold or wet, his head is always bare; So hot, so dry, his aged members are. 360 You see how exercise and temperance Even to old years a youthful strength advance.

Our law (because from age our strength retires) No duty which belongs to strength requires.

But age doth many men so feeble make, That they no great design can undertake; Yet that to age not singly is applied, But to all man's infirmities beside.

That Scipio, who adopted you, did fall Into such pains, he had no health at all; 370 Who else had equall'd Africa.n.u.s' parts, Exceeding him in all the lib'ral arts: Why should those errors then imputed be To age alone, from which our youth's not free?

Every disease of age we may prevent, Like those of youth, by being diligent.

When sick, such mod'rate exercise we use, 377 And diet, as our vital heat renews; And if our body thence refreshment finds, Then must we also exercise our minds.

If with continual oil we not supply Our lamp, the light for want of it will die; Though bodies may be tired with exercise, No weariness the mind could e'er surprise.

Caecilius the comedian, when of age He represents the follies on the stage, They're credulous, forgetful, dissolute; Neither those crimes to age he doth impute, But to old men, to whom those crimes belong.

l.u.s.t, petulance, rashness, are in youth more strong 390 Than ago, and yet young men those vices hate, Who virtuous are, discreet, and temperate: And so, what we call dotage seldom breeds In bodies, but where nature sow'd the seeds.

There are five daughters, and four gallant sons, In whom the blood of n.o.ble Appius runs, With a most num'rous family beside, Whom he alone, though old and blind, did guide.

Yet his clear-sighted mind was still intent, And to his business like a bow stood bent: 400 By children, servants, neighbours so esteem'd, He not a master, but a monarch seem'd.

All his relations his admirers were, His sons paid rev'rence, and his servants fear: The order and the ancient discipline Of Romans, did in all his actions shine.

Authority kept up old age secures, 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 n.o.ble 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 n.o.ble Tarentine,[1]

Which at Tarentum I long since did hear, When I attended the great Fabius there. 440 Ye G.o.ds, 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 appet.i.te devour: And as all poisons seek the n.o.blest 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 l.u.s.t, murder, treason, avarice, and h.e.l.l 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.

(Though divine Plato thus of pleasures thought, They us, with hooks and baits, like fishes caught.) When Questor, to the G.o.ds in public halls I was the first who set up festivals.

Not with high tastes our appet.i.tes did force, But fill'd with conversation and discourse; Which feasts, Convivial Meetings we did name: Not like the ancient Greeks, who to their shame, 480 Call'd it a Compotation, not a feast; Declaring the worst part of it the best.

Those entertainments I did then frequent Sometimes with youthful heat and merriment: But now I thank my age, which gives me ease From those excesses; yet myself I please With cheerful talk to entertain my guests (Discourses are to age continual feasts), The love of meat and wine they recompense, And cheer the mind, as much as those the sense. 490 I'm not more pleased with gravity among The aged, than to be youthful with the young; Nor 'gainst all pleasures proclaim open war, To which, in age, some nat'ral motions are.

And still at my Sabinum I delight To treat my neighbours till the depth of night.

But we the sense of gust and pleasure want, Which youth at full possesses; this I grant; But age seeks not the things which youth requires, And no man needs that which he not desires. 500 When Sophocles was asked if he denied Himself the use of pleasures, he replied, 'I humbly thank th'immortal G.o.ds, who me From that fierce tyrant's insolence set free.'

But they whom pressing appet.i.tes constrain, Grieve when they cannot their desires obtain.

Young men the use of pleasure understand, As of an object new, and near at hand: Though this stands more remote from age's sight, 509 Yet they behold it not without delight: As ancient soldiers, from their duties eased, With sense of honour and rewards are pleased; So from ambitious hopes and l.u.s.ts released, Delighted with itself our age doth rest.

No part of life's more happy, when with bread Of ancient knowledge and new learning fed; All youthful pleasures by degrees must cease, But those of age even with our years increase.

We love not loaded boards and goblets crown'd, But free from surfeits our repose is sound. 520 When old Fabricius to the Samnites went Amba.s.sador, from Rome to Pyrrhus sent, He heard a grave philosopher maintain, That all the actions of our life were vain Which with our sense of pleasure not conspired; Fabricius the philosopher desired, That he to Pyrrhus would that maxim teach, And to the Samnites the same doctrine preach; Then of their conquest he should doubt no more, Whom their own pleasures overcame before. 530 Now into rustic matters I must fall, Which pleasure seems to me the chief of all.

Age no impediment to those can give, Who wisely by the rules of Nature live.

Earth (though our mother) cheerfully obeys All the commands her race upon her lays.

For whatsoever from our hand she takes, Greater or less, a vast return she makes.