What then! may some one say; do we not hear the soldier in the comedy affirming, Henceforth my gray hairs exempt me from wars? Yes indeed, my friend, it is altogether so; for it becomes the servants of Mars to be young and vigorous, as managing War, and war’s toilsome works; in which, though an helmet may also hide the old man’s gray hairs, Yet inwardly his limbs are all decayed, and his strength falls short of his good-will. But from the ministers of Jupiter, the counsellor, orator, and patron of cities, we expect not the works of feet and hands, but those of counsel, providence, and reason,—not such as raises a noise and shouting amongst the people, but such as has it in understanding, prudent solicitousness, and safety; by which the derided hoariness and wrinkles appear as witnesses of his experience, and add to him the help of persuasion, and the glory of ingenuity. For youth is made to follow and be persuaded, age to guide and direct; and that city is most secure, where the counsels of the old and the prowess of the young bear sway. And this of Homer, A council first of valiant old men He called in Nestor’s ship, is wonderfully commended. Wherefore the Pythian Apollo called the aristocracy or council of noblemen in Lacedaemon, joined as assistants to their kings, Πρεσβυγενεῖς (or the ancients), and Lycurgus named it plainly Γέροντες (or the council of old men); and even to this day the council of the Romans is called the senate (from seniunm, signifying old age). And as the law places the diadem and crown, so does Nature the hoariness of the head, as an honorable sign of princely dignity. And I am of opinion, that γέρας (signifying an honorable reward) and γεραίρειν (signifying to honor) continue still in use amongst the Greeks, being made venerable from the respect paid to old men, not because they wash in warm water and sleep on softer beds than others, but because they have as it were a king-like esteem in states for their prudence, from which, as from a late-bearing tree, Nature scarcely in old age brings forth its proper and perfect good. Therefore none of those martial and magnanimous Achaeans blamed that king of kings, Agamemnon, for praying thus to the Gods, O that among the Greeks I had but ten Such counsellors as Nestor; but they all granted, that not in policy only, but in war also, old age has great influence; For one discreet advice is much more worth Than many hands, and one rational and persuasive sentence effects the bravest and greatest of public exploits.