BOETHIUS
'HowcanIbutrememberthat?''Canyouthensaywhatisaman?'
'Needyouask?Iknowthatheisananimal,reasoningandmortal;thatIknow,andthatIconfessmyselftobe.'
'Knowyounaughtelsethatyouare?'askedPhilosophy.'Naught,'saidI.
'Now,'saidshe,'Iknowthecause,orthechiefcause,ofyoursickness.Youhaveforgottenwhatyouare.NowthereforeIhavefoundouttothefullthemannerofyoursickness,andhowtoattempttherestoringofyourhealth.Youareoverwhelmedbythisforgetfulnessofyourself:henceyouhavebeenthussorrowingthatyouareexiledandrobbedofallyourpossessions.Youdonotknowtheaimandendofallthings;henceyouthinkthatifmenareworthlessandwicked,theyarepowerfulandfortunate.Youhaveforgottenbywhatmethodstheuniverseisguided;henceyouthinkthatthechancesofgoodandbadfortunearetossedaboutwithnorulinghand.Thesethingsmayleadnottodiseaseonly,buteventodeathaswell.ButletusthanktheGiverofallhealth,thatyournaturehasnotaltogetherleftyou.Wehaveyetthechiefsparkforyourhealth'sfire,foryouhaveatrueknowledgeofthehandthatguidestheuniverse:youdobelievethatitsgovernmentisnotsubjecttorandomchance,buttodivinereason.Thereforehavenofear.Fromthistinysparkthefireoflifeshallforthwithshineuponyou.Butitisnottimetousesevererremedies,andsinceweknowthatitisthewayofallmindstoclothethemselveseverinfalse
opinionsastheythrowoffthetrue,andthesefalseonesbreedadarkdistractionwhichconfusesthetrueinsight,thereforewillItrytolessenthisdarknessforawhilewithgentleapplicationsofeasyremedies,thatsotheshadowsofdeceivingpassionsmaybedissipated,andyoumayhavepowertoperceivethebrightnessoftruelight.'
Met.VII
'Whenthestarsarehiddenbyblackclouds,nolightcantheyafford.Whentheboisteroussouthwindrollsalongtheseaandstirsthesurge,thewater,butnowasclearasglass,brightasthefairsun'slight,isdark,impenetrabletosight,withstirredandscatteredsand.Thestream,thatwandersdownthemountain'sside,mustoftenfindastumbling-block,astonewithinitspathtornfromthehill'sownrock.Sotooshaltthou:ifthouwouldstseethetruthinundimmedlight,choosethestraightroad,thebeatenpath;awaywithpassingjoys!Awaywithfear!Putvainhopestoflight!Andgrantnoplacetogrief!Wherethesedistractionsreign,themindiscloudedo'er,thesoulisboundinchains.'
-16-
THECONSOLATIONOFPHILOSOPHY
BOOKII
ProseI
Philosophywouldprovethathisopinionsandgriefsarenotjustifiedinoneof
herfollowers
THENforawhilesheheldherpeace.Butwhenhersilence,sodiscreet,mademythoughtstoceasefromstraying,shethusbegantospeak:'IfIhavethoroughlylearnedthecausesandthemannerofyoursickness,yourformergoodfortunehassoaffectedyouthatyouarebeingconsumedbylongingforit.Thechangeofoneofherthisalonehasoverturnedyourpeaceofmindthroughyourownimagination.Iunderstandthevarieddisguisesofthatunnaturalstate.IknowhowFortuneisevermostfriendlyandalluringtothosewhomshestrivestodeceive,untilsheoverwhelmsthemwithgriefbeyondbearing,bydesertingthemwhenleastexpected.Ifyourecallhernature,herways,orherdeserts,youwillseethatyouneverhadinher,norhavelostwithher,aughtthatwaslovely.Yet,Ithink,Ishallnotneedgreatlabourtorecallthistoyourmemory.Forthentoo,whenshewasatyoursidewithallherflattery,youwerewonttoreproachherinstrongandmanlyterms;andtorevileherwiththeopinionsthatyouhadgatheredinworshipofmewithmyfavouredones.Butnosuddenchangeofoutwardaffairscanevercomewithoutsomeupheavalinthemind.Thushasitfollowedthatyou,likeothers,havefallensomewhatawayfromyourcalmpeaceofmind.Butitistimenowforyoutomaketrialofsomegentleandpleasantdraught,whichbyreachingyourinmostpartsshallpreparethewayforyetstrongerhealingdraughts.Trythereforetheassuringinfluenceofgentleargumentwhichkeepsitsstraightpathonlywhenitholdsfasttomyinstructions.Andwiththisartoforatorsletmyhandmaid,theartofsong,lendheraidinchantinglightorweightyharmoniesaswedesire.
