γῆρας … κατθανεῖν: for the inf. without art. co-ordinated with another noun cp. 10.173 ἐπὶ ξυροῦ ἵσταται ἀκμῆς ἢ μάλα λυγρὸς ὄλεθρος Ἀχαιοῖς ἠὲ βιῶναι.