<P_15>

<heading>

<font> PROSA </font> IV . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,15.3)

</heading>

Dost thou perceive these things , said she , (BOETHPR-E3-P1,15.5)

and do they sink into thy Mind ? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,15.6)

Art thou altogether unqualified and unfit to receive these Precepts ?
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,15.7)

Why dost thou weep ? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,15.8)

Why do thy Tears overflow ? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,15.9)

Speak , (BOETHPR-E3-P1,15.10)

conceal not thy Thoughts . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,15.11)

And if thou dost expect Help from the Physician , truly discover thy
Distemper . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,15.12)

Then I , in some measure recovering my self , spoke thus to her : Need
my Sorrows then be repeated ; (BOETHPR-E3-P1,15.13)

and do not the Severities acted by Fortune against me , appear enough
of themselves , without these Admonitions ? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,15.14)

Doth not the very Face and Horror of this Place move thee ?
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,15.15)

Is this the Library which thou didst choose for thy particular
Apartment in my House ? In <P_16> which , so often sitting with me ,
thou didst skilfully read upon all Divine and Human Learning ?
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,16.16)

Was this my Habit ? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,16.17)

Was this my Look , when with thee I penetrated into the Secrets of
Nature ? when thou traced'st out to me the several Motions of the Stars
? when thou didst shew me how to form my Life and manners by Divine
Rule and Order ? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,16.18)

And are these at last the Rewards of my Obedience to thee ?
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,16.19)

Certainly thou didst deliver this Sentence as an Eternal Sanction by
the Mouth of <font> Plato </font> , viz. <font> That those
Commonwealths are most happy , who are govuerned by Philosophers , or
by those who study to be so . </font> (BOETHPR-E3-P1,16.20)

By the same Person also thou didst advise wise and discreet Men to take
upon them the Government of their Country , lest they refusing it ,
impious and unworthy Subjects should exert themselves , and oppress the
good and honest Citizens . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,16.21)

Therefore I following this great Authority , have desir'd to reduce to
practice , in the Management of publick Business , what I <P_17> learnt
from thee in our grateful Retirement . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,17.22)

And thou and that God who infuseth thee into the Minds of wise Men ,
may witness for me , that I had no other end in aspiring to the
Magistracy , than that one , of doing good to all , and protecting the
Vertuous and Just . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,17.23)

Hence was I look'd upon by evil Men as their common Enemy .
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,17.24)

Hence sprung Dissention and Discord with them ; (BOETHPR-E3-P1,17.25)

but still the Clearness of my Conscience made me despise the Anger of
the most powerful , when I acted in the Defence of Justice and Right .
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,17.26)

How oft have I oppos'd <font> Conigast </font> , who taking Advantage
of their Inabilities , would have oppress'd and ground the Faces of the
Poor ? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,17.27)

How oft have I withstood <font> Triguilla </font> , the Steward of the
King's Household , and hinder'd him from bringing to effect the many
Injuries and Wrongs which he had hopefully projected and begun ?
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,17.28)

<P_18>

How oft have I protected , with the Peril of my Authority , those
unhappy People , whom the lawless Avarice of the Barbarians did vex
with many Calumnies ? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,18.30)

No Man ever drew me aside from the Paths of Right to those of Injustice
: (BOETHPR-E3-P1,18.31)

I griev'd no less than the poor Sufferers , when I saw the Fortunes of
Provincial Subjects torn by the Rapine of private Officers , and them
oppress'd with publick Taxes . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,18.32)

When , in the Time of a severe Famine , the whole province of <font>
Campania </font> had like to have been ruin'd by an Imposition upon the
People , which pass'd under the Name of a <font> Coemption </font> , I
, the <P_19> King being present at the Debate , contested with his
Captain of the Guards , on the Behalf of the Publick :
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,19.33)

And at last I prevailed , so that the heavy Impost was not exacted .
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,19.34)

I forced <font> Paulinus </font> , a Consular Man , out of the very
Jaws of those greedy Officers of the Palace , whose Ambition and Hope
had already devour'd him and his Estate . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,19.35)

When <font> Albinus </font> , who had been Consul also , was to have
been cut off by a false Accusation , I placed my self betwixt him and
<font> Cyprian </font> his Accuser , (BOETHPR-E3-P1,19.36)

and oppos'd my self to the Violence of his utmost Hate and Malice .
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,19.37)

$Do $n't {TEXT:Don't} you think that I have got my self Enemies more
than enough ? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,19.38)

I ought certainly , amongst the rest of Mankind , to be more assur'd
and safe , who for the Love of Justice , have forfeited all my Hopes at
the Court , and gain'd nothing but the Envy and Hate of those who are
powerful there . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,19.39)

But , behold upon the Accusation of <P_20> what Men I now suffer !
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,20.40)

<font> Basilius </font> is one of them , who being lately , for his
Offences , dismiss'd from the King's Service , and oppress'd with Debt
, is forc'd , by his Necessities , to become my Accuser .
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,20.41)

The Credit of the other two , <font> Opilio </font> and <font>
Gandentius </font> , is so infamous , <P_21> that lately , for their
many Crimes and Cheats , they were condemned to Banishment by the King
: (BOETHPR-E3-P1,21.42)

and being unwilling to obey the Sentence , presently took Sanctuary ;
of which when he had notice , he gave Command , that if they did not
leave the City of <font> Ravenna </font> by such a Day , they should ,
with all Disgrace , be driven out of it , with Marks branded on their
Foreheads . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,21.43)

Now judg if there can be any Addition to this my severe usage ;
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,21.44)

for upon that very Day on which this Execution was order'd to be done
upon them , the Accusation was receiv'd against me , from the Mouths of
these villanous Informers . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,21.45)

What is then to be done ? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,21.46)

Have my <P_22> many irksome Labours and Enquiries after Wisdom
deliver'd this ? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,22.47)

or because my Condemnation was before determined , shall it qualify
these Men to be my Accusers ? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,22.48)

Is not Fortune ashamed ; (BOETHPR-E3-P1,22.49)

if not of the Accusation of injur'd Innocence , at least of the
Baseness and Infamy of its Accusers ? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,22.50)

But perhaps you may ask , what Crime is objected to me ?
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,22.51)

I am accused for designing to preserve the Senate .
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,22.52)

Would you know the Manner and Circumstances of my Treason ?
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,22.53)

Why , $'t $is {TEXT:'tis} urg'd , that I hinder'd an Informer from
carrying Proofs to the King , which should have declared the whole
Senate to have been guilty of Treason ? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,22.54)

And now , O my Mistress ! what think you ? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,22.55)

shall I deny the Crime that I may not be a Reproach to thee ?
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,22.56)

No , it was always my Desire to preserve that August Body in its
Splendor , and in its just Rights , (BOETHPR-E3-P1,22.57)

and it shall be so to the last Moment of my Life .
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,22.58)

Shall I confess it ? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,22.59)

Then the pretended Endeavour of putting a stop to the Accusers will
cease . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,22.60)

Shall I own it a Crime to wish the Safety of that Assembly ?
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,22.61)

Indeed its uniust Decrees against me would make it look not to be so .
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,22.62)

But Folly , which always flatters it self , $can $not {TEXT:cannot}
change the Merit of things . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,22.63)

Nor do I think it lawful , according to the Judgment of <font> Socrates
</font> , either to hide the Truth , or own a Falsity .
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,22.64)

But however that Matter may be , I leave it to be weighed by you , and
the Judgment <P_23> of the Wise , having both-2 by my Tongue and Pen
declared the whole Truth and Series of my Misfortune , and transmitted
it to indifferent and unprejudiced Posterity . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,23.65)

To what purpose should I speak of those forged Letters , in which I am
accused , to hope for the Restauration of the Roman Liberty ?
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,23.66)

I could easily enough have detected the Falseness of that Contrivance ,
even by the Confessions of my Accusers , <paren> which is of greatest
Weight in all such Affairs </paren> if I might have been allowed to
have made use of them . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,23.67)

But what Liberty now can we ever hope to have ? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,23.68)

Would to Heaven we might expect any ! (BOETHPR-E3-P1,23.69)

then I had answer'd them in the Words of <font> Canius </font> ; who ,
when he was accused by <font> C. Caesar </font> , Son to <font>
Germanicus </font> , of being privy to a Conspiracy against his Life ,
told him , <font> If I had known of such a Design , thou hadst never
known it . </font> In which thing , Sorrow and my Misfortunes have not
so dulled my Senses , that I should complain of the Contrivances of
wicked Men against the Vertuous . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,23.70)

But I wonder that according to their Hopes they should have effected
them ; (BOETHPR-E3-P1,23.71)

for the Will to do Ill proceeds from the Defects of humane Nature :
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,23.72)

But it is prodigious , that every Contrivance of ill Men should prevail
against the Innocent , even when the Eye of Providence beholds it .
Whence it was that one of thy <P_24> Disciples properly enough asked ,
If there be a God , whence then proceeds Evil ? If there be none ,
whence Good ? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,24.73)