'Whatisit,mortalman,thathascastyoudownintogriefandmourning?Youhaveseensomethingunwonted,itwouldseem,somethingstrangetoyou.ButifyouthinkthatFortunehaschangedtowardsyou,youarewrong.Theseareeverherways:thisisherverynature.Shehaswithyoupreservedherownconstancybyherverychange.Shewaseverchangeableatthetimewhenshesmileduponyou,whenshewasmockingyouwiththeallurementsoffalsegoodfortune.Youhavediscoveredboththedifferentfacesoftheblindgoddess.Totheeyesofotherssheisveiledinpart:toyoushehasmadeherselfwhollyknown.Ifyoufindherwelcome,makeuseofherways,andsomakenocomplaining.Ifshefillsyouwithhorrorbyher
treachery,treatherwithdespite;thrustherawayfromyou,forshetemptsyoutoyourruin.Forthoughsheisthecauseofthisgreattroubleforyou,sheoughttohavebeenthesubjectofcalmnessandpeace.Fornomancanevermakehimselfsurethatshewillneverdeserthim,andthushasshedesertedyou.Doyoureckonsuchhappinesstobeprized,whichissuretopassaway?Isgoodfortunedeartoyou,whichiswithyouforatimeandisnotsuretostay,andwhichissuretobringyouunhappinesswhenitisgone?Butseeingthatitcannotbestayedatwill,andthatwhenitfleesawayitleavesmiserybehind,whatissuchafleetingthingbutasignofcomingmisery?Norshoulditeversatisfyanymantolookonlyatthatwhichisplacedbeforehiseyes.Prudencetakesmeasureoftheresultstocomefromallthings.Thevery
changeablenessofgoodandbadmakesFortune'sthreatsnomorefearful,norhersmilestobedesired.Andlastly,whenyouhaveonceputyourneckbeneaththeyokeofFortune,youmustwithsteadfastheartbearwhatevercomestopasswithinher
-17-
BOETHIUS
realm.Butifyouwoulddictatethelawbywhichshewhomyouhavefreelychosentobeyourmistressmuststayorgo,surelyyouwillbeactingwithoutjustification;andyourveryimpatiencewillmakemorebitteralotwhichyoucannotchange.Ifyousetyoursailsbeforethewind,willyounotmoveforwardwhitherthewinddrivesyou,notwhitheryourwillmaychoosetogo?Ifyouintrustyourseedtothefurrow,willyounotweightherichyearsandthebarrenagainsteachother?YouhavegivenyourselfovertoFortune'srule,andyoumustbowyourselftoyourmistress'sways.Areyoutryingtostaytheforceofherturningwheel?Ah!dull-wittedmortal,ifFortunebegintostaystill,sheisnolongerFortune.
Met.I
'Asthussheturnsherwheelofchancewithhaughtyhand,andpressesonlikethesurgeofEuripus'stides,fortunenowtramplesfiercelyonafearsomeking,andnowdeceivesnolessaconqueredmanbyraisingfromthegroundhishumbledface.Shehearsnowretch'scry,sheheedsnotears,butwantonlyshemocksthesorrowwhichhercrueltyhasmade.Thisishersport:thussheprovesherpower;ifintheselfsamehouronemanisraisedtohappiness,andcastdownindespair,'tisthussheshewshermight.
ProseII
Philosophyshewshowfortunemaypleadherjustification
'NowwouldIarguewithyoubythesefewwordswhichFortuneherselfmightuse:anddoyouconsiderwhetherherdemandsarefair\Oman,\shemightsay,\youdailyaccusemewithyourcomplainings?WhatinjusticehaveIwroughtuponyou?OfwhatgoodthingshaveIrobbedyou?Chooseyourjudgewhomyouwill,andbeforehimstrivewithmefortherighttoholdyourwealthandhonours.Ifyoucanprovethatanyoneofthesedoestrulybelongtoanymortalman,readilywillIgrantthattheseyouseektoregainwereyours.Whennaturebroughtyouforthfromyourmother'swomb,Ireceivedyouinmyarmsnakedandbareofallthings;Icherishedyouwithmygifts,andIbroughtyouupalltookindlywithmyfavouringcare,
whereforenowyoucannotbearwithme,andIsurroundedyouwithgloryandalltheabundancethatwasminetogive.Nowitpleasesmetowithdrawmyhand:bethankful,asthoughyouhadliveduponmyloans.Youhavenojustcauseof
complaint,asthoughyouhadreallylostwhatwasonceyourown.Whydoyourailagainstme?Ihavewroughtnoviolencetowardsyou.Wealth,honours,andallsucharewithinmyrights.Theyaremyhandmaids;theyknowtheirmistress;theycomewithmeandgowhenIdepart.BoldlywillIsaythatifthese,ofwhoselossyoucomplain,wereeveryours,youwouldneverhavelostthematall.AmIalonetobestayedfromusingmyrightfulpower?Theheavensmaygrantbrightsunlitdays,andhidethesamebeneaththeshadeofnight.Theyearmaydecktheearth'scountenancewithflowersandfruits,andagainwrapitwithchillingclouds.Theseamaycharmwithitssmoothedsurface,butnolessjustlyitmaysoonbristleinstormswithroughwaves.Istheinsatiatediscontentofmantobindmetoaconstancywhichbelongsnottomyways?Hereinliesmyverystrength;thisismyunchangingsport.Iturnmywheelthatspinsitscirclefairly;Idelighttomakethelowestturntothetop,the
