Henry Dandolo was eighty-four at his election, (A.D. 1192), and ninety-seven at his death (A.D. 1205). See the Observations of Ducange sur Villehardouin, No. 204. But this extraordinary longevity is not observed by the original writers, nor does there exist another example of a hero near a hundred years of age. Theophrastus might afford an instance of a writer of ninety-nine; but instead of
(Prooem. ad Character.),
I am much inclined to read
with his last editor Fischer, and the first thoughts of Casaubon.
It is scarcely possible that the powers of the mind and body
should support themselves till such a period of life.