Classical Antiquity
SONG PAGE I. BOETHIUS' COMPLAINT 3 II. HIS DESPONDENCY 9 III. THE MISTS DISPELLED 12 IV. NOTHING CAN SUBDUE VIRTUE 16 V. BOETHIUS' PRAYER 27 VI. ALL THINGS HAVE THEIR NEEDFUL ORDER 33 VII. THE PERTURBATIONS OF PASSION 38
She ceased, but I stood fixed by the sweetness of the song in wonderment and eager expectation, my ears still strained to listen. And then after a little I said: 'Thou sovereign...
13. Chapter 13Softly and sweetly Philosophy sang these verses to the end without losing aught of the dignity of her expression or the seriousness of her tones; then, forasmuch as I was as yet...
15. Chapter 15She ceased, and was about to pass on in her discourse to the exposition of other matters, when I break in and say: 'Excellent is thine exhortation, and such as well beseemeth th...
9. Chapter 9Thereafter for awhile she remained silent; and when she had restored my flagging attention by a moderate pause in her discourse, she thus began: 'If I have thoroughly ascertaine...
7. Chapter 7Who wrought my studious numbers Smoothly once in happier days, Now perforce in tears and sadness Learn a mournful strain to raise. Lo, the Muses, grief-dishevelled, Guide my pen...
10. Chapter 10CH. I. Boethius beseeches Philosophy to continue. She promises to lead him to true happiness.--CH. II. Happiness is the one end which all created beings seek. They aim variously...
14. Chapter 14CH. I. Boethius asks if there is really any such thing as chance. Philosophy answers, in conformity with Aristotle's definition (Phys., II. iv.), that chance is merely relative...
12. Chapter 12CH. I. The mystery of the seeming moral confusion. Philosophy engages to make this plain, and to fulfil her former promise to the full.--CH. II. Accordingly, (a) she first expou...
8. Chapter 8CH. I. Philosophy reproves Boethius for the foolishness of his complaints against Fortune. Her very nature is caprice.--CH. II. Philosophy in Fortune's name replies to Boethius'...
6. Chapter 6Boethius' complaint (Song I.).--CH. I. Philosophy appears to Boethius, drives away the Muses of Poetry, and herself laments (Song II.) the disordered condition of his mind.--CH....
3. Chapter 3I. THE THORNS OF ERROR 93 II. THE BENT OF NATURE 99 III. THE INSATIABLENESS OK AVARICE 105 IV. DISGRACE OF HONOURS CONFERRED BY A TYRANT 109 V. SELF-MASTERY 113 VI. TRUE NOBILIT...
2. Chapter 2I. FORTUNE'S MALICE 47 II. MAN'S COVETOUSNESS 51 III. ALL PASSES 55 IV. THE GOLDEN MEAN 62 V. THE FORMER AGE 70 VI. NERO'S INFAMY 76 VII. GLORY MAY NOT LAST 82 VIII. LOVE IS LOR...
1. Chapter 1SONG PAGE I. BOETHIUS' COMPLAINT 3 II. HIS DESPONDENCY 9 III. THE MISTS DISPELLED 12 IV. NOTHING CAN SUBDUE VIRTUE 16 V. BOETHIUS' PRAYER 27 VI. ALL THINGS HAVE THEIR NEEDFUL OR...
4. Chapter 4I. THE SOUL'S FLIGHT 166 II. THE BONDAGE OF PASSION 177 III. CIRCE'S CUP 182 IV. THE UNREASONABLENESS OF HATRED 194 V. WONDER AND IGNORANCE 197 VI. THE UNIVERSAL AIM 212 VII. TH...
5. Chapter 5