THECONSOLATIONOFPHILOSOPHY
holdonlife,howhappyyoushouldbe,knewyoubutyourblessings,sinceyouhavestillwhatnonedoubtstobedearerthanlifeitself?Whereforenowdryyourtears.Fortune'shatredhasnotyetbeensogreatastodestroyallyourholdsuponhappiness:thetempestthatisfallenuponyouisnottoogreatforyou:youranchorsholdyetfirm,andtheyshouldkeepevernightoyouconfidenceinthepresentandhopeforfuturetime.'
'Andmaytheycontinuetoholdfast,'saidI,'thatismyprayer:whiletheyarefirm,wewillreachtheendofourvoyage,howeverthingsmaybe.Butyouseehowmuchmygloryhasdeparted.'
Andsheanswered,'Wehavemadesomeprogress,ifyouarenotnowwearyentirelyofyourpresentlot.ButIcannotbearthisdallyingsosoftly,solongasyoucomplainthatyourhappinesslacksaught,solongasyouarefullofsorrowandcare.Whosehappinessissofirmlyestablishedthathehasnoquarrelfromanysidewithhisestateoflife?Fortheconditionofourwelfareisamatterfraughtwithcare:eitheritscompletenessneverappears,oritneverremains.Oneman'swealthisabundant,buthisbirthandbreedingputhimtoshame.Anotherisfamousforhisnoblebirth,butwouldratherbeunknownbecauseheishamperedbyhisnarrowmeans.Athirdisblessedwithwealthandbreeding,butbewailshislifebecausehehasnowife.
Anotherishappyinhismarriage,buthasnochildren,andsaveshiswealthonlyforanheirthatisnosonofhis.Anotherisblessedwithchildren,butweepstearsofsorrowforthemisdeedsofsonordaughter.Sononeisreadilyatpeacewiththelothis
fortunesendshim.Forineachcasethereisthatwhichisunknowntohimwhohasnotexperiencedit,andwhichbringshorrortohimwhohasexperiencedit.Considerfurther,thatthefeelingsofthemostfortunatemenarethemosteasilyaffected,wherefore,unlessalltheirdesiresaresupplied,suchmen,beingunusedtoall
adversity,arecastdownbyeverylittlecare:sosmallarethetroubleswhichcanrobthemofcompletehappiness.
'Howmanyarethey,thinkyou,whowouldthinkthemselvesraisedtoheavenifthesmallestpartoftheremnantsofyourgoodfortunefelltothem?Thisveryplace,whichyoucallaplaceofexile,ishometothosewholiveherein.Thusthereisnothingwretchedunlessyouthinkittobeso:andinlikemannerhewhobearsallwithacalmmindfindshislotwhollyblessed.Whoissohappybutwouldwishtochangehisestate,ifheyieldstoimpatienceofhislot?Withhowmuchbitternessisthesweetnessofman'slifemingled!Foreventhoughitsenjoymentseempleasant,yetitmaynotbesurelykeptfromdepartingwhenitwill.Itisplainthenhowwretchedisthehappinessofmortallifewhichneitherenduresforeverwithmenofcalmmind,noreverwhollydelightsthecare-ridden.Wherefore,then,Omortalmen,seekyethathappinesswithout,whichlieswithinyourselves?Yeareconfoundedbyerrorandignorance.IwillshewyouasshortlyasImay,thepoleonwhichturnsthehighesthappiness.Isthereaughtthatyouvaluemorehighlythanyourownself?Youwillanswerthatthereisnothing.Ifthenyouaremasterofyourself,youwillbein
possessionofthatwhichyouwillneverwishtolose,andwhichFortunewillneverbeabletotakefromyou.Yetconsiderthisfurther,thatyoumaybeassuredthat
happinesscannotbefixedinmattersofchance:ifhappinessisthehighestgoodofamanwholiveshislifebyreason,andifthatwhichcanbyanymeansbesnatchedaway,isnotthehighestgood(sincethatwhichisbestcannotbesnatchedaway),itisplainthatFortunebyitsownuncertaintycannevercomeneartoreachinghappiness.Further,themanwhoisbornealongbyahappinesswhichmaystumble,eitherknowsthatitmaychange,orknowsitnot:ifheknowsitnot,whathappinesscantherebeintheblindnessofignorance?Ifheknowsit,hemustneedsliveinfearoflosingthat
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BOETHIUS
whichhecannotdoubtthathemaylose;whereforeanever-presentfearallowsnotsuchanonetobehappy.Oratanyrate,ifheloseitwithoutunhappiness,doeshenotthinkitworthless?Forthat,whoselosscanbecalmlyborne,isindeedasmallgood.You,Iknowwell,arefirmlypersuadedthatmen'sunderstandingscanneverdie;thistruthisplanteddeepinyoubymanyproofs:sincethenitisplainthatthehappinessoffortuneisboundedbythedeathofthebody,youcannotdoubtthat,ifdeathcancarryawayhappiness,thewholeraceofmortalsissinkingintowretchednesstobefoundupontheborderofdeath.Butweknowthatmanyhavesoughttheenjoymentofhappinessnotonlybydeath,butevenbysorrowandsufferings:howthencanthepresenceofthislifemakeushappy,whenitsendcannotmakeusunhappy?
