Boethius, Consolation of Philosophy 1.P4

http://blogs.dickinson.edu/latin-poetry-podcast/files/2020/04/Boethius-Consol.-Phil.-1.4-Quiquis-composito.mp3 Philosophy Presenting the Seven Liberal Arts to Boethius. Coëtivy Master (French, active about 1450 – 1485). Source: Getty Museum Ancius Manlius Severinus Boethius rose to high honors under Theodoric the Ostrogoth (ruler of the independent Ostrogothic Kingdom of Italy between 493–526), but fell from favor, was tried for treason, wrongly condemned and imprisoned at Ticinum (Pavia). Sentenced to death and to forfeiture of all his property, Boethius was executed by sword, probably in the autumn of 524. The Consolatio philosophiae, written from prison, discusses such fundamental existential questions as ‘What values are there?’, ‘What is the highest good?’, ‘What is the relationship between Providence and free will?’ With a regular switch between prose and poetry, a dialogue takes place with Philosophy, which appears to the condemned man in prison. In this passage Boethius puts the ideal of philosophical fortitude in the face of corrupt power in 18 lovely hendecasyllabic lines. Quisquis composito serenus aevo Fatum sub pedibus egit superbum Fortunamque tuens utramque rectus Invictum potuit tenere vultum, Non illum rabies minaeque ponti Versum funditus exagitantis aestum Nec ruptis quotiens vagus caminis Torquet fumificos Vesaeuus ignes Aut celsas soliti ferire turres Ardentis via fulminis movebit. Quid tantum miseri saevos tyrannos Mirantur sine viribus furentes? Nec speres aliquid nec extimescas, Exarmaveris impotentis iram. At quisquis trepidus pavet vel optat, Quod non sit stabilis suique iuris, Abiecit clipeum locoque motus Nectit qua valeat trahi catenam.