highesttothebottom.Comeyoutothetopifyouwill,butonthiscondition,thatyouthinkitnounfairnesstosinkwhentheruleofmygamedemandsit.Doyounotknowmyways?HaveyounotheardhowCroesus,[15]kingofLydia,whofilledevenCyruswithfearbutalittleearlier,wasmiserablyputuponapyreofburningfaggots,butwassavedbyrainsentdownfromheaven?HaveyouforgottenhowPaulusshedtearsofrespectforthemiseriesofhiscaptive,KingPerses?[16]Forwhatelseisthecryingandtheweepingintragediesbutforthehappinessofkingsoverturnedbytherandom
-18-
THECONSOLATIONOFPHILOSOPHY
blowoffortune?HaveyouneverlearntinyouryouththeancientallegorythatinthethresholdofJove'shalltherestandtwovessels,onefullofevil,andoneofgood?Whatifyouhavereceivedmorerichlyofthegood?WhatifIhavenoteverwithheldmyselffromyou?Whatifmychangingnatureisitselfareasonthatyoushouldhopeforbetterthings?Inanyway,letnotyourspiriteatitselfaway:youaresetinthespherethatiscommontoall,letyourdesirethereforebetolivewithyourownlotoflife,asubjectofthekingdomoftheworld.
Met.II
\Plentywitho'erflowinghornscatterherwealthabroad,abundantly,asinthestorm-tossedseathesandiscastaround,orsobeyondallmeasureasthestarsshineforthuponthestuddedskyincloudlessnights;thoughsheneverstayherhand,yetwilltheraceofmenstillweepandwail.ThoughGodaccepttheirprayersfreelyandgivegoldwithungrudginghand,anddeckwithhonoursthosewhodeservethem,yetwhentheyaregotten,thesegiftsseemnaught.Wildgreedswallowswhatithassought,andstillgapeswideformore.Whatbitorbridlewillholdwithinitscoursethisheadlonglust,when,whettedbyabundanceofrichgifts,thethirstforpossessionburns?Nevercallwethatmanrichwhoisevertremblinginhasteandgroaningforthathethinkshelacks.\
ProseIII
PhilosophyproceedstojustifyfortuneinthebalanceofaccountswithBoethius
'IfFortuneshouldthusdefendherselftoyou,'saidPhilosophy,'youwouldhavenaught,Ithink,toutterontheotherpart.Butifyouhaveanyjustdefenceforyourcomplaining,youmustputitforward.Wewillgrantyoutheopportunityofspeaking.'
ThenIanswered,'Thoseargumentshaveafairformandareclothedwithallthesweetnessofspeechandofsong.Whenamanlistenstothem,theydelighthim;butonlysolong.Thewretchedhaveadeeperfeelingoftheirmisfortunes.Whereforewhenthesepleasingsoundsfallnolongerupontheear,thisdeep-rootedmiseryagainweighsdownthespirit.'
'Itisso,'shesaid.'Forthesearenottheremediesforyoursickness,butinsomesortaretheapplicationsforyourgriefwhichchafesagainstitscure.Whenthetimecomes,Iwillapplythosewhicharetopenetratedeeply.Butthatyoumaynotbecontenttothinkyourselfwretched,rememberhowmanyandhowgreathavebeentheoccasionsofyourgoodfortune.Iwillnotdescribehow,whenyoulostyourfather,menofthehighestrankreceivedyouintotheircare:howyouwerechosenbythechiefmeninthestatetobealliedtothembymarriage;[17]andyouweredeartothembeforeyouwereevercloselyrelated;whichisthemostvaluableofallrelationships.Whohesitatedtopronounceyoumostfortunateforthegreatnessofyourwives'
families,fortheirvirtues,andforyourblessingsinyoursonstoo?Ineednotspeakofthosethingsthatarefamiliar,soIpassoverthehonourswhicharedeniedtomostoldmen,butweregrantedtoyouwhenyetyoung.Ichoosetocometotheunrivalledcrownofyourgoodfortune.Iftheenjoymentofanythingmortalcanweighatallinthebalanceofgoodfortune,canyourmemoryofonegreatdayeverbeextinguishedbyanymassofaccumulatedills?Imeanthatdaywhenyousawyourtwosonsproceedforthfromyourhouseasconsulstogether,amidthecrowdingsenators,theeagerandapplaudingpopulace:whentheysatdownintheseatsofhonourandyoudeliveredthespeechofcongratulationtotheking,gainingtherebygloryforyourtalentandyoureloquence:wheninthecircusyousatintheplaceofhonourbetweentheconsuls,andbyadisplayoflavishnessworthyofatriumphinggeneral,youpleasedtothefullthemultitudewhowerecrowdedaroundinexpectation.
