BOETHIUS
habitation.Anddoyouthinkofsettingforthyourfameandpublishingyournameinthisspace,whichisbutasapointwithinanotherpointsocloselycircumscribed?Andwhatsizeormagnificencecanfamehavewhichisshutinbysuchcloseandnarrowbounds?Further,thisnarrowenclosureofhabitationispeopledbymanyracesofmenwhichdifferinlanguage,incustoms,andintheirwholeschemeofliving;andowingtodifficultyoftravelling,differencesofspeech,andrarenessofanyintercourse,thefameofcitiescannotreachthem,muchlessthefameofmen.HasnotCicerowrittensomewherethatinhistimethefameofRomehadnotreachedthemountainsoftheCaucasus,thoughtheRepublicwasalreadywellgrownandstrikingaweamongtheParthiansandothernationsinthoseparts?Doyouseethenhownarrowandcloselyboundedmustbethatfamewhichyouwishtoextendmorewidely?CanthefameofaRomaneverreachpartstowhichthenameofRomecannotcome?
'Further,themannersandcustomsofdifferentracesaresolittleinagreement,thatwhatismakehisnameknown,becausehetakespleasureinagloriousfame.Soeachmanshallbecontentifhisfametravelsthroughouthisowncountrymen,andtheimmortalityofhisnameshallbeboundedbythelimitsofonenation.Buthowmanymen,themostfamousoftheirtimes,arewipedoutbyoblivionbecausenomanhaswrittenofthem![23]Andyetwhatadvantageisthereinmuchthatiswritten?Forwiththeirauthorsthesewritingsareoverwhelmedinthelengthanddimnessofage.Yetwhenyouthinkuponyourfameinfutureages,youseemtothinkthatyouare
prolongingittoimmortality.Butifyouthinkupontheunendinglengthofeternity,whatenjoymentdoyoufindinthelongenduranceofyourname?Forthoughonemomentbearsbuttheleastproportiontotenthousandyears,yetthereisadefiniteratio,becausebotharelimitedspacesoftime.Butevententhousandyears,orthegreatestnumberyouwill,cannotevenbecomparedwitheternity.Fortherewill
alwaysberatiobetweenfinitethings,butbetweenthefiniteandtheinfinitetherecanneverbeanycomparison.Wherefore,howeverlongdrawnoutmaybethelifeofyourfame,itisnotevensmall,butitisabsolutelynothingwhencomparedwitheternity.Youknownothowtoactrightlyexceptforthebreezesofpopularopinionandforthesakeofemptyrumours;thustheexcellenceofconscienceandofvirtueisleftbehind,andyouseekrewardsfromthetattleofothermen.Listentothewittymannerin
whichoneplayedonceupontheshallownessofthispride.Acertainmanoncebitterlyattackedanotherwhohadtakentohimselffalselythenameofphilosopher,notforthepurposeoftruevirtue,butforprideoffame;headdedtohisattackthathewouldknowsoonwhetherhewasaphilosopher,whenhesawwhethertheotherborewithmeeknessandpatiencetheinsultsheheapeduponhim.Theothershowedpatienceforawhileandtooktheinsultsasthoughhescoffedatthem,untilhesaid,\younowseethatIamaphilosopher?\\shouldhave,hadyoukeptsilence,\saidtheotherstingingly.Butwearespeakingofgreatmen:andIask,whatdotheygainfromfame,thoughtheyseekglorybyvirtue?whathavetheyafterthebodyisdissolvedatdeath?Forifmendieutterly,asourreasonforbidsustobelieve,thereisnoglorylefttothematall,sincetheywhoseitissaidtobe,donotexist.If,ontheotherhand,themindisstillconsciousandworkingwhenitisfreedfromitsearthlyprison,itseeksheaveninitsfreedomandsurelyspurnsallearthlytraffic:itenjoysheavenandrejoicesinitsreleasefromtheofthisworld.
