40 uti nunc mentis es, nondum te ualidiora remedia con- tinguiit. Itaque lenioribus paulisper utemur, ut quae in tumorem perturbationibus influentibus in- • Cf. Cicero, Pro domo sua, 29. 77. 160 CONSOLAT. PHILOSOPH. I.
by which it is decreed that he may not be banished that hath made choice of it for his dwelling-place; a for he that is within her fort or hold need not fear lest he deserve to be banished? But whosoever ceaseth to desire to dwell in it, ceaseth likewise to deserve so great a benefit. Wherefore the counte nance of this place moveth me not so much as thy countenance doth. Neither do I much require thy library adorned with ivory adornments, and its crystal walls, as the seat of thy mind, in which I have not placed books, but that which makes books to be es teemed of, I mean the sentences of my books, which were written long since. And that which thou hast said of thy deserts to the common good, is true indeed, but little in respect of the many things which thou hast done. That which thou hast reported, either of the honesty or of the falseness of those things which are objected against thee, is known to all men. Thou didst well to touch but briefly the wickedness and deceit of thy accusers, for that the common people to Avhose notice they are come do more fitly and largely speak of them. Thou hast also sharply re buked the unjust Senate's deed. Thou hast also grieved at our accusation, and hast bewailed the loss or diminishing of our good name; and lastly, thy sorrow raged against fortune, and thou complainedst that deserts were not equally rewarded. In the end of thy bitter verse, thou desiredst that the earth might be governed by that peace which heaven enjoyeth. But because thou art turmoiled with the multitude of affections, grief and anger drawing thee to divers parts, in the plight thou art now, the more forcible remedies cannot be applied unto thee; wherefore, for a while, we will use the more easy, that thy affections, which are, as it were, hardened 161 BOETHII durueruntj ad acrioris uim medicaminis recipiendum tactu blandiore mollescant.
VI.
Cum Phoebi radiis graue Cancri sidus inaestuat, Turn qui larga negantibus Sulcis semina credidit, Elusus Cereris fide Quernas pergat ad arbores. Numquam purpureum nemus Lecturus uiolas petas Cum saeuis aquilonibus Stridens campus inhorruit, Nee quaeras auida manu Vernos stringere pal mites, Vuis si libeat frui; Autumno potius sua Bacchus munera contulit, Signat tempora propriis Aptans officiis deus Nee quas ipse coercuit Misceri patitur uices. Sic quod praecipiti uia Certum deserit ordinem Laetos non habet exitus.
VI.
Primum igitur paterisne me pauculis rogatio- nibus statum tuae mentis attingere atque temptare, ut qui modus sit tuae curationis intellegam? " " Tu 162 CONSOLAT. PHILOSOPH. I.
and swollen with perturbations, may by gentle handling be mollified and disposed to receive the force of sharper medicines.
VI.
When hot with Phoebus' beams The Crab casts fiery gleams, He that doth then with seed Th' unwilling furrows feed, Deceived of his bread Must be with acorns fed. Seek not the flowery woods For violets' sweet buds, When fields are overcast With the fierce northern blast, Nor hope thou home to bring Vine-clusters in the Spring If thou in grapes delight: In autumn Bacchus' might With them doth deck our clime. God every several time With proper grace hath crowned Nor will those laws confound Which He once settled hath. He that with headlong path This certain order leaves, An hapless end receives.
VI.
First, therefore, wilt thou let me touch and try the state of thy mind by asking thee a few questions, that I may understand how thou art to be cured? " 163 BOETHII uero arbitratu," inquam, " tuo quae uoles ut respon- 5 surum rogato." Turn ilia: " Huncine," inquit, "mundum temerariis agi fortuitisque casibus putas, an ullum credis ei regimen inesse rationis? " " At- qui," inquam, "nullo existimauerim modo ut fortuita temeritate tarn certa moueantur, uerum operi suo 10 conditorem praesidere deum scio nee umquam fuerit dies qui me ab hac sententiae ueritate depellat."
