Il Novellino

LXVIII Of a question which a young man proposed to Aristotle

Edward Storer translation

Aristotle was a great philosopher.

There came to him one day a young man with a singular question. Master, he said, I have seen a thing which much displeases my mind. I have seen an old man ripe in years doing wanton follies. Now if the cause of such things be age, I have decided to die young. Therefore for the love of God give me counsel, if you can.

Notes in this chapter

Note 1 · This passage is obscure and defective. ↑Note 2 · Aristotle replied: I cannot do other than tell you that when the nature of man grows old, the good natural heat changes into weakness, while