Be it so , that it is natural and fit enough that ill men , who thirst
after the Blood of the Good , and of the whole Senate , should also
promote my Destruction , who have always defended both against their
Attempts . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,24.74)

But have I deserv'd this Return from the Hands of the Senate ? <font>
&c </font> . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,24.75)

Thou mayst remember , I imagine , because always when I did or said any
thing , thou wert present , and didst direct me . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,24.76)

Thou mayst remember , I say , when at <font> Verona </font> , the King
, greedy and desirous of our common Ruine , endeavour'd to have thrown
that Treason , for which <font> Albinus </font> was accused , on the
whole Body of the Senate ; how I then , contemning any Hazard which I
might run , did vindicate and defend that Order . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,24.77)

Thou knowest this to be Truth , and that I never was accustom'd to
value or praise my self or my Actions : (BOETHPR-E3-P1,24.78)

for whosoever feels a Name , by boasting of what he hath done , will
lessen , in a great measure , the Pleasures of a self-approving
Conscience . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,24.79)

But now see the Event and Success of my Innocence ,
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,24.80)

for instead of receiving the Reward of true and steddy <P_25> Vertue ,
I undergo the Punishment of Villany and Impiety ! (BOETHPR-E3-P1,25.81)

What Judges were there ever , who even upon the manifest Proofs of a
Crime , did so unanimously agree in Cruelty , that neither-7 the
Considerations of humane Nature , which necessarily errs , nor of the
change of Fortune , which is so uncertain to all , should encline some
of them to Pity and Compassion ? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,25.82)

If I had been accus'd of designing to burn the Temples , or massacre
the Priests , and so destroy all good Men , yet I should have been
allowed to have been present , (BOETHPR-E3-P1,25.83)

and upon my Confession or Conviction by the Witnesses , should have
received my Sentence . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,25.84)

But now , for my Affections and Services to the Senate , I am unheard ,
undefended , at the Distance of Miles condemn'd to Death , and
Proscription . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,25.85)

O my Judges ! (BOETHPR-E3-P1,25.86)

may none of you be ever convicted of the like Crime ; the Falseness of
which even mine Accusers themselves know , (BOETHPR-E3-P1,25.87)

and that they are forced to throw another pretended Offence into the
Scale ; which <P_26> is , that out of my Ambition and Desire of Dignity
I have polluted my Conscience with the horrid Sin of Sacrilege .
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,26.88)

But certainly thou , my Guide and Directress , who art planted and
rooted in my Soul , hast so far driven out of my Heart the Desire of
mortal and fading things , that thou dost know <paren> I being ever
under thy Inspection </paren> there could be no Place there for that
Impiety ; (BOETHPR-E3-P1,26.89)

for thou didst daily instil into my Ears and Mind that golden Saying of
<font> Pythagoras , Follow God . </font> (BOETHPR-E3-P1,26.90)

Nor was it convenient for me to seek Assistance from foul and unlawful
Arts , whom already thou hadst form'd into the Excellence and Likeness
of God . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,26.91)

Those <P_27> of my Family , my Friends also with whom I conversed , and
<font> Symmachus </font> , that vertuous and reverend Personage , to
whom the Secrets of my Conversation could not be hidden , do all , with
one Voice , clear me , even from the Suspition of that Crime .
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,27.92)

But , O Misfortune ! (BOETHPR-E3-P1,27.93)

even thou art the greatest Cause of that Credit which is given to my
Accusers ; (BOETHPR-E3-P1,27.94)

for $'t $is {TEXT:'tis} believed that I have used unlawful Arts ,
because I have been bred up under thy Discipline , and imbibed thy
Precepts . So that it is not enough that that Reverence which is due to
thee , should not reflect , with Advantage , upon me thy Disciple , if
thy self also do not suffer upon my account . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,27.95)

But this also is an heavy Accession to my Misfortunes , that the
Opinions of most People are not as they ought to be , grounded upon a
due Consideration and the Merit of Things , but upon the Events of
Fortune ; and that that only should be judged to be undertaken with
prudent Fore-sight , which is crown'd with an unhappy Success .
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,27.96)

Hence is it that those who are unfortunate do lose , before any thing ,
the good Opinion of the World . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,27.97)

It troubles me now to remember what are the various Rumours , the
different and inconsistent Opinions of the People concerning me ; some
condemning , and some defending me and my Cause : (BOETHPR-E3-P1,27.98)

Yet this I will say , that nothing can add more <P_28> to the
Afflictions of the Unhappy , who are unjustly persecuted , than when
men think they justly deserve the miseries which they endure .
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,28.99)

And now I am , at last , robbed of my Estate , spoiled of mine Honours
, injured in my Reputation ; (BOETHPR-E3-P1,28.100)

and instead of those Rewards which I might justly have expected from my
Country , I have been condemn'd to the greatest Punishment .
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,28.101)

But now behold a more afflicting Scene ! (BOETHPR-E3-P1,28.102)

$Me $thinks {TEXT:Methinks} I see the Treacherous , the Unfaithful ,
the Injurious , and other most Infamous Persons , all without Cause
mine Enemies , over-flowing with Joy and Delight at my Misfortunes ,
and contriving new Accusations against me : (BOETHPR-E3-P1,28.103)

the Good are affrighted with the Horror of what I suffer ,
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,28.104)

and ill Men are encouraged , by the Impunity of others , to design the
greatest Wickednesses , and by Rewards to act them ; whilst the
Innocent are not-3 only-2 depriv'd of their Security , but also of the
natural Privilege of defending themselves ; (BOETHPR-E3-P1,28.105)

therefore I may reasonably thus cry out : (BOETHPR-E3-P1,28.106)

{COM:verse_omitted}

<P_32>

<heading>

<font> PROSA </font> V . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,32.110)

</heading>

Whilst my continued Griefs forc'd me to breath out these Complaints ;
she , with a pleasant Look , and no way mov'd with my Expression of
them , bespake me thus : (BOETHPR-E3-P1,32.112)

When I first saw thee , sad and weeping , I knew thee to be miserable
and in Banishment ; yet at what distance from thy home I did not know ,
till I gather'd it by thine own Discourse : (BOETHPR-E3-P1,32.113)

But indeed thou art not driven out of thy Country ,
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,32.114)

but hast wandered thus far from it ; (BOETHPR-E3-P1,32.115)

yet if thou hadst rather be thought to have been violently remov'd ,
thou hast done thy self this Injury , (BOETHPR-E3-P1,32.116)

for it was never in the Power of any other Person to have done it :
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,32.117)

For if thou dost call to mind of what Country thou art , a Country not
govern'd by the Fury and Extasies of a giddy and passionate Multitude ,
as that of the Athenians was heretofore ; but {COM:greek_omitted} ;
where there is only one Lord , one King , the Almighty Governour of the
Universe , who wishes the Encrease and numerous Prosperity , and
procures the Welfare of all his Subjects and Citizens , and loves not
to lessen their number , by sending them into Banishment : to obey
whose Laws , and to be govern'd by them , is the noblest Liberty and
greatest Happiness . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,32.118)

<P_33>

Know'st thou not that most antient Law of thy Commonwealth , which does
decree , that it shall not be lawful to banish any man from it , who
had rather fix his Abode there than in any other Place ?
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,33.120)

For whoever hath once attained to the Happiness of being settled within
the Bounds of that Territory , can never be presum'd to deserve the
Punishment of Exile ; (BOETHPR-E3-P1,33.121)

but whoever once leaves off to desire to be an Inhabitant there , at
the same time leaves off to deserve to be so . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,33.122)

Therefore the Countenance of this Place , however dismal , does not
move me so much as thine own Looks . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,33.123)

I do not here so much look for thy Library , the Walls of which were so
well inlaid with Ivory , and adorn'd with Glasses , as that noble
Cabinet and curious Repository of thy Mind and Thoughts .
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,33.124)

<P_34>

But I did depose that there , which makes even thy Books valuable ,
these choice and observable Sentences , which are the Quintessence of
my voluminous Writings . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,34.126)

Thou hast indeed spoken much Truth upon the Subject of thy great Merits
from the Publick : (BOETHPR-E3-P1,34.127)

but considering what , and how many they have been , all that thou hast
said of them is but little . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,34.128)

The Particulars which thou hast recounted of thy Integrity , and the
Falseness of thine Accusation , are well known to all Men :
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,34.129)

And thou hast done well in being short in the Account of the Frauds and
Villanies of thine Accusers , because it will sound better out of the
Mouth of the People , who know all this . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,34.130)

Thou hast also severely inveighed against the uniust Decree of the
Senate . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,34.131)

Thou hast been much concern'd for the Injury done to me ,
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,34.132)

and thou hast bewail'd the Loss of the good Esteem which Men had of
thee . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,34.133)

Thy last Complaint was against Fortune , and that Rewards and
Punishments were not equally distributed , according to the Merits of
Men : (BOETHPR-E3-P1,34.134)

And in the end , thy distemper'd Muse wishes that the same Peace which
makes the Felicity of the calm Regions above , might also govern and
reside upon Earth . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,34.135)