" Ita est," inquit. " Nam id etiam paulo ante ceci- nisti, hominesque tantum diuinae exortes curae esse deplorasti. Nam de ceteris quin ratione regerentur, 15 nihil mouebare. Papae autem! Vehementer admiror cur in tarn salubri sententia locatus aegrotes. Verum altius perscrutemur; nescio quid abesse coniecto.
Sed die mihi, quoniam deo mtmdum regi non ambigis, quibus etiam gubernaculis regatur aduertis?"
20 " Vix," inquam, " rogationis tuae sententiam nosco, nedum ad inquisita respondere queam." " Num me/' inquit, "fefellit abesse aliquid, per quod, uelut hiante ualli robore, in animum tuum perturbation um morbus inrepserit? Sed die mihi, meministine, quis 0. sit rerum finis, quoue totius naturae tendat intentio? " 2o " Audieram," inquam, " sed memoriam maeror hebetauit." " Atqui scis unde cuncta processerint? " " Noui," inquam, deumque esse respondi. " Et qui fieri potest, ut principio cognito quis sit rerum finis 30 ignores? Verum hi perturbationum mores, ea ualentia 164 CONSOLAT. PHILOSOPH. I.
To which I answered: " Ask me what questions thou wilt, and I will answer thee." And then she said: " Thinkest thou that this world is governed by haphazard and chance? Or rather dost thou believe that it is ruled by reason? " " I can/' quoth I, " in no manner imagimTThaF such certain motions are caused by rash chance. And I know that God the Creator doth govern His work, nor shall the day ever come to draw me from the truth of that judgment."
" It is so/' saith she, " for so thou saidst in thy verse a little before, and bewailedst that only men were void of God's care; for as for the rest, thou didst not doubt but that they were governed by reason. And surely I cannot choose but exceedingly admire how thou canst be ill affected, holding so wholesome an opinion. But let us search further; I guess thou wantest something, but I know not what.
Tell me, since thou doubtest not that the world is governed by God, canst thou tell me also by what means it is governed?" "I do scarcely," quoth I, " understand what thou askest, and much less am 1 able to make thee a sufficient answer." "Was I," quoth she, "deceived in thinking that thou wantedst something by which, as by the breach of a fortress, the sickness of perturbations hath entered into thy mind? But tell me, dost thou remember what is the end of things? Or to what the whole intention of nature tendeth? " " I have heard it," quoth I, " but grief hath dulled my memory." " But knowest thou from whence all things had their beginning?" " I know," quoth I, and answered, that from God. " And how can it be that, knowing the beginning, thou canst be ignorant of the end? But this is the condition and force of perturbations, that they may 165 BOETHII est, ut mouere quidem loco hominem possint, con- uellere autem sibique totum exstirpare non possint.
Sed hoc quoque respondeas uelim, hominemne te esse meministi? " "Quidni," inquam, "meminerim?"
35 " Quid igitur homo sit, poterisne proferre? " ' ' Hocine interrogas an esse me sciam rationale animal atque mortale? Scio et id me esse confiteor." Et ilia: " Nihilne aliud te esse nouisti?" " Nihil."
" lam scio," inquit, " morbi tui aliam uel maximam 40 causam; quid ipse sis, nosse desisti. Quare plenissime uel aegritudinis tuae rationem uel aditum reconci- liandae sospitatis inueni. Nam quoniam tui obliuione confunderis, et exsulem te et exspoliatum propriis bonis esse doluisti. Quoniam uero quis sit rerum finis 45 ignoras, nequam homines atque nefarios potentes felicesque arbitraris. Quoniam uero quibus guberna- culis mundus regatur oblitus es, has fortunarum uices aestimas sine rectore fluitare — magnae non ad morbum modo uerurn ad interitum quoque causae. Sed sospi- 50 tatis auctori grates, quod te nondum totum natura destituit. Habemus maximum tuae fomitem salutis ueram de mundi gubernatione sententiam, quod earn non casuum temeritati sed diuinae rationi subditam credis. Nihil igitur pertimescas; iam tibi ex hac 55 minima scintillula uitalis calor inluxerit. Sed quoniam firmioribus remediis nondum tempus est et earn men- tium constat esse naturam, ut quotiens abiecerint 166 COXSOLAT. PHILOSOPH. I.
alter a man, but wholly destroy, and as it were root him out of himself, they cannot.
