BOETHIUS
uponMusicandMechanics,andoneuponAstronomy.HistheologicalworksincludedtreatisesagainsttheNestoriansandArians.
ButhisConsolationistheworkuponwhichhisfamerests.Thevenerationinwhichthisbookwasheldinthemiddleagesandonwardisabundantlyshewnbythenumeroustranslationsmadeofit.ItwasveryearlyrenderedintoGerman,andlaterontranslatedintotheFrenchofthedaybyJehandeMeunandothersinlatertimes;intoGreekbyMaximusPlanudes,intoItalianandSpanish.InEnglandtranslationshaveappearedatintervalsduringthelastthousandyears.Forjustthatspaceoftimehaspassedsincethatnobleeducatorofhispeople,AlfredtheGreat,translateditwithAsser'shelp,thinking,itwouldseem,thatthisworkwasmostworthyofhispeople'sreadingofallbooksaftertheBible.ButhisversiondoesnotgiveusaverytrueknowledgeeitherofBoethiusorhisConsolation.ItisofthegreatestvaluetothestudentofAlfred,becausetherearemanyindisputablygenuinesayingsandopinionsofthatwiseman.Therearewisethoughtsuponkinglydutyandmanydefinitely
Christianmaxims.ThesewereoutsidethethemeofBoethius,thoughwisethemselvesanddeeplyinterestingasAlfred'sownwork.Furthermore,themoreabstrusepartsarewhollyomitted,probablyasbeingoflittleuseforKingAlfred'ssubjects.
Inlatertimesthatmostversatilescholar,QueenElizabethtranslatedit.
Chaucer,SirThomasMore,andLeslie,BishopofRoss,theadviserofMary,QueenofScots,wroteimitationsofit.RobertofLincoln(Grossetête)commenteduponit.InthesixteenthcenturyappearedColville'sveryfinetranslation.TranslationsinverseappearedintheseventeenthcenturybyHarryConingsbyandLordPreston;othersfollowedintheeighteenthandnineteenthcenturies.ItsinfluenceistobefoundperhapsevenintheoldestEnglishpoetryofpre-Conquesttimes;itiscertainlyverymarkedinChaucer,Gower,Spenser,andmanyanotherlaterpoet.AndinItaly,DantemakesSt.ThomasAquinaspointoutthespiritofBoethiusinParadisewiththesewords:--'Nowifthymentaleyeconductedbe
FromlighttolightasIresoundtheirfame,Theeighthwellworthattentionthouwiltsee.Withinitdwells,allexcellencebeholding,
Thesoulwhopointedouttheworld'sdarkways,Toallwholisten,itsdeceitsunfolding.BeneathinCieldauroliestheframe
Whenceitwasdriven;fromwoeandexiletoThisfairabodeofpeaceandblissitcame.'Paradiso,x.121ff.(Wright'stranslation.)
CHRONOLOGICALTABLE
A.D470493510522526
AniciusManliusSeverinusBoethius,bornofmostdistinguishedfamily.Theodoric,theOstrogothicking,becomessolemasterofItaly.Boethiusconsul.
Histwosonsconsuls,andBoethiusdistributesenormouslargesses.WhileusinghisinfluenceasTheodoric's'magisterofficiorum'forthepurity
-6-
THECONSOLATIONOFPHILOSOPHY
ofthegovernmentandthewelfareoftheItalians,Boethiuswaschargedwithtreason.Withouthisbeingallowedtodefendhimself,hispropertywasconfiscated,andhehimselfcondemnedtodeath.HewasimprisonedatTicinum(Pavia),tortured,andbrutallyputtodeathatCalvenzanoHisfather-in-law,Symmachus,wasalsoexecuted.
722.
Liutprand,kingoftheLombards,erectedatombtohismemoryintheChurchofS.PietroCield'OroatPavia.(SeethequotationfromDanteabove.)
AfewwordsonTheodoricmayconcludethisnote.