But because thy Affections are yet tumultuous and disorder'd , and
because the mutinuous Passions of Grief , Anger and Sadness do
variously and successively draw and distract thee : Thy Mind , I say ,
being in such a <P_35> State , strong and vigorous Medicines are not
proper for thee ; (BOETHPR-E3-P1,35.136)

therefore , for the present , we will use more mild ones : so that
those Humours , which by frequent Disturbances flowed in upon thee ,
being now gather'd to a Head , and come to a Consistence , may , by
gentle Applications , be mollified , and be fitter to bear the more
powerful Workings of stronger Remedies , which in time may dissipate
them . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,35.137)

{COM:verse_omitted}

<P_36>

<heading>

<font> PROSA </font> VI . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,36.141)

</heading>

<font> Phil. </font> First then wilt thou suffer me to try the Estate ,
and feel the Pulse of thy Mind , by a few Questions ; that so I may
better understand thy Malady , and prescribe the Methods of thy Cure ?
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,36.143)

<font> Boet. </font> Ask me what thou pleasest , (BOETHPR-E3-P1,36.144)

and I will answer thee . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,36.145)

<font> P. </font> Thinkest thou that this World is manag'd by blind
Chance and Fortune ? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,36.146)

or dost thou believe that Reason hath any share in the Government of it
? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,36.147)

<font> B. </font> I do by no means believe or imagine , that things ,
so certain in their Methods , and so regular in their Motions , should
be mov'd and informed by so unsteady a Cause : (BOETHPR-E3-P1,36.148)

but I know that God , the Master-workman , doth preside over his Work ;
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,36.149)

nor shall any Time or Accident ever move me from the Truth of this
Opinion . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,36.150)

<font> P. </font> So $'t $is {TEXT:'tis} indeed ;
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,36.151)

and of this , a little before , thy Muse did sing when thou didst also
deplore the Misfortune of <P_37> Man , whom alone thou didst believe ,
not to be under the Care of Providence ; though , that every other
thing was govern'd by Reason , thou didst not doubt .
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,37.152)

But it is miraculous to me , that thou , who hast so just Notions of
all things , shouldst be in so ill a State of Health ;
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,37.153)

I will therefore search further , (BOETHPR-E3-P1,37.154)

for I believe thou yet labourest under some notable Defect :
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,37.155)

But tell me , (BOETHPR-E3-P1,37.156)

because thou dost not at all doubt but that the World is govern'd by
God , by what kind of Government are its Affairs managed ?
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,37.157)

<font> B. </font> I can not well comprehend thy Question ,
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,37.158)

therefore I $can $not {TEXT:cannot} readily answer it .
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,37.159)

<font> P. </font> I was not then deceiv'd when I thought there was
something wanting , some vacuity of Breach by which this whole Train of
Perturbations found a way into thy Mind . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,37.160)

But tell me , (BOETHPR-E3-P1,37.161)

dost thou remember what is the chief End of all things , and whither
the whole Mass and Body of Nature doth tend ? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,37.162)

<font> B. </font> I have heard what it is , (BOETHPR-E3-P1,37.163)

but my Griefs have dulled my Memory , and eras'd almost everything out
of it . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,37.164)

<font> P. </font> But how then dost thou know from whence all things
have their Being ? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,37.165)

<font> B. </font> That I remember well , and told thee ,
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,37.166)

it was from God . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,37.167)

<font> P. </font> And how then doth it come to pass , that thou knowing
the Cause and Beginning of all things , shouldst be ignorant of their
End ? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,37.168)

It hath ever been of the Nature of these Perturbations , to have a
Power , to unsettle Mens Minds , and to interrupt the <P_38> Regular
Course of thinking ; (BOETHPR-E3-P1,38.169)

but they never yet could wholly alienate them from the genuine
Sentiments of true Reason : (BOETHPR-E3-P1,38.170)

But I pray thee answer me this , Dost thou remember that thou art a Man
? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,38.171)

<font> B. </font> I am not so much distemper'd but I remember that .
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,38.172)

<font> P. </font> Canst thou then tell me what Man is ?
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,38.173)

<font> B. </font> If thou askest me , if I know my self to be a
rational and a mortal Creature , I answer , I do know and confess my
self to be so . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,38.174)

<font> P. </font> And dost thou not know that thou are somewhat more
than that ? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,38.175)

<font> B. </font> No . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,38.176)

<font> P. </font> Now I know another , and the greatest Cause of thy
Distemper ; which is , that thou hast lost the Knowledg of thy self :
So that I have plainly found the Source of thy Distemper , or rather
the way of restoring thee to thy Health : (BOETHPR-E3-P1,38.177)

For because thou art confounded with the Oblivion of thy self , thou
complainest of thy Banishment , and of the Loss of thy Estate .
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,38.178)

And because thou dost not know what is the End of things , thou dost
believe wicked and lawless Men to be powerful and happy .
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,38.179)

And because thou hast forgotten by what Methods the World is govern'd ,
thou dost imagine that the many Vicissitudes and Changes of worldly
Affairs , come to pass of themselves , and are not directed by any
Governour ; (BOETHPR-E3-P1,38.180)

and doest believe there are no Causes of so important Effects .
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,38.181)

These may certainly , not-2 only-1 be great Occasions of a Disease ,
but even of Death it <P_39> self . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,39.182)

But , Thanks be to the Author of Health , who hath not suffer'd thee to
be wholly deserted by Reason ; (BOETHPR-E3-P1,39.183)

the true Opinion which thou hast of the Government of the World , which
thou believest not-2 subject to Humane , but to Divine Wisdom , makes
me not doubt of thy Recovery : (BOETHPR-E3-P1,39.184)

For by this small Spark , there is to me a great Assurance of vital
Heat : (BOETHPR-E3-P1,39.185)

But because the Time is not yet come for stronger Remedies , and
because it is natural to us to imbrace false Opinions ; so soon as we
have laid aside the true , from whence a Mist of Disturbances ariseth ,
which hinders us from a true perception of Objects , I will endeavour ,
by Lenitives and Fomentations , to dissipate it ; so that that Darkness
being removed , thou mayst easily perceive the Brightness and Glories
of the true Light . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,39.186)

{COM:verse_omitted}

<heading>

Book the Second . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,39.189)

The Argument . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,39.190)

</heading>

<font> Philosophy urges several Reasons to </font> Boetius , <font> why
he should not so much desire the Return of his former Fortunes .
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,39.192)

The Description of Fortune . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,39.193)

Her Discourse to </font> Boetius , <font> that he is not unhappy , but
yet blessed with much Felicity . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,39.194)

The Description of humane Felicity ; that it doth not consist in the
Gifts of Fortune , nor in Riches , nor in Dignity and Power , nor in
Glory and Fame ; and even that sometimes adverse Fortune is profitable
. </font> (BOETHPR-E3-P1,39.195)

<heading>

<font> PROSA </font> I . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,39.197)

</heading>

<P_41>

Having said this , she was for some time silent ;
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,41.200)

and when she perceived that I disposed my self with a modest Silence
and Attention to hear her , she thus bespake me :
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,41.201)

<P_42>

If I can see at all into the Causes and Habits of thy Disease , thou
art affected with the Loss of thy former Fortune ,
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,42.203)

and languishest with the Desire of its Return : (BOETHPR-E3-P1,42.204)

The Change of that , as thou imaginest , towards thee , hath perverted
thy Faculties , and alter'd the whole State and Constitution of thy
Mind . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,42.205)

I understand the manifold Deceits of that Prodigy ,
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,42.206)

and I know the bottom of that Familiarity she useth towards all them
whom she designs to deceive , till she hath left them plunged in Sorrow
, and overwhelmed with Misfortunes and Despair . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,42.207)

And if impartially , and without Passion , thou wilt call her to
remembrance , and consider well her Nature , Habits and Deserts , thou
wilt soon be undeceived , and find , that even when she did most caress
thee , thou didst never enjoy , nor that she having now left thee ,
thou dost lose any thing of Beauty or of Worth . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,42.208)

But , I think , I need not labour much to recal these things into thy
Memory ; (BOETHPR-E3-P1,42.209)

for thou wert wont , when she was present , and flattered thee most ,
to oppose thy manly Words to her Allurements , and to assault her with
Arrows <P_43> drawn from my Quiver ; I mean with choice Sentences
extracted from my Precepts and Labours . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,43.210)

But every sudden Change works a great Alteration in the Minds of Men :
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,43.211)

Hence it is that thou also art departed from the wonted Tranquility and
Peace of thine . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,43.212)

But it is now time to give thee some Emollients and pleasant Lenitives
, which may make way for more powerful Medicines .
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,43.213)

Approach then , Rhetorick , with all thy perswasive Charms , who then
only dost keep the right Path , when thou dost not swerve from my
Institutions and Doctrines ; (BOETHPR-E3-P1,43.214)

and with Rhetorick let Musick also draw near another Servant of my
Retinue , and warble out Numbers sometimes more light and airy ,
sometimes more weighty and consistent . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,43.215)

<P_44>

What is it then , O Man , which hath plunged thee into this Abyss of
Misery and Sorrow ? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,44.217)

