On Old Age, On Friendship, On Divination

December 15, 45 and January 3, 44 B.C. It was not fully revised, however, until July 17, 44 (Ad Att. xvi. 3).¹

3. TITLE

Cicero once refers to this essay as O Tite, si quid original: "O Titus, if anything" (Ad Att. xiv. 11), from its initial words; once as De senectute original: "On Old Age" (De div. ii. 3), and twice as Cato Maior original: "Cato the Elder" (Lael. 4; Ad Att. xiv. 21). Its full title is Cato Maior de senectute.

4. DEDICATION TO ATTICUS

The Cato Maior and the Laelius are both dedicated to TITUS POMPONIUS ATTICUS, who was born at Rome in 109 B.C. His friendship with Cicero began in childhood and continued until Cicero's death in 43 B.C. From about 88 to 65 B.C., Atticus lived in Athens, devoting himself to the study of Greek philosophy and literature. He wrote Latin verses, which are highly commended by his biographer Cornelius Nepos, Roman Annales original: "Annals", a genealogical history of Roman families and a history in Greek of Cicero's consulship. He died in 32 B.C., at the age of 77, highly esteemed by the Emperor Augustus Caesar and by the leading Romans of his day. More than 400 letters from Cicero to him are extant to prove the rare intimacy and deep affection existing between these two remarkable men.

¹ That the reference in this letter is to Cato Maior and not to De gloria is clear from the context; besides, the De gloria had been sent to Atticus six days before (Ad Att. xvi. 2).