Met.VII
'Themindthatrushesheadlonginitssearchforfame,thinkingthatisitshighestgood,shouldlookuponthespreadingregionsoftheair,andthenupontheboundedtractsthatarethisworld:thenwillshameenterit;that,thoughfamegrow,yetcanitneverfillsosmallacircle.Proudmen!whywillyetryinvaintofreeyour
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THECONSOLATIONOFPHILOSOPHY
necksfromtheyokemortalityhassetthereon?Thoughfamemaybewidescatteredandfinditswaythroughdistantlands,andsetthetonguestheretalking;thoughasplendidhousemaydrawbrilliancefromfamousnamesandtales;yetdeathregardsnotanyglory,howsoevergreat.Alikeheoverwhelmsthelowlyandtheloftyhead,andlevelshighwithlow.
'WhereareFabricius's[24]bones,thathonourableman?Whatnowis
Brutus?[25]orunbendingCato?[26]Theirfamesurvivesinthis:ithasnomorethanafewslightlettersshewingforthanemptyname.Weseetheirnoblenamesengraved,andonlyknowtherebythattheyarebroughttonaught.Yeliethenallunknown,andfamecangivenoknowledgeofyou.Butifyouthinkthatlifecanbeprolongedbythebreathofmortalfame,yetwhentheslowtimerobsyouofthistoo,thenthereawaitsyoubutaseconddeath.
ProseVIII
'But,'shesaid,'donotthinkthatIwouldurgeimplacablewaruponFortune.Therearetimeswhenherdeceptionofmenhascertainmerits:Imeanwhenshediscoversherself,unveilsherface,andproclaimsherways.PerhapsyoudonotyetunderstandwhatIwouldsay.ItisastrangethingthatIamtryingtosay,andforthatreasonIcanscarcelyexplainmyselfinwords.Ithinkthatillfortuneisofgreateradvantagetomenthangoodfortune.Goodfortuneiseverlyingwhensheseemstofavourbyanappearanceofhappiness.Illfortuneisevertruewhenbyherchangessheshewsherselfinconstant.Theonedeceives;theotheredifies.Theonebyadeceitfulappearanceofgoodthingsenchainsthemindsofthosewhoenjoythem:theotherfreesthembyaknowledgethathappinessissofragile.Yousee,then,thattheoneisblownaboutbywinds,isevermovingandeverignorantofitsownself;theotherissober,everpreparedandevermadeprovidentbytheundergoingofitsvery
adversities.Lastly,goodfortunedrawsmenfromthestraightpathoftruegoodbyherfawning:illfortunedrawsmostmentothetruegood,andholdsthembackbyhercurvedstaff.
'Anddoyouthinkthatthisshouldbereckonedamongtheleastbenefitsofthisrough,unkind,andterribleillfortune,thatshehasdiscoveredtoyouthemindsofyourfaithfulfriends?Fortunehasdistinguishedforyouyoursureandyourdoubtfulfriends;herdeparturehastakenawayherfriendsandleftyouyours.Atwhatpricecouldyouhaveboughtthisbenefitifyouhadbeenuntouchedand,asyouthought,fortunate?Ceasethentoseekthewealthyouhavelost.Youhavefoundyourfriends,andtheyarethemostpreciousofallriches.
