Boethius
Anicii Manlii Severini Boethiiv.c. et inl. excons. ord. patricii
Philosophiae ConsolationisLiber Tertius Explicit
Incipit Liber IV
I
Haec cum Philosophia dignitate vultus et oris gravitate servata leniter suaviterque cecinisset, tum ego nondum penitus insiti maeroris oblitus intentionem dicere adhuc aliquid parantis abrupi. Et: 5 “O,” inquam, “veri praevia luminis quae usque adhuc tua fudit oratio, cum sui speculatione divina tum tuis rationibus invicta patuerunt, eaque mihi etsi ob iniuriae dolorem nuper oblita non tamen antehac prorsus ignorata dixisti. Sed ea ipsa est vel maxima 10 nostri causa maeroris, quod, cum rerum bonus rector exsistat, vel esse omnino mala possint vel impunita praetereant; quod solum quanta dignum sit admiratione profecto consideras. At huic aliud maius adiungitur. Nam imperante florenteque nequitia 15 virtus non solum praemiis caret, verum etiam
Consolation IV
Boethius
The Consolation of Philosophy
Book IV
I
When Philosophy had finished softly and sweetly singing these verses, while preserving the dignity and gravity of her face and visage, then I, not yet having completely forgotten my inward grief, interrupted her as she was just preparing to say something more, and said: “Lady, you who lead the way to the true light, what your speech has so far poured into my mind has clearly been both divine, contemplated on its own, and invincible because of your arguments, and you have told me things which, although lately forgotten because of the pain of my injuries, I was not previously totally ignorant of. But this itself is the very greatest cause of my grief, that, although there does exist a good ruler of the universe, evil can exist at all and even pass unpunished; and I beg you consider now how much wonder this fact alone properly causes. And to this is added another thing, of greater import: for when wickedness flourishes and is in control, virtue not only lacks rewards, but