TheodoricwasbornA.D.455,educatedatConstantinopleasahostageoftheEmperorLeo,andsucceededhisfatherasKingoftheOstrogothsin475.Hisyouthwasspentchieflyinwar.Heattackedhisally,theEmperorZeno,in487.TosaveConstantinople,ZenogavehimleavetoexpelOdoacerfromItaly.PracticallythewholeGothicnationmigratedwithTheodoric'sarmytoItaly,whereOdoacerwasthricedefeated.HeconsentedtoallowTheodorictoreignjointlywithhim,buthewasconvenientlyassassinatedverysoonafterwards,andTheodoricruledtillhediedin526,leavingthecountrycertainlyinabetterstatethanthatinwhichhefoundit,havingruledwithmoderationonthewhole,andchoosinggoodministerssuchasBoethius.Butinhislastyearshebecameinfluencedbyunscrupulousmen,informers,barbarianOstrogoths,whooppressedtheItalians,andthemostbitterAriansectaries,byeachofwhichclassesBoethiuswashatedasanhonestandpowerfulminister,aprotectoroftheoppressedItaliansandasanorthodoxChristian.
W.V.C.
-7-
BOETHIUS
BOOKI
Met.I
Boethiusbewailshischangedcircumstances
'Topleasantsongsmyworkwaserstwhilegiven,andbrightwereallmy
laboursthen;butnowintearstosadrefrainsamIcompelledtoturn.ThusmymaimedMusesguidemypen,andgloomysongsmakenofeignedtearsbedewmyface.Thencouldnofearsoovercometoleavemecompanionlessuponmyway.Theyweretheprideofmyearlierbright-liveddays:inmylatergloomydaystheyarethecomfortofmyfate;forhastenedbyunhappinesshasagecomeuponmewithoutwarning,andgriefhathsetwithinmetheoldageofhergloom.Whitehairsarescattereduntimelyonmyhead,andtheskinhangslooselyfrommyworn-outlimbs.
'Happyisthatdeathwhichthrustsnotitselfuponmenintheirpleasantyears,yetcomestothemattheoft-repeatedcryoftheirsorrow.Sadisithowdeathturnsawayfromtheunhappywithsodeafanear,andwillnotclose,cruel,theeyesthatweep.IllisittotrusttoFortune'sficklebounty,andwhileyetshesmileduponme,thehourofgloomhadwell-nighoverwhelmedmyhead.Nowhasthecloudputoffitsalluringface,whereforewithoutscruplemylifedragsoutitswearyingdelays.
'Why,Omyfriends,didyesooftenpuffmeup,tellingmethatIwasfortunate?Forhethatisfallenlowdidneverfirmlystand.'
ProseI
PhilosophyapproachesBoethius:theformofherappearanceisallegorical
WhileIwasponderingthusinsilence,andusingmypentosetdownsotearfulacomplaint,thereappearedstandingovermyheadawoman'sform,whosecountenancewasfullofmajesty,whoseeyesshoneaswithfireandinpowerofinsightsurpassedtheeyesofmen,whosecolourwasfulloflife,whosestrengthwasyetintactthoughshewassofullofyearsthatnonewouldeverthinkthatshewassubjecttosuchageasours.Onecouldbutdoubthervaryingstature,foratone
momentsherepressedittothecommonmeasureofaman,atanothersheseemedtotouchwithhercrowntheveryheavens:andwhenshehadraisedhigherherhead,itpiercedeventheskyandbaffledthesightofthosewhowouldlookuponit.Herclothingwaswroughtofthefinestthreadbysubtleworkmanshipbroughttoan
indivisiblepiece.Thishadshewovenwithherownhands,asIafterwardsdidlearnbyherownshewing.Theirbeautywassomewhatdimmedbythedulnessoflongneglect,asisseeninthesmoke-grimedmasksofourancestors.Ontheborderbelowwas
inwoven the symbol Π (Pi), on that above was to be read a Θ (Theta)[1].Andbetweenthetwoletterstherecouldbemarkeddegrees,bywhich,asbytherungsofaladder,ascentmightbemadefromthelowerprincipletothehigher.Yetthehandsofroughmenhadtornthisgarmentandsnatchedsuchmorselsastheycouldtherefrom.Inherrighthandshecarriedbooks,inherleftwasasceptrebrandished.