Certainly thou hast seen something astonishing and new .
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,44.218)

Dost thou think that Fortune is changed against thee ?
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,44.219)

Thou art deceived : (BOETHPR-E3-P1,44.220)

This was always her Custom , (BOETHPR-E3-P1,44.221)

and is her Nature : (BOETHPR-E3-P1,44.222)

She hath rather , in this Misadventure of thine , preserved her
Constancy in changing : (BOETHPR-E3-P1,44.223)

Such she was when she deluded thee with her Blandishments and false
Shews of Felicity . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,44.224)

Thou hast had before a full View of the direct Face of this blind
Divinity , (BOETHPR-E3-P1,44.225)

and thou hast also now beheld her Reverse : (BOETHPR-E3-P1,44.226)

She , who nicely conceals her self to others , is wholly displayed and
open to thee . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,44.227)

If thou approvest of her Manners and Customs , use them ,
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,44.228)

and complain not : (BOETHPR-E3-P1,44.229)

If thou dost abominate her Perfidy and Falsness , contemn and cast her
off , whose Sports are so dangerous and hurtful .
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,44.230)

For that which occasions thy Melancholy , ought to have been a Curse of
thy greatest Joy and Comfort : (BOETHPR-E3-P1,44.231)

For she hath forsaken thee ; of whom no Man can be secure but she will
leave him also . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,44.232)

Dost thou then esteem that to be Happiness which is ever passing , and
will not stay ? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,44.233)

Is that present Fortune so dear to thee which is not permanent and
which , when it is gone , leaves Griefs and Discontents to succeed in
its place ? So that if a Man at his pleasure $can $not {TEXT:cannot}
retain her , and if when she goeth away she maketh him miserable ,
<P_45> what is she , being so ready to take her Flight , but a sure
Presage of future Calamity ? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,45.234)

But it is not enough to behold those Objects which are placed before
our Eyes : (BOETHPR-E3-P1,45.235)

for Wisdom hath a Prospect to the End and Event of things ;
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,45.236)

and Fortune often changing from Adverse to Prosperous , and from
Prosperous to Adverse , should make Men neither fear her Threats , nor
desire her Favours . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,45.237)

To be short , thou must with Patience and Equality of Soul , bear
whatever is acted by her upon the Scene of this World , when thou hast
once submitted thy Neck to her ponderous Yoke . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,45.238)

For , if thou dost pretend to prescribe a certain time of Abode and
Recess to her , whom thou hast freely , and of thine own Accord ,
chosen to be thy Soveraign and Mistress , art thou not injurious to her
? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,45.239)

and dost thou not , by Impatience , imbitter thy Lot , too hard already
, which thou canst not alter by thy most vigorous Efforts ?
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,45.240)

If thou once hast spread thy Sails to the Winds , thou then canst not
choose thy Port , (BOETHPR-E3-P1,45.241)

but must go whither they will blow thee . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,45.242)

When thou committest thy Seed to the Furrows , remember that sometimes
the Years are fruitful , often barren . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,45.243)

Hast thou given up thy self to the Governance of Fortune ?
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,45.244)

thou canst then do no other thing than obey her Commands .
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,45.245)

Dost thou endeavour to arrest the forward Force of <P_46> the rolling
Wheel ? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,46.246)

O thou most sottish of all Mortals ! (BOETHPR-E3-P1,46.247)

when Fortune once becomes stable and fixed , she , in the Hour she is
so , leaves off to be Fortune . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,46.248)

{COM:verse_omitted}

<heading>

<font> PROSA </font> II . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,46.251)

</heading>

<P_47>

But now I would discourse thee a little in the Stile and Person of
Fortune , and observe whether her Questions be reasonable or not .
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,47.254)

First ; Why , O Man ! dost thou by thy daily Complaints accuse me as
guilty ? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,47.255)

What Injury have I done to thee ? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,47.256)

What Goods or Advantages have I withdrawn from thee ?
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,47.257)

Implead me before what Judg thou pleasest , concerning the Possession
of Wealth and Dignities , (BOETHPR-E3-P1,47.258)

and if thou canst prove that ever any man had a true and fix'd
Propriety in them , I will then readily grant , that those things were
thine which thou dost so earnestly desire to be restored to thee .
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,47.259)

When Nature first brought thee <P_48> out of the Womb into this World ,
I received thee naked , necessitous , and stripp'd of all things ,
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,48.260)

and <paren> which now is the Cause of thy Impatience against me
</paren> I indulgently educated thee , (BOETHPR-E3-P1,48.261)

I heaped my Blessings upon thee , (BOETHPR-E3-P1,48.262)

and encompassed thee with Glory and Splendor , and with an Affluence of
all things which were in my Power : (BOETHPR-E3-P1,48.263)

now when I have a mind to withdraw my Bounty , and to stop the Current
of my Favours , be thankful for the Use of that which was not properly
thine . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,48.264)

Thou hast no just Cause of Complaint , (BOETHPR-E3-P1,48.265)

for thou hast lost nothing which was thy own : (BOETHPR-E3-P1,48.266)

Why then dost thou mourn ? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,48.267)

I have done thee no Wrong . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,48.268)

Riches , Honours , and all other things of that kind , are subject to
me , and in my Power ; (BOETHPR-E3-P1,48.269)

they are my Servants , (BOETHPR-E3-P1,48.270)

and acknowledg me their Mistress ; (BOETHPR-E3-P1,48.271)

they come with me , (BOETHPR-E3-P1,48.272)

and when I depart they follow . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,48.273)

I dare boldly affirm , that if those things <paren> the want of which
thou dost now deplore </paren> had been thine own , thou hadst not lost
them : (BOETHPR-E3-P1,48.274)

Shall I alone be forbid to exercise my own Power , and to use my own
Right ? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,48.275)

Heaven takes the liberty to bless the World with fair and sunny Days ,
and again to vail them in dark and cloudy Nights .
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,48.276)

The Year graces the Face of the Earth with Fruits ,
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,48.277)

and bindeth her Head with Chaplets of Flowers ; (BOETHPR-E3-P1,48.278)

and again she destroys these with Rains and Frosts .
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,48.279)

$'T $is {TEXT:'Tis} lawful also for the Sea now to <P_49> appear with a
calm and smooth Brow , and again to rage in Storms and Tempests :
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,49.280)

And shall the boundless Covetousness , and other depraved Affections of
Men , oblige me to Constancy , which is so contrary to my Nature and
Customs ? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,49.281)

This is my Power , and this my continual Sport and Exercise .
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,49.282)

I turn with a flying Motion the rolling Wheel , pleasing my self to
exalt what was below , and to depress and humble what was on high :
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,49.283)

Ascend then , if thou pleasest , to the height , but upon this
condition , that thou shalt not think I do thee an Injury if I make
thee descend when my Sport or Humour require it .
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,49.284)

But art thou not acquainted with my Ways and Methods ?
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,49.285)

Dost thou not know that <font> Croesus </font> King of the Lydians ,
who , not long before , having been formidable to <font> Cyrus </font>
, and being taken by him , was led to the Flames , to be a miserable
Sacrifice to his Fury ; was delivered by a Shower , which in that
Moment was poured down from Heaven ? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,49.286)

<P_50>

Hast thou forgot how <font> Paulus Aemilius </font> , Consul of <font>
Rome </font> , when he had taken <font> Perseus </font> King of the
Macedonians , was grieved , and even wept for his Sorrows and
Capitivity ? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,50.288)

What doth the Tragick Buskin more exclaim against than Fortune ,
overturning with an undistinguishing Stroke the Happiness and Peace of
Kings and Common-wealths ? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,50.289)

Dist {COM:sic} thou not learn , when thou wert young , that <font>
Jupiter </font> , at the Entry of his Palace of <font> Olympus </font>
, doth always reserve two great Tuns ; out of the one of which he
dispenses Good , out of the other Evil to the World ?
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,50.290)

What if thou hast drunk too deep of the Vessel of Good ?
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,50.291)

What if , for the present , I have only vailed my self , and am not
wholly departed from thee ? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,50.292)

What if even this very <P_51> Mutability , so much complained of ,
which is of my Essence , should give thee just Cause to hope for , and
expect better things ? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,51.293)

Yet do not despair , (BOETHPR-E3-P1,51.294)

be not dismayed ; (BOETHPR-E3-P1,51.295)

nor desire , whilst thou are plac'd within the common Circumstances of
Humanity , to live under a Law , to be calculated for thy Meridian ,
and to be appropriated to thy Complexion and Inclinations .
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,51.296)

{COM:verse_omitted}

<heading>

<font> PROSA </font> III . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,51.299)

</heading>

<font> Phi. </font> If therefore Fortune should speak for her self to
thee on this manner , I believe thou hast not any thing to answer ;
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,51.301)

or if thou hast any thing by which thou canst defend thy Complaint ,
offer it , (BOETHPR-E3-P1,51.302)

and thou shalt have free Liberty to speak . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,51.303)