But I would have thee answer me to this also; dost thou remember that thou art a man?" " Why should I not remember it?" quoth I. "Well then, canst thou explicate what man is? " " Dost thou ask me if I know that I am a reasonable and mortal living creature? I know and confess myself to be so." To which she replied: "Dost thou not know th.:lf to be anything else? " " Not anything."
"Now I kno aoth she, "another, and that ?-w the g cause of thy sickness: thou iorgutten, thou art. Wherefore 1 have fully found 01,0.oih the manner of thy disease and the means ol thy recovery; for the confusion which thou art in, by the forgetful ness of thyself, is the cause why thou art so much grieved at thy exile and the loss of thy goods. And because thou art ignorant what is the end of things, thou thinkest that lewd and wicked men be powerful and happy; likewise, because thou hast forgotten by what means the world is governed, thou imaginest that these alternations of fortune do fall out without / any guide, sufficient causes not only of sickness, but also of death itself. But thanks be to the author of thy health, that Nature hath not altogether for saken thee. We have the greatest nourisher of thy health, the true opinion of the government of the world, in that thou believest that it is not subject to the events of chance, but to divine reason. Where fore fear nothing; out of this little sparkle will be enkindled thy vital heat. But because it is not yet time to use more solid remedies, and it is manifest that the nature of minds is such that as often as 167 BOETHI1 167 BOETHI1 ueras falsis opinionibus induantur ex quibus orta per- turbationum caligo uerum ilium confundit intuitum, 60 hanc paulisper lenibus mediocribusque fomentis at- tenuare temptabo, ut dimotis fallacium afFectionum tenebris splendorem uerae lucis possis agnoscere.
VII.
Nubibus atris Condita nulluni Fundere possunt Sidera lumen. Si mare uoluens Turbidus Auster Misceat aestum, Vitrea dudum Parque serenis Vnda diebus Mox resoluto Sordida caeno Visibus obstat. Quique uagatur Montibus altis Defluus amiiis, Saepe resistit Rupe soluti Obice saxi. Tu quoque si uis Lumine elaro Cernere uerum, Tramite recto Carpere callem, Gaudia pelle, Pelle timorem CONSOLAT. PHILOSOPH. I.
they cast away true oj)inioris they are possessed with false, out of which the darkness of perturba tions arising doth make them that they cannot discern things aright, I will endeavour to dissolve this cloud with gentle and moderate fomentations; that having removed the obscurity of deceitful affections, thou mayest behold the splendour of true light.
VII.
VII.
When stars are shrouded With dusky night, They yield no light Being so clouded. When the wind rnoveth And churneth the sea, The flood, clear as day, Foul and dark proveth. And rivers creeping Down a high hill Stand often still, Rocks them back keeping, If thou wouldst brightly See Truth's clear rays, Or walk those ways Which lead most rightly, All joy forsaking Fear must thou fly, 169 BOETHII Spemque fugato Nee dolor adsit. Nubila mens est 80 Vinctaque frenis, Haec ubi regnant" 170 CONSOLAT. PHILOSOPH. I.
And hopes defy, No sorrow taking.
For where these terrors Reign in the mind, They it do bind In cloudy errors."
171 ANICII MANLII SEVERINI BOETHII V.C. ET INL. EXCONS. ORD. PATRICII PHILOSOPHISE CONSOLA- TIONIS LIBER PRIMVS EXPLICIT INCIPIT 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 per- uertit. 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, nee habuisse te in ea pulchrum aliquid nee amisisse cognosces, sed ut arbitror baud multum tibi haec in memoriam reuocare laborauerim. Solebas enim praesentem quoque blandientemque uirilibus incessere uerbis eamque de nostro adyto 16 prolatis insectabare sententiis. Verum omnis subita 172 THE SECOND BOOK OF BOETHIUS i.
