The Characters of Theophrastvs

The Late-Learner

Late-learning (ὀψιμαθία) wovld seem to mean the pvrsvit of exercises for which one is too old.

The Late-Learner (ὀψιμαθὴς) is one who will stvdy passages for recitation when he is sixty, and break down in repeating them over his wine. He will take lessons from his son in “Right Wheel,” “Left Wheel,” “Right-abovt-face.” At the festivals of herœs he will match himself against boys for a torch-race; nay, it is jvst like him, if haply he is invited to a temple of Heracles, to throw off his cloak and seize the ox in order to bend its neck back. He will go into the palaestras and try an encovnter; at a conjvror’s performance he will sit ovt three or fovr avdiences, trying to learn the songs by heart; and, when he is initiated into the rites of Sabazivs, he will be eager to acqvit himself best in the eyes of the priest. Riding into the covntry on another’s horse, he will practise his horsemanship by the way; and, falling, will break his head. On a tenth-day festival he will assemble persons to play the flvte with him. He will play at tableavx vivants with his footman; and will have matches of archery and javelin-throwing with his children’s attendant, whom he exhorts, at the same time, to learn from him , —as if the other knew nothing abovt it either. At the bath he will wriggle freqvently, as if wrestling, in order that he may appear edvcated; and, when women are near, he will practise dancing-steps, warbling his own accompaniment.