<font> Boet. </font> These things which thou urgest are indeed specious
, being enriched with all the Charms of Rhetorick and Musick ;
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,51.304)

yet their Sound then only affects and delights us , when they strike
our Ears : (BOETHPR-E3-P1,51.305)

But the Miserable have a much deeper Sense of their Misfortunes , which
these Notes $can $not {TEXT:cannot} remove ; (BOETHPR-E3-P1,51.306)

and when they leave off to entertain our Ears , their Sorrow , which is
settled within , with greater Force attacks the Mind .
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,51.307)

<font> Phi. </font> So it is indeed ; (BOETHPR-E3-P1,51.308)

for these are not Specificks for thy Disease which rebels against its
Cure , but rather Nourishers of it : (BOETHPR-E3-P1,51.309)

when time serves I shall administer <P_53> those things which will
pierce to its bottom . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,53.310)

But , nevertheless , that thou mayst not number thy self amongst the
Miserable , let me ask thee , hast thou forgot the measure of thy
Happiness and Prosperity ? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,53.311)

I speak not of the Care which the Chief Men of the City took of thee ,
when thou wert left an Orphan , when thou wert grac'd with the Affinity
of those great Personages , and wert taken into their Affections ,
before thou were received into their Alliance , which is the most happy
and estimable kind of Propinquity . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,53.312)

Who did not account thee most happy in the Noble Alliance of thy
Fathers-in-law ; in the chaste and exemplary Vertues of thy Wife ; and
in the Noble Dispositions of thy Sons ? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,53.313)

I pass by <paren> for common things I will not mention </paren> those
Dignities conferr'd upon thee in thy Youth , which have often been
denied to antient Men ; (BOETHPR-E3-P1,53.314)

for I am impatient to come to that which was <P_54> the Crown of thy
Felicity : (BOETHPR-E3-P1,54.315)

If the Fruits of humane Labours can have any Weight of Happiness , can
the Memory of that Day , for any Evil which may since have befallen
thee , ever pass out of thy Mind , in which thou sawest thy two Sons
advanced to the Degree of Consuls , carried from thy House ,
accompanied by so great a Number of Senators , and with the Joys and
Acclamations of the People ? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,54.316)

when thou sawest them in the Court placed in their Curule Seats , and
thy self in the Praises of the absent King <font> Theodorick </font>
didst display the Treasures of thy Wit , and didst deserve the Crown of
Eloquence ? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,54.317)

when in the <font> Circus </font> thou sitting betwixt the Consuls ,
didst satisfy the Expectation of the Multitude , which stood about thee
, with a triumphal Largess ? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,54.318)

Thou then didst flatter Fortune by thy Expressions , when she <P_55>
seemed to hug and caress thee as her Friend and Delight .
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,55.319)

Thou then receivedst from her such a Gift as was never before made to
any private Man . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,55.320)

Wilt thou then come to an account with her ? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,55.321)

This is the first time that she hath looked unkindly upon thee ;
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,55.322)

and if thou wilt equally weigh the Number of thy Blessings and
Afflictions , thou canst not but in Justice acknowledg that thou art
yet happy : (BOETHPR-E3-P1,55.323)

For if therefore thou dost esteem thy self unfortunate , because the
things which heretofore seem'd pleasing to thee are passed away , there
is no reason for it , because even those things which do now afflict
thee , do also pass . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,55.324)

Art thou but just now entred a Stranger upon the Scene of this World ?
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,55.325)

Dost thou but now appear in this Theatre ? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,55.326)

Believest thou that there can be any Constancy or Stability in humane
Affairs , when thou seest that an Hour , or a quicker Minute ,
dissolves humane Nature , and separates the Soul from the Body ?
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,55.327)

For although there is seldom Hope that the things of Fortune will
continue with us , yet the last Day of a Man's Life seemeth to be the
last also of that Prosperity which remains with us .
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,55.328)

Where then is the great Difference ? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,55.329)

What doth it import then , whether thou by Death leavest it , or it by
Flight doth leave thee ? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,55.330)

{COM:verse_omitted}

<P_58>

<heading>

<font> PROSA </font> IV . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,58.334)

</heading>

<font> Boet. </font> All this which thou recountest , O thou Source and
Nourisher of all Vertues , is most true ; (BOETHPR-E3-P1,58.336)

nor can I deny the quick and early Arrival of my Prosperity .
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,58.337)

But one thing , when I remember it , doth most sensibly afflict me ;
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,58.338)

for nothing doth more add to a Man's Infelicity , than the remembrance
that he was once happy . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,58.339)

<font> Phil. </font> That thou dost yet groan under the Torment of thy
ill-grounded Opinion , is not to be imputed to the evil Estate of thy
Affairs ; (BOETHPR-E3-P1,58.340)

for if this empty Name of uncertain Happiness moves thee , do but
recollect with me , what Plenty thou enjoyest , and what is yet
reserved safe to thee : (BOETHPR-E3-P1,58.341)

And therefore if thou yet dost possess that which in the best times
thou didst account most precious , it being yet by the Hand of Heaven
preserved safe and inviolate , canst thou justly then complain of the
Injuries of Fortune ? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,58.342)

<font> Symmachus </font> thy Father-in-law <P_59> , the Delight and
Ornament of Mankind , whose Welfare thou wouldst readily purchase at
the rate of thy Life ; one , who by an admirable Temper and Mixture is
wholly made up of Wisdom and Vertue , is yet safe , and fearless of his
own Concerns ; (BOETHPR-E3-P1,59.343)

only laments thy Injuries , (BOETHPR-E3-P1,59.344)

and grieves for thy Misfortunes . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,59.345)

Thy Wife yet lives an Example of Modesty , and a Pattern of Chastity ;
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,59.346)

and that I may in one Word include all her Endowments and Perfections ,
the true Resemblance of her Father : (BOETHPR-E3-P1,59.347)

She lives , I say , (BOETHPR-E3-P1,59.348)

and being weary of Life , breaths only for thy sake ,
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,59.349)

and <paren> in which thing alone I will yield that thy Happiness
receives Diminution </paren> she pines away with Grief and Tears , and
with the Desire of once more enjoying thy sweet Conversation .
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,59.350)

Why should I mention thy Consular Sons , in whom , being yet so young ,
so much of the Wit and Spirit of the Grand-father and Father doth shine
? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,59.351)

Since then it is the chief Care of Men to preserve Life , thou art most
happy , if thou wouldst but know it , to whom so many Advantages and
Blessings yet remain , which all Men value above Life . Wherefore dry
up thy Tears , (BOETHPR-E3-P1,59.352)

Fortune hath not expressed her Rage and Malice against you all ;
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,59.353)

nor hath the Tempest been too violent , whilst thy Anchors yet hold ,
and afford to thee Cause of present Comfort , and Hope of future
Felicity . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,59.354)

<font> Bo. </font> And may they ever hold ! (BOETHPR-E3-P1,59.355)

<P_60>

for whilst they are firm , however things go , I shall shift so as to
keep my Vessel above the Water , and perhaps to escape ;
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,60.357)

but notwithstanding you may see from what Advantages and Dignities I am
fallen . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,60.358)

<font> Ph. </font> I should think that we had made a good Advance , if
thou didst not yet retain a Concern for the Diminution of thy former
Estate . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,60.359)

But I $can $not {TEXT:cannot} suffer that thou shouldest , with so much
Delight , mention thy Fortunes , and in so much Anxiety bewail the Loss
of so small a part of them : (BOETHPR-E3-P1,60.360)

For whose Felicity is so well grounded , who hath not in some things
cause to quarrel with his Lot ? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,60.361)

The Condition of humane Goods is anxious and inconstant ;
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,60.362)

for either they do not all at once arrive , (BOETHPR-E3-P1,60.363)

or if they do , they make no stay with us . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,60.364)

One Man is blessed with a great Affluence of Wealth ,
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,60.365)

but he is ashamed of the Baseness of his Blood . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,60.366)

The Nobility of that Man's Descent makes him conspicuous ,
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,60.367)

but being uneasy within the Bounds of a narrow Estate , and so unable
to bear up the Port of his Ancestors , he had rather live retired and
unknown . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,60.368)

Another abounds with Wealth , (BOETHPR-E3-P1,60.369)

and is nobly born too , (BOETHPR-E3-P1,60.370)

but he is unmarried , (BOETHPR-E3-P1,60.371)

and to compleat his Happiness he would have a Wife .
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,60.372)

Another is happy in Wedlock , (BOETHPR-E3-P1,60.373)

but he wants Children , (BOETHPR-E3-P1,60.374)

and is troubled that he must gather Riches for another Man's Heir .
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,60.375)

Another hath the Joy of many Children , (BOETHPR-E3-P1,60.376)

but is soon again mortified by seeing <P_61> the evil Courses which
they take . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,61.377)

Therefore we see , that no Man can easily agree with the State of his
Fortune ; (BOETHPR-E3-P1,61.378)

for in all Conditions there is something which , untry'd , a Man doth
not know , and which after trial he doth not approve .
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,61.379)