WhenshesawthattheMusesofpoetrywerepresentbymycouchgivingwordstomylamenting,shewasstirredawhile;hereyesflashedfiercely,andsaidshe,'Whohassufferedtheseseducingmummerstoapproachthissickman?Neverdotheysupportthoseinsorrowbyanyhealingremedies,butratherdoeverfosterthesorrowbypoisonoussweets.Thesearetheywhostiflethefruit-bearingharvestofreasonwiththebarrenbriarsofthepassions:theyfreenotthemindsofmenfromdisease,butaccustomthemthereto.Iwouldthinkitlessgrievousifyourallurementsdrewawayfrommesomeuninitiatedman,ashappensinthevulgarherd.Insuchan
-8-
THECONSOLATIONOFPHILOSOPHY
onemylabourswouldbenaughtharmed,butthismanhasbeennourishedintheloreofEleaticsandAcademics;andtohimhaveyereached?Awaywithyou,Sirens,seductiveuntodestruction!leavehimtomyMusestobecaredforandtobehealed.'
Theirbandthusratedcastasaddenedglanceupontheground,confessingtheirshameinblushes,andpassedforthdismallyoverthethreshold.Formypart,myeyesweredimmedwithtears,andIcouldnotdiscernwhowasthiswomanofsuchcommandingpower.Iwasamazed,andturningmyeyestothegroundIbeganinsilencetoawaitwhatsheshoulddo.Thensheapproachednearerandsatdownupontheendofmycouch:shelookedintomyfaceheavywithgriefandcastdownbysorrowtotheground,andthensheraisedhercomplaintoverthetroubleofmymindinthesewords.
Met.II
'Ahme!howbluntedgrowsthemindwhensunkbelowtheo'erwhelmingflood!Itsowntruelightnolongerburnswithin,anditwouldbreakforthtoouterdarknesses.Howoftencare,whenfannedbyearthlywinds,growstoalargerandunmeasuredbane.Thismanhasbeenfreetotheopenheaven:hishabithasitbeentowanderintothepathsofthesky:histowatchthelightofthebrightsun,histoinquireintothebrightnessofthechillymoon;he,likeaconqueror,heldfastboundinitsordereverystarthatmakesitswanderingcircle,turningitspeculiarcourse.Nay,more,deeplyhashesearchedintothespringsofnature,whencecametheroaringblaststhatruffletheocean'sbosomcalm:whatisthespiritthatmakesthefirmamentrevolve;whereforedoestheeveningstarsinkintothewesternwavebuttorisefromtheradiantEast;whatisthecausewhichsotemperstheseasonofSpringthatitdeckstheearthwithrose-blossoms;whencecomesittopassthatAutumnisprolificintheyearsofplentyandoverflowswithteemingvines:deeplytosearchthesecauseswashiswont,andtobringforthsecretsdeepinNaturehid.
'Nowheliesthere;extincthisreason'slight,hisneckinheavychainsthrustdown,hiscountenancewithgrievousweightdowncast;ah!thebruteearthisallhecanbehold.
ProseII
'Butnow,'saidshe,'isthetimeforthephysician'sart,ratherthanfor
complaining.'Thenfixinghereyeswhollyonme,shesaid,'Areyouthemanwhowasnourisheduponthemilkofmylearning,broughtupwithmyfooduntilyouhadwonyourwaytothepowerofamanlysoul?SurelyIhadgivenyousuchweaponsaswouldkeepyousafe,andyourstrengthunconquered;ifyouhadnotthrownthemaway.Doyouknowme?Whydoyoukeepsilence?Areyoudumbfromshameorfromdullamazement?Iwoulditwerefromshame,butIseethatamazementhasoverwhelmedyou.'
WhenshesawthatIwasnotonlysilent,bututterlytongue-tiedanddumb,sheputherhandgentlyuponmybreast,andsaid,'Thereisnodanger:heissufferingfromdrowsiness,thatdiseasewhichattackssomanymindswhichhavebeendeceived.Hehasforgottenhimselfforamomentandwillquicklyremember,assoonasherecognisesme.Thathemaydoso,letmebrushawayfromhiseyesthedarkeningcloudofthoughtsofmattersperishable.'Sosaying,shegatheredherrobeintoafoldanddriedmyswimmingeyes.
Met.III
Thenwasdarknightdispelled,theshadowsfledaway,andmyeyesreceivedreturningpowerasbefore.'Twasjustaswhentheheavenlybodiesareenvelopedbythewestwind'srush,andtheskystandsthickwithwateryclouds;thesunishiddenandthestarsarenotyetcomeintothesky,andnightdescendingfromabove
-9-
BOETHIUS
o'erspreadstheearth:butifthenorthwindsmitesthisscene,launchedforthfromtheThraciancave,itunlockstheimprisoneddaylight;thesunshinesforth,andthussparklingPhoebussmiteswithhisraysourwonderingeyes.