Met.IV
'Hethatwouldbuildonalastingresting-place;whowouldbefirmtoresisttheblastsofthestormingwind;whoseeks,too,safetywherehemaycontemnthesurgeandthreateningofthesea;mustleavetheloftymountain'stop,andleavethethirstingsands.Thehillissweptbyallthemightoftheheadstronggale:thesandsdissolve,andwillnotbeartheloaduponthem.Lethimflythedangerinalotwhichispleasantrestuntotheeye:lethimbemindfultosethishousesurelyuponthelowlyrock.Thenletthewindbellow,confoundingwreckageinthesea,andthouwiltstillbefoundeduponunmovingpeace,wiltbeblessedinthestrengthofthydefence:thylifewillbespentincalmness,andthoumayestmocktheragingpassionsoftheair.
ProseV
Philosophyexaminesmorecarefullythevalueofthingshighlyprizedbymen
'Butnow,'shecontinued,'thefirstremediesofreasoningarereachingyoumoredeeply,andIthinkIshouldnowusethosethataresomewhatstronger.IfthegiftsofFortunefadenotnorpassquicklyaway,evenso,whatisthereinthemwhichcouldeverbetrulyyours,orwhichwouldnotloseitsvaluewhenexaminedorthoughtupon?
'Arerichesvaluablefortheirownnature,oronaccountofyourandothermen'snatures?Whichisthemorevaluable,thegolditselforthepowerofthestoredup-money?Surelywealthshinesmorebrightlywhenspentthanwhenputawayinmasses.Avariceeverbringshatred,whilegenerousspendingbringshonour.Butthatcannotremainwithonepersonwhichishandedovertoanother:thereforemoneybecomesvaluabletoitspossessorwhen,bybeingscattered,itistransferredtoothers,andceasestobepossessed.Andifallthatisheapedtogetheramongmankindcomestooneman,itmakestheothersallpoor.Avoiceindeedfillsequallytheearsofallthathear:butyourrichescannotpasstootherswithoutbeinglessened:andwhentheypass,theymakepoorthosewhomtheyleave.Howstraitthenandpoorarethoseriches,whichmostmenmaynothave,andwhichcanonlycometoonebymakingotherspoor!
'Thinkagainofpreciousstones:doestheirgleamattractyoureyes?Butanyexcellencetheyhaveistheirownbrilliance,andbelongsnottomen:whereforeIamamazedthatmensostronglyadmirethem.Whatmannerofthingcanthatbewhichhasnomindtoinfluence,whichhasnostructureofparts,andyetcanjustlyseemtoaliving,reasoningmindtobebeautiful?Thoughtheybeworksoftheircreator,andbytheirownbeautyandadornmenthaveacertainlowbeauty,yetaretheyinranklowerthanyourownexcellence,andhaveinnowisedeservedyouradmiration.
'Doesthebeautyoflandscapedelightyou?'
'Surely,foritisabeautifulpartofabeautifulcreation:andinlikemannerwerejoiceattimesintheappearanceofacalmsea,andweadmirethesky,thestars,thesun,andthemoon.'