Add also to this , that the Senses of the Happy are refined and
delicate ; (BOETHPR-E3-P1,61.380)

and unless every thing happens to them as they desire , or when it
pleaseth them , they are impatient . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,61.381)

He who is not used to Adversity , is overcome and thrown down by every
cross Adventure ; (BOETHPR-E3-P1,61.382)

and the least evil Acccidents discompose him : (BOETHPR-E3-P1,61.383)

upon so minute and slender things doth the Happiness of the most
Fortunate depend . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,61.384)

How many men are there in the World , dost thou believe , who would
think themselves advanced almost to Heaven , if they could attain but
to the least part of the Remainder of thy Fortunes ?
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,61.385)

This very Place , which thou callest a Place of Banishment , is their
Country who inhabit it : (BOETHPR-E3-P1,61.386)

And thy Miseries arise only from the ill-grounded Opinion that thou art
miserable . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,61.387)

And again , every lot may be happy to that Man who can with Equanimity
and Courage bear it . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,61.388)

Who is he so happy , who when once he grows impatient , doth not desire
to change his State of Life ? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,61.389)

How much is humane Felicity imbittered ! which though it may seem sweet
to the Enjoyer , yet is not to be retained , but when it pleaseth takes
its Flight ? So that hence it may appear , <P_62> how miserable even
the greatest Felicity of Men is , since it will not remain with those ,
who with Equality bear every kind of Lot , nor will bring Comfort to
those whose Minds are anxious and oppressed . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,62.390)

Why therefore , O wretched Mortals , do ye so industriously seek abroad
for that Felicity which is placed at home within your selves ?
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,62.391)

Error and Ignorance mislead and confound you . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,62.392)

But I , in short , will shew you the very Hinge upon which the truest
Happiness doth turn . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,62.393)

Is there any thing more pretious and estimable to thee than thy self ?
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,62.394)

No , thou wilt say . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,62.395)

Then if thou wilt weigh things well , and gain the Command over thy
self , thou wilt possess that which thou wouldst never lose , and which
Fortune can never take from thee . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,62.396)

And that thou mayst see that Beatitude $can $not {TEXT:cannot} consist
in those things which are in the Power of Fortune , only consider thus
; (BOETHPR-E3-P1,62.397)

If Happiness be the Sovereign Good of Nature , living and subsisting by
Reason , then that thing $can $not {TEXT:cannot} be it , which can by
any means be withdrawn from us , because that which $can $not
{TEXT:cannot} be taken away is worthily esteemed the most excellent .
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,62.398)

Hence it appears that Instability of Fortune is not susceptive of true
Happiness . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,62.399)

Add to this , that he who is carried away by fading Felicity , doth
either know that it is mutable , or he doth not .
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,62.400)

If he knows it not , what Happiness can he take in the Blindness of
<P_63> his Ignorance ? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,63.401)

If he knows it , he must necessarily be afraid lest he should lose that
which he knows is easily to be lost ; (BOETHPR-E3-P1,63.402)

and in that case his continual Fear will not suffer him to be happy .
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,63.403)

Perhaps he cares not if he should lose it , (BOETHPR-E3-P1,63.404)

and he would not be much troubled at its Loss . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,63.405)

Even truly the Good is but very small and inconsiderable , the Loss of
which a Man can bear with such Equanimity and Unconcernedness .
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,63.406)

And because I know that thou art one who hast been fully perswaded ,
and by many Demonstrations convinced of the Immortality of the Souls of
Men ; it also being evident that the Goods of Fortune receive a Period
with our Bodies by Death ; it $can $not {TEXT:cannot} then be doubted
but if Death can put an end to our Happiness , that all men , when they
die , are plunged into the Depths of Misery . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,63.407)

And since we know well , that many Men have endeavoured to obtain
Felicity , not only by undergoing Death , but by suffering the most
cruel Pains and Torments , how then can it be imagined that this
present Life can make Men truly happy , since , when it is ended , Men
do not become miserable ? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,63.408)

{COM:verse_omitted}

<P_65>

<heading>

<font> PROSA </font> V . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,65.412)

</heading>

<font> Phi. </font> But forasmuch as the Applications of my Reasons
have sunk into thee , I think it is now time to use some more powerful
Medicines : (BOETHPR-E3-P1,65.414)

Go to then , (BOETHPR-E3-P1,65.415)

if the Gifts of Fortune were not fading and momentary , as they are ,
what is there to be found in them which may , at any time , be
accounted thine ? or which , if it be thorowly considered and looked
into , will not appear to be vile and unworthy ? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,65.416)

Are Riches in their own Nature , or by the Estimation of Men , pretious
? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,65.417)

What sort of Riches is most excellent ? Gold , or a great Mass of
Silver gathered together ? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,65.418)

But this appears more glorious by spending it , than by treasuring it
up ; (BOETHPR-E3-P1,65.419)

for Avarice always makes Men odious , (BOETHPR-E3-P1,65.420)

and Bounty makes them famous and renowned . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,65.421)

And if that which is conferr'd upon another $can $not {TEXT:cannot}
continue with any Man , then certainly is Money most pretious when it
is translated to others , and ceases to be possess'd by him who hath
given it . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,65.422)

If all the Money that is in all Parts of the World were gathered into
one Hand , the rest of Mankind would be needful and want it .
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,65.423)

The Sound of a Voice , if it be entire , and not obstructed by any
<font> Medium </font> , doth at the same time fill the Ears of many
People ; (BOETHPR-E3-P1,65.424)

<P_66>

but Riches , unless they be diminished and canton'd , $can $not
{TEXT:cannot} meet the Necessities of many ; (BOETHPR-E3-P1,66.426)

and that being done , they whom they have left must unavoidably submit
to Poverty . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,66.427)

O therefore <paren> may I justly say narrow , mean , and even poor
Riches ! which $can $not {TEXT:cannot} all be enjoyed by many at the
same time , and which $can $not {TEXT:cannot} be possess'd by one ,
without impoverishing and ruining the rest of Mankind !
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,66.428)

Doth the Brightness of Jewels attract the Eye ? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,66.429)

But if there be any thing extraordinary in their Splendor , it is the
Brightness of the Stones , and not of the Eye which beholds them ;
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,66.430)

therefore I very much wonder that Men should admire them :
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,66.431)

For what is it which wants the Faculties and Motions of a Soul , and
the Contexture of Joints , which can really seem beautiful to a
rational Nature ? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,66.432)

For although from the Hand of the great Workman , and for Distinction's
sake , they have derived something of an inferiour Grace and Beauty ,
yet they are placed below thy Excellence , and by no means worthy to
attract thy Admiration . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,66.433)

Doth the Beauty of the Fields delight thee much ?
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,66.434)

<font> Boe. </font> Why should it not ? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,66.435)

for it is a fair Part of the fairest Work , the Creation of the
Universe : (BOETHPR-E3-P1,66.436)

So sometimes we are delighted with the Clearness of the Sea's Face ;
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,66.437)

sometimes we admire the Heavens , the Stars , the Sun , and Moon .
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,66.438)

<font> Phi. </font> What do these things concern thee ?
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,66.439)

Darest thou glory <P_67> in the Splendor of these things ?
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,67.440)

Art thou embelished , or any way distinguished by the Flowers of the
Spring ? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,67.441)

or doth thy Plenty swell in the fruitful Face of Summer ?
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,67.442)

Why art thou carried away with empty Joys ? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,67.443)

Why dost thou embrace that Good which is out of thy Power ?
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,67.444)

for Fortune can never make that thine , which the Nature of things
forbid to be so . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,67.445)

The Fruits of the Earth are doubtless for the Nourishment of living
Creatures ; (BOETHPR-E3-P1,67.446)

and if thou wouldst confine thy self to the supplying only-1 of the
Necessities of Nature , thou wouldst not so much seek after the
Affluence and Gifts of Fortune . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,67.447)

For Nature is satisfied with few things , (BOETHPR-E3-P1,67.448)

and those the least : (BOETHPR-E3-P1,67.449)

And if thou dost , after such Satiety , overcharge her with
Superfluities , that which thou dost superadd , becomes either
unpleasant or hurtful to her . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,67.450)

To proceed , dost thou think that it recommends thee to the World to
shine in Variety of costly Clothes ? the Sight of which , if it be
grateful to the Eye , the Matter or the Ingenuity of the Workman is to
be admired . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,67.451)

Doth a great Retinue , and the Attendance of a numerous Train of
Servants , make thee happy ? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,67.452)

If those Servants be vitious , they are a great Burden to the House ,
and pernicious Enemies to the Master of it . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,67.453)

But if they be good , why should the Vertue and Goodness of others be
put to thy Account ? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,67.454)

From all which it plainly <P_68> appears , that none of these which
thou didst number among thy own Goods , were really to be esteemed so .
In which , if there be no things desirable , what Reason is there that
thou shouldst grieve for the loss of them , or rejoice at their
possession ? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,68.455)

If they are fair or beautiful by Nature , what doth that concern thee ?
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,68.456)

For so by themselves , wholly sequestred from thy Riches , they would
please : (BOETHPR-E3-P1,68.457)