Met.VIII
'ThroughLove[27]theuniversewithconstancymakeschangesallwithoutdiscord:earth'selements,thoughcontrary,abideintreatybound:Phoebusinhisgoldencarleadsuptheglowingday;hissisterrulesthenightthatHesperusbrought:thegreedyseaconfinesitswavesinbounds,lesttheearth'sbordersbechangedbyitsbeatingonthem:allthesearefirmlyboundbyLove,whichrulesbothearthandsea,andhasitsempireintheheavenstoo.IfLoveshouldslackenthisitshold,allmutuallovewouldchangetowar;andthesewouldstrivetoundotheschemewhichnowtheirgloriousmovementscarryoutwithtrustandwithaccord.ByLovearepeoplestookeptboundtogetherbyatreatywhichtheymaynotbreak.Lovebindswithpureaffectionthesacredtieofwedlock,andspeaksitsbiddingtoalltrustyfriends.Ohappyraceofmortals,ifyourheartsareruledasistheuniverse,byLove![28]'-27-
BOETHIUS
BOOKIII
ProseI
Whenshefinishedherlay,itssoothingtonesleftmespellboundwithmyearsalertinmyeagernesstolisten.SoawhileafterwardsIsaid,'Greatestcomforterofwearyminds,howhaveyoucheeredmewithyourdeepthoughtsandsweetsingingtoo!NomoreshallIdoubtmypowertomeettheblowsofFortune.SofaramIfromterrorattheremedieswhichyoudidlatelytellmeweresharper,thatIamlongingtohearthem,andeagerlyIbegyouforthem.'
Thensaidshe,'Iknewitwhenyoulaidholduponmywordsinsilentattention,andIwaswaitingforthatframeofmindinyou,ormoretruly,Ibroughtitaboutinyou.Theythatremainareindeedbittertothetongue,butsweettotheinnerman.Butasyousayyouareeagertohear,howardentlyyouwouldbeburning,ifyouknewwhitherIamattemptingtoleadyou!'
'Whitheristhat?'Iasked.
'Tothetruehappiness,ofwhichyoursoultoodreams;butyoursightistakenupinimaginaryviewsthereof,sothatyoucannotlookuponitself.'
ThensaidI,'Iprayyoushewmewhatthattrulyis,andquickly.'
'Iwilldoso,'shesaid,'foryoursakewillingly.ButfirstIwilltrytopictureinwordsandgiveyoutheformofthecause,whichisalreadybetterknowntoyou,thatso,whenthatpictureisperfectandyouturnyoureyestotheotherside,youmayrecognisetheformoftruehappiness.
Met.I
'Whenamanwouldsowinvirginsoil,firstheclearsawaythebushes,cutsthebramblesandtheferns,thatthecorn-goddessmaygoforthladenwithhernewfruit.Thehoney,thatthebeehastoiledtogiveus,issweeterwhenthemouthhastastedbitterthings.Thestarsshinewithmorepleasinggracewhenastormhasceasedtoroarandpourdownrain.Afterthemorningstarhasdispersedtheshadesofnight,thedayinallitsbeautydrivesitsrosychariotforth.Sothouhastlookeduponfalse
happinessfirst;nowdrawthyneckfromunderheryoke:soshalltruehappinessnowcomeintothysoul.'
ProseII
Philosophydiscusses'thehighestgood'
Sheloweredhereyesforalittlewhileasthoughsearchingtheinnermostrecessesofhermind;andthenshecontinued:--'Thetroubleofthemanyandvariousaimsofmortalmenbringthemmuchcare,andhereintheygoforwardbydifferentpathsbutstrivetoreachoneend,whichishappiness.Andthatgoodisthat,towhichifanymanattain,hecandesirenothingfurther.Itisthathighestofallgoodthings,anditembracesinitselfallgoodthings:ifanygoodislacking,itcannotbethehighestgood,sincethenthereisleftoutsideitsomethingwhichcanbedesired.
Whereforehappinessisastatewhichismadeperfectbytheunionofallgoodthings.Thisendallmenseektoreach,asIsaid,thoughbydifferentpaths.Forthereisimplantedbynatureinthemindsofmenadesireforthetruegood;buterrorleadsthemastraytowardsfalsegoodsbywrongpaths.