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THECONSOLATIONOFPHILOSOPHY
'Doesanyoneofthese,'saidshe,'concernyou?Dareyouboastyourselfofthesplendidbeautyofanyoneofsuchthings?Areyouyourselfadornedbytheflowersofspring?Isityourrichnessthatswellsthefruitsofautumn?Whyareyoucarriedawaybyemptyrejoicing.Whydoyouembraceasyourownthegoodthingswhichareoutsideyourself?FortunewillnevermakeyourswhatNaturehasmadetobelongtootherthings.Thefruitsoftheearthshoulddoubtlessserveasnourishmentforlivingbeings,butifyouwouldsatisfyyourneedasfullyasNatureneeds,youneednottheabundanceofFortune.Natureiscontentwithverylittle,andifyouseektothrustuponhermorethanisenough,thenwhatyoucastinwillbecomeeitherunpleasingorevenharmful.
'Again,youthinkthatyouappearbeautifulinmanykindsofclothing.Butiftheirformispleasanttotheeyes,Iwouldadmirethenatureofthematerialortheskillofthemaker.Orareyoumadehappybyalonglineofattendants?Surelyiftheyarevicious,theyarebutaburdentothehouse,andfullofinjurytotheirmasterhimself;whileiftheyarehonest,howcanthehonestyofothersbecountedamongyourpossessions?
'Outofallthesepossessions,then,whichyoureckonasyourwealth,notonecanreallybeshowntobeyourown.Foriftheyhavenobeautyforyoutoacquire,whathavetheyforwhichyoushouldgrieveifyoulosethem,orinkeepingwhichyoushouldrejoice?Andiftheyarebeautifulbytheirownnature,howareyouthericherthereby?Forthesewouldhavebeenpleasingofthemselves,thoughcutoutfromyourpossessions.Theydonotbecomevaluablebyreasonthattheyhavecomeintoyourwealth;butyouhavedesiredtocountthemamongyourwealth,becausetheyseemedvaluable.WhythendoyoulongforthemwithsuchrailingagainstFortune?Youseek,Ibelieve,toputwanttoflightbymeansofplenty.Butyoufindthattheopposite
results.Themorevariousisthebeautyoffurniture,themorehelpsareneededtokeepitbeautiful;anditisevertruethattheywhohavemuch,needmuch;andontheotherhand,theyneedleastwhomeasuretheirwealthbytheneedsofnature,notbyexcessofdisplay.
'Istherethennogoodwhichbelongstoyouandisimplantedwithinyou,thatyouseekyourgoodthingselsewhere,inthingswithoutyouandseparatefromyou?Havethingstakensuchaturnthattheanimal,whosereasongivesitaclaimto
divinity,cannotseembeautifultoitselfexceptbythepossessionof.lifelesstrappings?Otherclassesofthingsaresatisfiedbytheirintrinsicpossessions;butmen,thoughmadelikeGodinunderstanding,seektofindamongthelowestthingsadornmentfortheirhighernature:andyoudonotunderstandthatyoudoagreatwrongtherebytoyourCreator.Heintendedthatthehumanraceshouldbeaboveallotherearthlybeings;yetyouthrustdownyourhonourableplacebelowthelowest.Forifevery
goodthingisallowedtobemorevaluablethanthattowhichitbelongs,surelyyouareputtingyourselveslowerthantheminyourestimation,sinceyouthinkpreciousthemostworthlessofthings;andthisisindeedajustresult.Since,then,thisisthe
conditionofhumannature,thatitsurpassesotherclassesonlywhenitrealiseswhatisinitself;assoonasitceasestoknowitself,itmustbereducedtoalowerrankthanthebeasts.Tootheranimalsignoranceofthemselvesisnatural;inmenitisafault.Howplainlyandhowwidelydoyouerrbythinkingthatanythingcanbeadornedbyornamentsthatbelongtoothers!Surelythatcannotbe.Forifanythingbecomes
brilliantbyadditionsthereto,thepraiseforthebrilliancebelongstotheadditions.Butthesubjectremainsinitsownvileness,thoughhiddenandcoveredbytheseexternals.