They therefore are not to be esteemed pretious because they are numbred
amongst thy Goods , but because they seemed so before thou wert
desirous to possess them . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,68.458)

What is it then , that with so much Noise , and so much Address , we
desire of Fortune ? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,68.459)

It is , perhaps , to drive away the Fear of Poverty by a general
Affluence of Wealth ; (BOETHPR-E3-P1,68.460)

but this often happens otherwise : (BOETHPR-E3-P1,68.461)

for there is great need of many Helps even to keep so great an
Accession of Furniture , and Variety of things after they are obtained
: (BOETHPR-E3-P1,68.462)

And it is most true , that they want most things who possess the most :
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,68.463)

And on the other side , they want the fewest who measure their
Abundance by the Necessities of Nature , and not by the Extravagance of
Excentrick and irregular Desires . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,68.464)

Is it so then , that Men have no proper and genuine Good planted within
them , but that they must be forced to go abroad to seek it ?
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,68.465)

Are things so changed , that man , that excellent Creature , whose
Reason almost entitles him to <P_69> Divinity , can be no other way
sensible of his own Glories , than by the possession of soul-less
{COM:sic} and unnecessary things ? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,69.466)

All other Beings are content with their own Endowments ,
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,69.467)

and you only <paren> who are the Image of God </paren> vainly seek
accessional Ornaments for your excelling Nature , from things placed so
much below you , not understanding how great an Injury you do by it to
your Maker . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,69.468)

He ordained the Race of Men to excel all other earthly Creatures ;
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,69.469)

and you depress your Dignity and Prerogative below the lowest Beings .
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,69.470)

For if that Good which belongs to any thing be more pretious and worthy
than that thing to which it belongs , since you esteem'd the most
contemptible things to be your Good , you submit your self , by that
your Esteem , to them , (BOETHPR-E3-P1,69.471)

and take the lower Place : (BOETHPR-E3-P1,69.472)

And this is but what you deserve . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,69.473)

For such is the Nature of Man , that he doth then only excel other
Beings , when he knows himself : (BOETHPR-E3-P1,69.474)

But he may be ranked below the Beasts that perish , when he once
slights that necessary and important Knowledg : (BOETHPR-E3-P1,69.475)

For such Ignorance is natural to other Creatures ;
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,69.476)

but to Man it is unnatural and a Vice . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,69.477)

How weak and open in Error is it in Men , who imagine that any thing
which is foreign to their Natures , can be an Ornament to them ?
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,69.478)

That $can $not {TEXT:cannot} in Reality be so ; (BOETHPR-E3-P1,69.479)

for if any thing look bright and glorious with that which is put upon
it , that which covers <P_70> it is said to shine ,
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,70.480)

and is admired ; (BOETHPR-E3-P1,70.481)

but notwithstanding the thing covered still continues in its natural
Impurity and Disesteem . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,70.482)

I therefore deny that thing to be good which is hurtful to him who
possesses it . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,70.483)

Am I deceived in this ? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,70.484)

Thou wilt say , no ; (BOETHPR-E3-P1,70.485)

for Riches have often hurt their Possessors , since every ill Man is
the more desirous of other Mens Riches , (BOETHPR-E3-P1,70.486)

and he thinketh him alone who is in possession of such things , to be a
Man of Worth , and to be esteemed . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,70.487)

Thou therefore who now so much fearest to be assaulted by the Spear or
the Sword , if thou hadst entred into the Path of this LIfe not
incumbred with Riches , thou mightst , like the way-faring Man , with
an empty Purse have sung before the Robbers . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,70.488)

The Happiness then derived from fading Riches is glorious indeed and
great ; by the possession of which a Man loseth his Security and Quiet
. (BOETHPR-E3-P1,70.489)

{COM:verse_omitted}

<P_73>

<heading>

<font> PROSA </font> VI . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,73.493)

</heading>

But why should I discourse of Dignities and Powers , which Men <paren>
wholly Ignorant of the true Nature of Dignity and Power </paren>
advance and extol to the Skies ? which , if they are conferr'd upon a
wicked Man , not the raging Flames of <font> Aetna </font> , nor the
most impetuous Deluge ravage so much , nor do so much harm as those
Weapons in such an hand . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,73.495)

I believe you remember , your Ancestors desired to abolish the <P_74>
Consular Government , which gave beginning to the Roman Liberty ,
because of the Pride of the Consuls ; as their Ancestors before , for
the same Consideration , had banished Kings out of their City .
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,74.496)

But if sometimes <paren> which seldom happens </paren> good Men arrive
at them , what other thing is there pleasing in them , besides the
Probity of those who use and enjoy them ? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,74.497)

So it comes to pass that Vertue receives not Honour from Dignities ,
but Dignities derive Honour from Vertue . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,74.498)

But what is this Power so much celebrated , and so much desired ?
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,74.499)

O ye terrene Animals ! (BOETHPR-E3-P1,74.500)

do you not consider who they are over whom you seem to exercise
Authority ? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,74.501)

If thou shouldst see an ambitious Mouse , claiming a Superiority with
her <P_75> self over the rest of her Species , wouldst thou not almost
burst with Laughter ? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,75.502)

So then , if thou considerest the Contexture and Temperament of his
body , what canst thou find in the World more feeble than Man , or more
subject to Casualties and Misfortunes , to whom even a Fly <paren> one
of the smallest Products of Nature </paren> by a Bite , or by creeping
into the secret Recesses of his Body , may be the Cause of Death ?
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,75.503)

But why should any Man exercise Authority over another , unless it be
over his body , or what is yet inferiour to that , over his Possessions
, which are the Gifts of Fortune ? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,75.504)

Shalt thou ever gain an Ascendant over a free and clear Soul ?
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,75.505)

Shalt thou ever move the high-born Mind , consistent with it self , and
knit together by the Bands of Reason , from the proper Centre of its
Quiet ? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,75.506)

When a certain Tyrant once thought by Torments to compel a Free Man to
discover some Persons who had conspired against his Life , the Man bit
off his own Tongue , (BOETHPR-E3-P1,75.507)

and spit it in his Face swelling and bloated with Rage : so by his
Wisdom disappointing <P_76> the Tyrant , and making those Torments
which his Cruelty had designed , Matter of Triumph to his Heroick
Courage . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,76.508)

To go further , what is it that any man may do to another , which
another may not do again to him ? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,76.509)

We are told , that it was the Custom of <font> Busiris </font> to kill
his Guests , (BOETHPR-E3-P1,76.510)

and himself at last was killed by <font> Hercules </font> his Guest .
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,76.511)

<font> Regulus </font> after a Victory put many of the Carthaginians
into Chains , (BOETHPR-E3-P1,76.512)

but himself soon after was forced to yield to their Fetters .
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,76.513)

Dost thou therefore think that the Power of that Man ought to be
magnified , who $can $not {TEXT:cannot} hinder another from committing
that upon him which he lately committed upon another ?
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,76.514)

Consider too , that if there were any thing of proper or natural Good
in these Dignities and Powers , they would never be attained by wicked
Men , (BOETHPR-E3-P1,76.515)

for disagreeing <P_77> things do not use to unite ;
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,77.516)

and Nature forbids that contrary things should join : So that seeing
wicked Men do often execute Offices of Dignity and Trust , it appears
that they are not good in themselves , because they can reside in such
Subjects . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,77.517)

The same may also be most justly said of all the Gifts of Fortune which
are most commonly shewed in greatest Plenty upon the worst of Men .
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,77.518)

It ought also to be considered , that no Man doubteth him to be valiant
, in whom he hath seen the Vertue of Fortitude shine : nor him to be
swift of foot , in whom he hath seen Swiftness . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,77.519)

So Musick maketh a Musician ; the Science of Physick a Physician ; and
Rhetorick a Rhetorician . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,77.520)

The Nature of every thing acts properly according to its End ,
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,77.521)

nor is mix'd with foreign effects of differing Beings ,
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,77.522)

but of its own Accord repels what is contrariant to it , or may be
destructive of it . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,77.523)

Riches $can $not {TEXT:cannot} extinguish the unquenchable Thirst of
Avarice ; (BOETHPR-E3-P1,77.524)

nor can Power give him Command of himself , who is already the Slave of
his Vices , and bound in the insoluble Chains of his Lusts .
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,77.525)

So Dignities conferr'd upon ill Men do not only not make them worthy ,
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,77.526)

but rather shew their Unworthiness by laying them open , and
discovering their Shame . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,77.527)

But how comes this to pass ? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,77.528)

you are pleased to impose upon things false Names , and differing from
their Natures , which are often <P_78> laid open , and appear by the
Effects of those very things : so that even these Riches , and this
Power , and that Dignity , ought not of right to be called by those
Names . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,78.529)

And lastly , the same thing may be said of all the Gifts of Fortune ,
in which it is manifest , that nothing is desirable , nor is there any
thing of native Good in them , since they are not always the Lot of
good Men , nor make them good to whom they are allotted .
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,78.530)

{COM:verse_omitted}

<P_80>

<heading>

<font> PROSA </font> VI . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,80.534)