ProseIII
BoethiusgainspowertoaddressphilosophyPhilosophychideshislackofcourage
Insuchamannerwerethecloudsofgriefscattered.ThenIdrewbreathagainandengagedmymindintakingknowledgeofmyphysician'scountenance.SowhenIturnedmyeyestowardsherandfixedmygazeuponher,Irecognisedmynurse,Philosophy,inwhosechambersIhadspentmylifefromearliestmanhood.AndIaskedher,'Whereforehaveyou,mistressofallvirtues,comedownfromheavenabovetovisitmylonelyplaceofbanishment?Isitthatyou,aswellasI,maybeharried,thevictimoffalsecharges?''ShouldI,'saidshe,'desertyou,mynursling?ShouldInotshareandbearmypartoftheburdenwhichhasbeenlaiduponyoufromspiteagainstmyname?SurelyPhilosophyneverallowedherselftolettheinnocentgoupontheirjourneyunbefriended.ThinkyouIwouldfearcalumnies?thatIwouldbeterrifiedasthoughtheywereanewmisfortune?Thinkyouthatthisisthefirsttimethatwisdomhasbeenharassedbydangersamongmenofshamelessways?Inancientdaysbeforethetimeofmychild,Plato,havewenotaswellasnowadaysfoughtmanyamightybattleagainsttherecklessnessoffolly?AndthoughPlatodidsurvive,didnothismaster,Socrates,winhisvictoryofanunjustdeath,withmepresentathisside?WhenafterhimthefollowersofEpicurus,andinturntheStoics,andthenothersdidalltrytheirutmosttoseizehislegacy,theydraggedme,forallmycriesandstruggles,asthoughtosharemeasplunder;theytoremyrobewhichIhadwovenwithmineownhands,andsnatchedawaythefragmentsthereof:andwhentheythoughtIhadaltogetheryieldedmyselftothem,theydeparted.Andsinceamongthemweretobeseencertainsignsofmyoutwardbearing,othersill-adviseddidthinktheyworemylivery:thusweremanyofthemundonebytheerrorsoftheherdofuninitiated.ButifyouhavenotheardoftheexileofAnaxagoras,[2]northepoisondrunkbySocrates,[3]northetortureofZeno,[4]whichallwereofforeignlands,yetyoumayknowofCanius,[5]Seneca,[6]andSoranus,[7]whosefameisneithersmallnorpassingold.Naughtelsebroughtthemtoruinbutthat,beingbuiltupinmyways,theyappearedatvariancewiththedesiresofunscrupulousmen.Soitisnomatterforyourwonderif,inthisseaoflife,wearetossedaboutbystormsfromallsides;fortoopposeevilmenisthechiefaimwesetbeforeourselves.Thoughthebandofsuchmenisgreatinnumbers,yetisittobecontemned:foritisguidedbynoleader,butishurriedalongatrandomonlybyerrorrunningrioteverywhere.Ifthisbandwhenwarringagainstuspressestoostronglyuponus,ourleader,Reason,gathersherforcesintohercitadel,whiletheenemyarebusiedinplunderinguselessbaggage.Astheyseizethemostworthlessthings,welaughatthemfromabove,untroubledbythewholebandofmadmarauders,andwearedefendedbythatramparttowhichriotousfollymaynothopetoattain.
Met.IV
'Hewhohascalmlyreconciledhislifetofate,andsetprouddeathbeneathhisfeet,canlookfortuneintheface,unbendingbothtogoodandbad:hiscountenanceunconqueredhecanshew.Therageandthreateningsoftheseawillnotmovehimthoughtheystirfromitsdepthstheupheavingswell:Vesuvius'sfurnacesmayneversooftenburstforth,andhemaysendrollingupwardssmokeandfire;thelightning,whosewontitistosmitedownloftytowers,mayflashuponitsway,butsuchmenshalltheynevermove.Whythenstandtheywretchedandaghastwhenfiercetyrants
-10-
Consolation of PHilosophy Boethius英文精品课件
