Two Metaphors

Cicero, On Old Age 19.71 (tr. William Armistead Falconer): Therefore, when the young die I am reminded of a strong flame extinguished by a torrent; but when old men die it is as if a fire had gone out without the use of force and of its own accord, after the fuel had been consumed; and, just as apples when they are green are with difficulty plucked from the tree, but when ripe and mellow fall of themselves, so, with the young, death comes as a result of force, while with the old it is the result of ripeness. itaque adulescentes mihi mori sic videntur, ut cum aquae multitudine flammae vis opprimitur, senes autem sic, ut cum sua sponte, nulla adhibita vi, consumptus ignis exstinguitur, et quasi poma ex arboribus, cruda si sunt, vix1 evelluntur, si matura et cocta, decidunt, sic vitam adulescentibus vis aufert, senibus maturitas. J.G.F. Powell ad loc.: Koholet Rabbah 5.11.2: What is the difference between the death of lads and the death of elders? Rabbi Yehuda and Rabbi Neḥemya: Rabbi…