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After the same manner also ought he that is grown
old to use his speech in assemblies, not ever and anon
climbing up to the desk to make harangues, nor always,
like a cock, crowing against those that speak, nor letting
go the reins of the young men's respect to him by contending against them and provoking them, nor breeding in them
a desire and custom of disobedience and unwillingness to
hear him; but he should sometimes pass them by, and let
them strut and brave it against his opinion, neither being
present nor concerning himself much at it, as long as there
is no great danger to the public safety nor any offence
against what is honest and decent. But in such cases, on
the contrary, he ought, though nobody call him, to run
beyond his strength, or to deliver himself to be led or carried in a chair, as historians report of Appius Claudius in
Rome. For he having understood that the senate, after
their army had been in a great fight worsted by Pyrrhus,
were debating about receiving proposals of peace and alliance, could not bear it, but, although he had lost both his
eyes, caused himself to be carried through the common
place straight to the senate house, where entering among
them and standing in the midst, he said, that he had formerly indeed been troubled at his being deprived of his
sight, but that he now wished he had also lost his ears,
rather than to have heard that the Roman senators were
consulting and acting things so ungenerous and dishonorable. And then partly reprehending, and partly teaching
and exalting them, he persuaded them to betake themselves presently to their arms, and fight with Pyrrhus for
the dominion of Italy. And Solon, when the popularity
of Pisistratus was discovered to be only a plot for the obtaining of a tyranny, none daring to oppose or impeach it,
did himself bring forth his arms, and setting them before
[p. 90]
the doors of his house, called out to the people to assist
him; and when Pisistratus sent to ask him what gave him
the confidence to act in that manner, ‘My old age,’ answered he.
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