'Again,Isaythatnaughtcanbeagoodthingwhichdoesharmtoitspossessor.AmIwrong?\youwillsay.Yetmanyatimedorichesharmtheirpossessors,
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BOETHIUS
sinceallbasemen,whoarethereforethemostcovetous,thinkthattheythemselvesaloneareworthytopossessallgoldandpreciousstones.Youtherefore,whonowgoinfearofthecudgelandswordoftherobber,couldlaughinhisfaceifyouhadentereduponthispathwithemptypockets.[18]Howwonderfulisthesurpassingblessingofmortalwealth!Assoonasyouhaveacquiredit,yourcaresbegin!
Met.V
'Ohappywasthatearlyageofmen,contentedwiththeirtrustedandunfailingfields,norruinedbythewealththatenervates.Easilywastheacorngotthatusedtosatisfytheirlongwhilefast.TheyknewnotBacchus'gifts,norhoneymixedtherewith.TheyknewnothowtotingewithTyre'spurpledyesthesheenofChina'ssilks.Theirsleepkepthealthonrushandgrass;thestreamgavethemtodrinkasitflowedby:theloftypinetothemgaveshade.Notoneofthemyetclavetheocean'sdepths,nor,carryingstoresofmerchandise,hadvisitednewshores.Thenwasnotheardthe
battle'strump,norhadbloodmaderedwithbitterhatethebristlingswordsofwar.Forwhyshouldanymadnessurgetotakeupfirsttheirarmsuponanenemysuchonesasknewnosightofcruelwoundsnorknewrewardsthatcouldbereapedinblood?
Wouldthatourtimescouldbutreturntothoseoldways!butloveofgainandgreedofholdingburnmorefiercelyfarthan?tna'sfires.Ah!whowasthewretchwhofirstunearthedthemassofhiddengold,thegemsthatonlylongedtolieunfound?Forfullofdangerwastheprizehefound.
ProseVI
'WhatamItosayofpowerandofthehonoursofoffice,whichyouraisetoheavenbecauseyouknownottruehonouredpower?Whatfiresbelchedforthfrom?tna'sflames,whatoverwhelmingfloodcoulddealsuchruinasthesewhentheyfallintothehandsofevilmen?Iamsureyourememberhowyourforefatherswishedtodoawaywiththeconsularpower,whichhadbeentheveryfoundationofliberty,becauseoftheoverbearingprideoftheconsuls,justasyourancestorshadtooinearliertimesexpungedfromthestatethenameofkingonaccountofthesamepride.Butif,asrarelyhappens,placesofhonouraregrantedtohonestmen,whatelseisdelightfulinthembutthehonestytheypractisethereby?Whereforehonourcomesnottovirtuefromholdingoffice,butcomestoofficefromvirtuestherepractised.
'Butwhatisthepowerwhichyouseekandesteemsohighly?Ocreaturesoftheearth,canyounotthinkoverwhomyouareset?Ifyousawinacommunityofmice,onemouseassertinghisrightsandhispowerovertheothers,withwhatmirthyouwouldgreetthesight!Yetifyouconsiderthebody,whatcanyoufindweakerthanhumanity?Cannotatinygnatbyitsbite,orbycreepingintotheinmostparts,killthatbody?Howcananyexerciserightuponanyotherexceptuponthebodyalone,orthatwhichisbelowthebody,wherebyImeanthefortunes?Canyoueverimposeanylawuponafreespirit?Canyoueverdisturbthepeculiarrestfulnesswhichisthepropertyofamindthathangstogetheruponthefirmbasisofitsreason?Whenacertaintyrantthoughtthatbytortureshewouldcompelafreeman[l9]tobetraytheconspiratorsinaplotagainsthislife,thephilosopherbitthroughhistongueandspatitoutinthetyrant'sface.Thuswerethetortures,whichthetyrantintendedtohavecruelresults,turnedbythephilosopherintosubjectsofhighcourage.Isthereaughtthatonemancandotoanother,whichhemaynotsufferfromanotherinhisturn?WehaveheardhowBusiris,whousedtokillstrangers,waskilledbyHerculeswhenhecametoEgypt.Regulus,[20]whohadcastintochainsmanyaCarthaginiancaptive,soonyieldedhimselfaprisonertotheirchains.Doyouthinkthatpowertobeanypower,whosepossessorcannotensurehisownescapefromsufferingatanother'shandswhatheinflictsuponsomeother?
