Introduction

Anicus Manlius Severinus Boethius lived in the last quarter of the fifth century A.D., and the first quarter of the sixth. He was growing to manhood, when Theodoric, the famous Ostrogoth, crossed the Alps and made himself master of Italy. Boethius belonged to an ancient family, which boasted a connection with the legendary glories of the Republic, and was still among the foremost in wealth and dignity in the days of Rome's abasement. His parents dying early, he was brought up by Symmachus, whom the age agreed to regard as of almost saintly character, and afterwards became his son-in-law. His varied gifts, aided by an excellent education, won for him the reputation of the most accomplished man of his time. He was orator, poet, musician, philosopher. It is his peculiar distinction to have handed on to the Middle Ages the tradition of Greek philosophy by his Latin translations of the works of Aristotle. Called early to a public career, the highest honours of the State came to him unsought. He was sole Consul in 510 A.D., and was ultimately raised by Theodoric to the dignity of Magister Officiorum, or head of the whole civil administration. He was no less happy in his domestic life, in the virtues of his wife, Rusticiana, and the fair promise of his two sons, Symmachus and Boethius; happy also in the society of a refined circle of friends. Noble, wealthy, accomplished, universally esteemed for his virtues, high in the favour of the Gothic King, he appeared to all men a signal example of the union of merit and good fortune. His felicity seemed to culminate in the year 522 A.D., when, by special and extraordinary favour, his two sons, young as they were for so exalted an honour, were created joint Consuls and rode to the senate-house attended by a throng of senators, and the acclamations of the multitude. Boethius himself, amid the general applause, delivered the public speech in the King's honour usual on such occasions. Within a year he was a solitary prisoner at Pavia, stripped of honours, wealth, and friends, with death hanging over him, and a terror worse than death, in the fear lest those dearest to him should be involved in the worst results of his downfall. It is in this situation that the opening of the 'Consolation of Philosophy' brings Boethius before us. He represents himself as seated in his prison distraught with grief, indignant at the injustice of his misfortunes, and seeking relief for his melancholy in writing verses descriptive of his condition. Suddenly there appears to him the Divine figure of Philosophy, in the guise of a woman of superhuman dignity and beauty, who by a succession of discourses convinces him of the vanity of regret for the lost gifts of fortune, raises his mind once more to the contemplation of the true good, and makes clear to him the mystery of the world's moral government.

Anicus Manlius Severinus Boethius lived during the last quarter of the fifth century A.D. and the first quarter of the sixth. He was approaching adulthood when Theodoric, the famous Ostrogoth, crossed the Alps and made himself master of Italy. Boethius belonged to an ancient family that claimed a connection to the legendary glories of the Republic. Even in the days of Rome's decline, his family remained among the richest and most distinguished. His parents died when he was young, and he was brought up by Symmachus. People of the time agreed that Symmachus was almost saintly in character. Boethius later married his daughter. Boethius had many talents and an excellent education, which earned him a reputation as the most accomplished man of his time. He was an orator, poet, musician, and philosopher. His special distinction was passing on the tradition of Greek philosophy to the Middle Ages through his Latin translations of Aristotle's works. He was called to public service early in life and received the highest honors of the State without seeking them. He was sole Consul in 510 A.D. Theodoric eventually raised him to the rank of Magister Officiorum, or head of the entire civil administration. Boethius was equally happy in his home life, thanks to the virtues of his wife, Rusticiana, and the promise shown by his two sons, Symmachus and Boethius. He also enjoyed the company of a refined circle of friends. Noble, wealthy, and accomplished, he was universally respected for his virtues and highly favored by the Gothic King. To everyone, he seemed an outstanding example of merit joined with good fortune. His happiness seemed to reach its peak in 522 A.D. By a special and extraordinary favor, his two sons were made joint Consuls, although they were young for such a high honor. They rode to the senate-house accompanied by a crowd of senators and cheered by the multitude. Boethius himself delivered the customary public speech honoring the King, amid applause from everyone. Within a year, he was alone in prison at Pavia, stripped of his honors, wealth, and friends. Death hung over him, along with a terror worse than death. He feared that those dearest to him might suffer the worst consequences of his downfall. This is the situation in which the opening of the 'Consolation of Philosophy' presents Boethius. He describes himself sitting in prison, overwhelmed with grief and angry at the injustice of his misfortunes. He seeks relief from his sadness by writing verses about his condition. Suddenly, the Divine figure of Philosophy appears to him as a woman of superhuman dignity and beauty. Through a series of discourses, she convinces him that regret for the lost gifts of fortune is futile. She turns his mind once more to the contemplation of the true good and makes clear to him the mystery of the world's moral government.