</heading>

<font> Boe. </font> Thou knowest well that I did the least of any Man
covet mortal and fading Possessions ; (BOETHPR-E3-P1,80.536)

I only desired an honourable Occasion of being employed in Business and
fit Matter to exercise my Vertue , lest it should silently grow useless
and old . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,80.537)

<font> Phi. </font> This is one thing which may tempt , I had almost
said debauch , some Minds naturally well inclin'd and endowed , though
not yet arrived at the Perfection of Vertue , (BOETHPR-E3-P1,80.538)

I mean the Desire of Glory , and the Fame of having deserved well of
ones Country and the Common-wealth : (BOETHPR-E3-P1,80.539)

but how <P_81> small , and how truly void of Weight even that is , do
but from hence observe : (BOETHPR-E3-P1,81.540)

Thou hast learnt from Astrological Demonstrations , that the whole
Circuit of the Earth bears the Proportion only of a Point to the
Greatness of the Heaven ; (BOETHPR-E3-P1,81.541)

that is , if it be compar'd to the Magnitude of the Celestial Globe ,
it may be judged to have no Space or Compass . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,81.542)

And of this small Region of the World , almost the fourth Part is
inhabited by living Creatures , known to us , as <font> Ptolomy </font>
hath seemed to prove . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,81.543)

And if thou shalt abate also all which is overflown by the Sea , and
Marshes , and Lakes , and also all that Space of the Globe which is
desart and overspread with Sands , or burnt up by the too near Vicinity
of the Sun , thou wilt find that what is left for the Habitation of Men
, is but a very small Proportion . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,81.544)

And do you who are placed in , and confined to the least Point of this
Point , think of nothing but of propagating your Fame , and exerting
your Names , and making your selves renowned ? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,81.545)

What is there august or magnificent in Glory , confined to so small and
narrow Bounds ? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,81.546)

Add to this , that this little Enclosure is inhabited by several
Nations differing in Tongue , in Manners , and in way of Life : to whom
, as well by reason of the Difficulties and Inconveniences of Journying
, as by the Diversity of Languages , and the Unfrequency of Commerce ,
not only the Fame <P_82> of particular Men , but even the Names of
great Cities , $can $not {TEXT:cannot} arrive . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,82.547)

In the time of <font> Marcus Tullius </font> , as himself in his
Writings tells us , the Fame of the Roman Common-wealth , which was
then well grown and robust , and redoubled by the Parthians and several
other Nations in these Parts , was not yet known to those who inhabited
beyond the Mountain <font> Caucasus . </font> (BOETHPR-E3-P1,82.548)

Thou seest then how narrow and strait that Glory is which thou
labourest so much to propagate and dilate . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,82.549)

Dost thou think that the Glories of a Roman Man shall reach those
Places where the Fame and Story of the illustrious Roman Common-wealth
would never reach ? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,82.550)

Do not the Customs and Institutions of several Countries disagree among
themselves ; so that that which with some is adjudged to be
Praise-worthy , with others is thought to deserve Disgrace and
Punishment . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,82.551)

Hence it appears , that it is not the Interest of any Man who desires
Renown , to have his Name spread through many Countries , and divers
People , but that he should be content with that Glory and Fame which
he can arrive at amongst his Countrymen , and not care to have the
Immortality of it extended beyond the Bound of one Country .
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,82.552)

But how many men , great and famous in their Generations , hath the
Carelesness and Neglect of Writers passed by in Silence ? Although
indeed one may justly ask , what can <P_83> such Memorials profit a Man
, which with their Authors must at length yield to the Powers of Age ,
and be with them buried in Oblivion ? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,83.553)

But Men imagine that they have obtained Immortality if their Names
shall but live in future Ages . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,83.554)

But if they would compare this to the infinite Progress of Eternity ,
what have they which should make them pleased at the Diuturnity of
their Fame ? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,83.555)

For if the Duration of one Moment be compared with that of ten thousand
Years , the Spaces of both being definite , it hath some , though a
very little Portion of it . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,83.556)

But yet this very Number of Years , and as many more as can by Numbers
be multiplied , $can $not {TEXT:cannot} at all be compared to endless
Duration : (BOETHPR-E3-P1,83.557)

For there may be some Comparison betwixt finite Beings amongst
themselves , (BOETHPR-E3-P1,83.558)

but there can be none at all betwixt Infinite and Finite .
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,83.559)

Hence it is that Fame <paren> however durable and lasting </paren>
considered with infinite Eternity , will seem not-2 only-3 to be little
, but indeed nothing . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,83.560)

But you think you $can $not {TEXT:cannot} do well , unless you have the
empty Applause of the People ; (BOETHPR-E3-P1,83.561)

and forgoing the Pleasures of a good Conscience , and the Consideration
of the innate Worth of Vertue , and the Pleasure of Actions resulting
from it , you look for a Reward from the partial Breath , and vain
Discourses of the <font> Many </font> . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,83.562)

Observe now how one once ingeniously plaid upon the Lightness and Folly
of such Arrogance . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,83.563)

<P_84>

A certain Person accosted another with contumelious Language , who had
assumed to himself the Name of a <font> Philosopher </font> , not out
of a Principle of Vertue , but for the itch of Vain-glory :
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,84.565)

and he added , that he should now know if he were a true Philosopher ,
by bearing patiently the Injuries offered to him ;
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,84.566)

he putting on for a while a counterfeit Patience , said then to the
other , Dost thou now believe me to be a Philosopher ?
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,84.567)

He answered smartly again , I had indeed believed it , if thou couldst
still have held thy Tongue . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,84.568)

What then is it that great and worthy Men <paren> for of such I speak
</paren> who would by vertuous ways acquire Glory ; what is it <paren>
I say </paren> of Advantage which they receive by a great Name after
the Body is resolved into Dust ? (BOETHPR-E3-P1,84.569)

For if <paren> which our Reason and Religion forbids us to believe
</paren> the whole Fabrick of Man , Body and Soul , is dissolv'd , and
dies together , then is there no Glory ; (BOETHPR-E3-P1,84.570)

nor can there be when he <paren> to whom it belongs </paren> doth no
more exist . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,84.571)

But if the Soul which hath deserved well , when $it $'s {TEXT:it's}
enlarg'd from its earthly Prison , doth take a swift and unimpeach'd
Flight to Heaven , will it not despise the Earth and its Businesses ;
and being wrapt in the Joys of Heaven , rejoice that it is wholly
exempt from sublunary Considerations and Concerns ?
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,84.572)

{COM:verse_omitted}

<P_87>

<heading>

<font> PROSA </font> VIII . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,87.576)

</heading>

But lest thou shouldst believe that I am an inexorable Enemy to Fortune
, and wage an endless War against her , I shall confess , that there
are sometimes when that faithless One may deserve well of Men ;
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,87.578)

then I mean when she opens and discovers her self , and freely
confesses her self to be what she really is . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,87.579)

Thou dost not perhaps yet understand what I <P_88> am about to say .
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,88.580)

The thing is wonderful which I desire to tell thee ,
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,88.581)

and therefore I almost want Words to express this Paradox , to wit ,
that adverse Fortune doth more profit and truly more advantage Men than
prosperous : (BOETHPR-E3-P1,88.582)

For this , under the Cloak and Shew of Happiness , when she smileth and
caresses , lies and deceives ; (BOETHPR-E3-P1,88.583)

the other always fairly and openly declares her Enmity ,
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,88.584)

and shews her Instability by her constant Changes :
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,88.585)

That deceives , (BOETHPR-E3-P1,88.586)

this instructs ; (BOETHPR-E3-P1,88.587)

that by a precious Shew of Good binds the Minds of those she favours ;
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,88.588)

this by the Knowledg of her Fickleness frees and absolves them :
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,88.589)

therefore thou mayst observe the one always faithless , airy , wavering
, and ignorant of its own Condition ; the other sober , stay'd , and
even prudent in managing and making the best use of Adversity .
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,88.590)

Lastly , prosperous Fortune , by her Allurements and Blandishments ,
draws Men from the right , aside , and out of the direct way , leading
to that which is the sovereign Good ; whilst , for the most part , the
other doth not only lead Men , but as it were draw them with a Hook to
true and genuine Happiness . (BOETHPR-E3-P1,88.591)

Further , thinkest thou that it is to be esteemed the least Good which
we receive from this hard , and at the first sight , horrible Fortune ,
that she doth discover to thee the Hearts of thy faithful Friends ,
since she distinguisheth between the constant and doubtful Countenances
<P_89> of thy Companions and Acquaintance ; and when she departeth ,
that she taketh away her Friends and leaves thine .
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,89.592)

At what rate wouldst thou have bought the knowledg of this , when thou
wert <paren> as it seemed to thee </paren> in thy prosperous Estate ?
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,89.593)

Forbear then to deplore the Loss of thy Riches and Honours , since thou
hast found the most valuable Jewel , the most pretious kind of Riches ,
I mean the Knowledg of thy unalterable and sincere Friends .
(BOETHPR-E3-P1,89.594)