-19-
BOETHIUS
'WhileFortunethenfavouredyou,itseemsyouflauntedher,thoughshecherishedyouasherowndarling.Youcarriedoffabountywhichshehadnevergrantedtoanycitizenbefore.WillyouthenbalanceaccountswithFortune?Thisisthefirsttimethatshehaslookeduponyouwithagrudgingeye.Ifyouthinkofyourhappyandunhappycircumstancesbothinnumberandinkind,youwillnotbeabletosaythatyouhavenotbeenfortunateuntilnow.Andifyouthinkthatyouwerenotfortunatebecausethesethingshavepassedawaywhichthenseemedtobring
happiness,thesethingstooarepassingaway,whichyounowholdtobemiserable,whereforeyoucannotthinkthatyouarewretchednow.Isthisyourfirstentranceuponthestageoflife?Areyoucomehereunpreparedandastrangertothescene?Thinkyouthatthereisanycertaintyintheaffairsofmankind,whenyouknowthatoftenoneswifthourcanutterlydestroyaman?Forthoughthechancesoflifemayseldombedependedupon,yetthelastdayofalifetimeseemstobetheendofFortune'spower,thoughitperhapswouldstay.What,thinkyou,shouldwethereforesay;thatyoudesertherbydying,orthatshedesertsyoubyleavingyou?'
Met.III
'Wheno'ertheheavenPhoebusfromhisrose-redcarbeginstoshedhislightabroad,hisflamesoppressthepalingstarsandblunttheirwhitenedrays.Whenthegrovegrowsbrightinspringwithroses'neaththewestwind'swarmingbreath,letbutthecloudygaleoncewildlyblow,andtheirbeautyisgone,thethornsaloneremain.Oftentheseaiscalmlyglisteningbrightwithalluntroubledwaves,butasoftendoesthenorthwindstirthemup,makingthetroublingtempestboil.Ifthentheearth'sowncoveringsoseldomconstantstays,ifitschangesaresogreat,shaltthoutrustthebrittlefortunesofmankind,havefaithinfleetinggood?Forthisissure,andthisisfixedbyeverlastinglaw,thatnaughtwhichisbroughttobirthshallconstanthereabide.'
ProseIV
Boethiuspleadsthat'sorrow'scrownofsorrowisrememberinghappierthings,'
andPhilosophyanswershim
ThenIansweredher,'Cherisherofallthevirtues,youtellmebutthetruth:Icannotdenymyrapidsuccessesandmyprosperity.Butitissuchremembrancesthattormentmemorethanothers.ForofallsufferingfromFortune,theunhappiestmisfortuneistohaveknownahappyfortune.'
'But,'saidPhilosophy,'youarepayingthepenaltyforyourmistaken
expectations,andwiththisyoucannotjustlychargeyourlife'scircumstances.IfyouareaffectedbythisemptynameofFortune'sgiftofhappiness,youmustlistenwhileIrecallhowmanyandhowgreatareyoursourcesofhappiness:andthus,ifyouhavepossessedthatwhichisthemostpreciousamongallFortune'sgifts,andifthatisstillsafeandunharmedinyourpossession,youwillnever,whileyoukeepthesebettergifts,beabletojustlychargeFortunewithunkindness.Firstly,yourwife'sfather,Symmachus,isstilllivingandhale;andwhatmorepreciousgloryhasthehumanracethanhim?Andhe,becauseyourworthisundiminishedandyourlifestillsovaluable,ismourningfortheinjusticeyousuffer,thismanwhoiswhollymadeupofwisdomandvirtue.Again,yourwifelives,awomanwhosecharacterisfullofvirtue,whosemodestyexcelsitskind;awomanwho(toputinawordthegiftsshebroughtyou)islikeherfather.Shelives,and,hatingthislife,foryoursakealonesheclingstoit.HereinonlywillIyieldtoallowyouunhappiness;shepineswithtearsandgriefthroughherlongingforyou.NeedIspeakofyoursonswhohavebothbeenconsuls,andwhoselives,aswhentheywereboys,areyetbrightwiththecharacteroftheirgrandfatherandtheirfather?Wherefore,sincemortalsdesireexceedinglytokeepa
-20-
Consolation of PHilosophy Boethius英文精品课件