'Somemenbelievethatthehighestgoodistolacknothing,andsotheyareatpainstopossessabundantriches.Othersconsiderthetruegoodtobethatwhichismostworthyofadmiration,andsotheystrivetoattaintoplacesofhonour,andtobeheldbytheirfellow-citizensinhonourthereby.Somedeterminethatthehighestgood
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THECONSOLATIONOFPHILOSOPHY
liesinthehighestpower;andsotheyeitherdesiretoreignthemselves,ortrytocleavetothosewhodoreign.Othersthinkthatrenownisthegreatestgood,andthey
thereforehastentomakeafamousnamebytheartsofpeaceorofwar.Butmorethanallmeasurethefruitofgoodbypleasureandenjoyment,andthesethinkthatthehappiestmanisabandonedtopleasure.
'Further,therearethosewhoconfusetheaimsandthecausesofthesegoodthings:asthosewhodesirerichesforthesakeofpowerorofpleasure,orthosewhoseekpowerforthesakeofmoneyorcelebrity.Inthese,then,andotherthingsliketothem,liestheaimofmen'sactionsandprayers,suchasrenownandpopularity,whichseemtoaffordsomefame,orwifeandchildren,whicharesoughtforthepleasuretheygive.Ontheotherhand,thegoodoffriends,whichisthemosthonourableandholyofall,liesnotinFortune'sbutinVirtue'srealm.Allothersareadoptedforthesakeofpowerorenjoyment.
'Again,itisplainthatthegoodthingsofthebodymustbeaccountedtothosefalsecauseswhichwehavementioned;forbodilystrengthandstatureseemtomakemenmoreableandstrong;beautyandswiftnessseemtogiverenown;healthseemstogivepleasure.Byallthesehappinessaloneisplainlydesired.Foreachmanholdsthattobethehighestgood,whichheseeksbeforeallothers.Butwehavedefinedthehighestgoodtobehappiness.Whereforewhateachmandesiresaboveallothers,heholdstobeastateofhappiness.
'Whereforeyouhaveeachoftheseplacedbeforeyouastheformofhumanhappiness:wealth,honours,power,glory,andpleasure.Epicurus[29]consideredtheseformsalone,andaccordinglydetermineduponpleasureasthehighestgood,becausealltheothersseemedbuttojoinwithitinbringingenjoymenttothemind.
'Buttoreturntotheaimsofmen:theirmindsseemtoseektoregainthe
highestgood,andtheirmemoriesseemtodulltheirpowers.Itisasthoughadrunkenmanwereseekinghishome,butcouldnotrememberthewaythither.Canthosepeoplebealtogetherwrongwhoseaimitistolacknothing?No,thereisnothingwhichcanmakehappinesssoperfectasanabundantpossessionofgoodthings,
needingnaughtthatbelongstoothers,butinallwayssufficingforitself.Surelythoseotherstooarenotmistakenwhothinkthatwhatisbestisalsomostworthyof
reverenceandrespect.Itcannotbeanycheaporbasething,toattainwhichalmostallmenaimandstrive.Andispowernottobeaccountedagoodthing?Surelyitis:canthatbeaweakthingorforceless,whichisallowedinallcasestoexcel?Isrenownofnovalue?Wecannotsurrenderthis;thatwhateverismostexcellent,hasalsogreatrenown.Itishardlyworthsayingthathappinesshasnotorturingcaresorgloom,andisnotsubjecttogriefandtrouble;foreveninsmallthings,theaimistofindthatwhichitisadelighttohaveandtoenjoy.These,then,arethedesiresofmen:theylongforriches,placesofhonour,kingdoms,glory,andpleasure;andtheylongforthembecausetheythinkthattherebytheywillfindsatisfaction,veneration,power,renown,andhappiness.Itisthegoodthenwhichmenseekbytheirdifferentdesires;anditiseasytoshewhowgreataforcenaturehasputtherein,sinceinspiteofsuchvaryinganddiscordantopinions,theyareallagreedinthegoaltheyseek,thatofthehighestgood.
