Boethius
Anicii Manlii Severini Boethiiv.c. et inl. excons. ord. patricii
Philosophiae Consolationis
Liber Primus ExplicitIncipit Liber II
I
Post haec paulisper obticuit atque ubi attentionem meam modesta taciturnitate collegit, sic exorsa est: “Si penitus aegritudinis tuae causas habitumque cognovi, fortunae prioris affectu desiderioque tabescis. 5 Ea tantum animi tui sicuti tu tibi fingis mutata pervertit. Intellego multiformes illius prodigii fucos et eo usque cum his quos eludere nititur blandissimam familiaritatem, dum intolerabili dolore confundat quos insperata reliquerit. Cuius si naturam mores ac 10 meritum reminiscare, nec habuisse te in ea pulchrum aliquid nec amisisse cognosces, sed ut arbitror haud multum tibi haec in memoriam revocare laboraverim. Solebas enim praesentem quoque blandientemque virilibus incessere verbis eamque de nostro adyto 15 prolatis insectabare sententiis. Verum omnis subita
Consolation II
Boethius
The Consolation of Philosophy
Book II
I
Then she was silent for a little, and having gained my attention by her quiet modesty, she began thus: “If I have properly understood the causes and the nature of your sickness, you are faint with desire and longing for your previous good fortune. It is simply the change in your fortune, you imagine, which has so much cast down your spirit. I know the many kinds of tricks of that monster, fortune, and especially her charming and friendly manner with those she is trying to cheat, when she crushes with unbearable grief those whom she leaves when they least expect it. If you will just recall what she is and how she behaves, and her true worth, you will recognize that you never had anything worth having at her hands nor have you lost anything. I do not think I should have to work very hard to make you remember this. After all, when she was with you, smiling on you, you used to attack her with firm language and chase her with arguments produced from our very sanctuary. But