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THECONSOLATIONOFPHILOSOPHY
'Further,iftherewereanyintrinsicgoodinthenatureofhonoursandpowersthemselves,theycouldnevercrowduponthebasestmen.Foroppositeswillnotbeboundtogether.Naturerefusestoallowcontrariestobelinkedtoeachother.
Wherefore,whileitisundoubtedthatforthemostpartofficesofhonourareenjoyedbybadmen,itisalsomanifestthatthosethingsarenotbynaturegood,whichallowthemselvestoclingtoevilmen.Andthisindeedmayworthilybeheldofallthegiftsoffortunewhichcomewiththegreatestsuccesstothemostunscrupulous.Andinthismatterwemustalsothinkonthisfact,thatnoonedoubtsamantobebraveinwhomhehasfoundbyexaminationthatbraveryisimplanted:andwhoeverhasthequalityofswiftnessisplainlyswift.Soalsomusicmakesmenmusical,medicinemakesmenphysicians,oratorymakesmenorators.Thenatureofeachqualityactsasispeculiartoitself:itisnotconfusedwiththeresultsofcontraryqualities,butgoessofarastodriveoutthosequalitieswhichareopposedtoit.Wealthcannotquenchtheinsatiablethirstofavarice:norcanpowerevermakemasterofhimselfthemanwhomviciouspassionsholdfastinunbreakablechains.Honours,whenjoinedtodishonestmen,sofarfrommakingthemhonourable,betraythemrather,andshowthemtobe
dishonourable.Whyisthisso?Itisbecauseyourejoicetocallthingsbyfalsenameswhichbelongnottothem;theirnamesarerefutedbytherealityoftheirqualities:whereforeneitherriches,northatkindofpower,northesehonours,canjustlysobecalled.Lastly,wemaycometothesameconclusionconcerningalltheaspectsofFortune:nothingistobesoughtinher,anditisplainshehasnoinnategood,forsheisnotalwaysjoinedwithgoodmen,nordoesshemakegoodthosewithwhomsheisjoined.'
Met.VI
'WehaveheardwhatruinNerowroughtwhenRomewasburntandsenatorswereslain.Weknowhowsavagelyhedidtodeathhisbrother,[21]howhewasstainedbythespillingofhisownmother'sblood,andhowhelookeduponhercoldbodyandyetnotearfelluponhischeek:yetcouldthismanbejudgeofthemoralsthatweredead.Nay,hewasrulerofthepeopleswhomthesunlooksuponfromthetimeherisesintheeastuntilhehideshisraysbeneaththewaves,andthosewhomthechillingnorthernWaino'errules,andthosewhomthesoutherngaleburnswithitsdryblast,asitheatstheburningsands.Say,couldgreatpowerchastenNero'smaddenedrage?Ah!heavyfate,howoftenistheswordofhighinjusticegivenwhereisalreadymostpoisonouscruelty!'
ProseVII
Philosophydiscussesfame,'thatlastinfirmityofnobleminds'ThenIsaid,'Youknowthatthevain-gloryofthisworldhashadbutlittleinfluenceoverme;butIhavedesiredthemeansofsomanagingaffairsthatvirtuemightnotgrowagedinsilence.'
'Yes,'saidshe,'butthereisonethingwhichcanattractminds,which,thoughbynatureexcelling,yetarenotledbyperfectiontothefurthestboundsofvirtue;andthatthingistheloveoffameandreputationfordeservingwellofone'scountry.Thinkthenthusuponit,andseethatitisbutaslightthingofnoweight.Asyouhavelearntfromastronomers'shewing,thewholecircumferenceoftheearthisbutasapointcomparedwiththesizeoftheheavens.Thatis,ifyoucomparetheearthwiththecircleoftheuniverse,itmustbereckonedasofnosizeatall.Andofthistinyportionoftheuniversethereisbutafourthpart,asyouhavelearntfromthedemonstrationofPtolem?us,[22]whichisinhabitedbylivingbeingsknowntous.Iffromthisfourthpartyouimaginesubtractedallthatiscoveredbyseaandmarsh,andallthevastregionsofthirstydesert,youwillfindbutthenarrowestspaceleftforhuman
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Consolation of PHilosophy Boethius英文精品课件