Met.II
'IwouldtopliantstringssetforthasongofhowalmightyNatureturnsherguidingreins,tellingwithwhatlawsherprovidencekeepssafethisboundlessuniverse,bindingandtyingeachandallwithcordsthatnevershallbeloosed.ThelionsofCarthage,thoughtheybearthegorgeousbondsandtrappingsofcaptivity,andeatthefoodthatisgiventhembyhand,andthoughtheyfeartheirharshmasterwith
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BOETHIUS
hislashtheyknowsowell;yetifoncebloodhastouchedtheirbristlingjaws,theirold,theirlatentwillsreturn;withdeeproaringtheyremembertheiroldselves;theyloosetheirbandsandfreetheirnecks,andtheirtameristhefirsttornbytheircruelteeth,andhisbloodispouredoutbytheirrageandwrath.
'Ifthebirdwhosingssolustilyuponthehightree-top,becaughtandcaged,menmayministertohimwithdaintycare,maygivehimcupsofliquidhoneyandfeedhimwithallgentlenessonplenteousfood;yetifheflytotheroofofhiscageandseetheshadytreesheloves,hespurnswithhisfootthefoodtheyhaveputbeforehim;thewoodsareallhissorrowcallsfor,forthewoodshesingswithhissweettones.
'Theboughwhichhasbeendownwardthrustbyforceofstrengthtobenditstoptoearth,sosoonasthepressinghandisgone,looksupagainstraighttotheskyabove.
'Ph?bussinksintothewesternwaves,butbyhisunknowntrackheturnshiscaroncemoretohisrisingintheeast.
'Allthingsmustfindtheirownpeculiarcourseagain,andeachrejoicesinhisownreturn.Notonecankeeptheorderhandeddowntoit,unlessinsomewayitunitesitsrisingtoitsend,andsomakesfirm,immutable,itsownencirclingcourse.
ProseIII
Philosophyshewsthevanityofriches
'Andyoutoo,creaturesoftheearth,dodreamofyourfirststate,thoughwithadimidea.Withwhatsoeverthinkingitmaybe,youlooktothatgoalofhappiness,thoughneversoobscureyourthoughts:thither,totruehappiness,yournaturalcoursedoesguideyou,andfromthesameyourvariouserrorsleadyou.ForIwouldhaveyouconsiderwhethermencanreachtheendtheyhaveresolvedupon,namelyhappiness,bythesewaysbywhichtheythinktoattainthereto.Ifmoneyandplacesofhonourandsuch-likedobringanythingofthatsorttoamanwhoseemstolacknogoodthing,thenletusacknowledgewiththemthatmendobecomehappybythe
possessionofthesethings.Butiftheycannotperformtheirpromises,andthereisstilllackoffurthergoodthings,surelyitisplainthatafalseappearanceofhappinessistherediscovered.You,therefore,whohadlatelyabundantriches,shallfirstanswerme.Withallthatgreatwealth,wasyourmindneverperturbedbytorturingcarearisingfromsomesenseofinjustice?'
'Yes,'Isaid;'Icannotrememberthatmymindwaseverfreefromsomesuchcare.'
'Wasitnotbecausesomethingwaslacking,whichyoumissed,orbecausesomethingwaspresenttoyouwhichyoudidnotliketohave?'
'Yes,'Ianswered.
'Youdesired,then,thepresenceoftheone,andtheabsenceoftheother?''Iacknowledgeit.'
'Then,'saidshe,'suchamanlackswhathedesires.''Hedoes.'
'Butwhileamanlacksanything,canhepossiblysatisfyhimself?''No,'saidI.
'Then,whileyouwerebountifullysuppliedwithwealth,youfeltthatyoudidnotsatisfyyourself?'
'Ididindeed.'
'Then,'saidshe,'wealthcannotpreventamanfromlackingormakehimsatisfied.Andthisiswhatitapparentlyprofessedtodo.AndthispointtooIfeelis
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Consolation of PHilosophy Boethius英文精品课件