AFTER this she remained silent for a while; and, having by that her modesty made me attentive, began in this Avise: " If I be rightly informed of the causes and condition of thy disease, thou languishest with_the__ affection of thy former fortune, and the change of that alone, as thou imaginest, hath over thrown so much of thy mind. I know the manifold illusions of that monster, exercising most alluring familiarity with them whom she meaneth to deceive, to the end she may confound them with intolerable grief, by forsaking them upon the sudden, whose nature, customs, and desert, if thou rememberest, thou shalt know that thou neither didst possess nor hast lost anything of estimation in it; and, as I hope, I shall not need to labour much to bring these things to thy remembrance, for thou wert wont, when she was present, and flattered thee most, to assail her with manful words, and pursue her with sentences taken forth of our most hidden knowledge. But 173 BOETHII mutatio rerum non sine quodam quasi fluctu contingit animorum; sic factum est ut tu quoque paulisper a tua tranquillitate descisceres. Sed tempus est haurire te aliquid ac degustare molle atque iucundum 20 quod ad interiora transmissum ualidioribus haustibus uiam fecerit. Adsit igitur Rhetoricae suadela dulce- dinis quae turn taritum recto calle procedit, cum nostra instituta non deserit cumque hac Musica laris nostri uernacula nunc leuiores nunc grauiores modos 25 succinat.
Quid est igitur o homo quod te in maestitiam luctumque deiecit? Nouum, credo, aliquid inusita- tumque uidisti. Tu fortunam putas erga te esse mutatam; erras. Hi semper eius mores sunt ista 80 natura. Seruauit circa te propriam potius in ipsa sui mutabilitate constantiam. Talis erat cum blandiebatur, cum tibi falsae inlecebris felicitatis alluderet. Deprehendisti caeci numinis ambiguos uultus. Quae sese adhuc uelat aliis, tota tibi prorsus 35 innotuit. Si probas, utere moribus; ne queraris. Si perfidiam perliorrescis, sperne atque abice perniciosa kidentem. Nam quae nunc tibi est tanti causa maeroris, haec eadem tranquillitatis esse debuisset. Reliquit enim te quam non relicturam nemo umquam 40 poterit esse securus. An uero tu pretiosam aestimas abituram felicitatem? Et cara tibi est fortuna praesens nee manendi fida et cum discesserit adlatura maerorem. Quod si nee ex arbitrio retineri potest 174 CONSOLAT. PHILOSOPH. II.
every sudden change of things happeneth not with out a certain wavering and disquietness of mind. And this is the cause that thou also for a while hast lost thy former tranquillity and peace. But it is time for thee to take and taste some gentle and pleasant thing which being received may prepare thee for stronger potions. Wherefore let us use the sweetness of Rhetoric's persuasions, which then only is well employed when it forsaketh not our ordinances; and with this, let Music, a little slave belonging to our house, chant sometime lighter and sometime sadder notes.
Wherefore, () man, what is it that hath cast thee into sorrow and grief? Thou hast, methinks, seen something new and unwonted. If thou thinkest that fortune hath altered her manner of proceeding toward thee, thou art in an error. This was ahvay her fashion; this is her nature. She hath kept that constancy in thy affairs which is proper to her, in being mutable; such was her condition when she fawned upon thee and allured thee with enticements of feigned happiness. Thou hast discovered the doubtful looks of this blind goddess. She, which concealeth herself from others, is wholly known to thee. If thou likest her, frame thyself to her conditions, and make no complaint. If thou detestest her treachery, despise and cast her off, with her pernicious flattery. For that which hath caused thee so much sorrow should have brought thee to great tranquillity. For she hath forsaken thee, of whom no man can be secure. Dost thou esteem that happiness precious which thou art to lose? And is the present fortune dear unto thee, of whose stay thou art not sure, and whose departure will breed thy grief? And it she can neither be 175 BOETH11 et calamitosos fugiens facit, quid est aliud fugax 45 quam futurae quoddam calamitatis indicium? Neque enim quod ante oculos situm est, suffecerit intueri; rerum exitus prudentia metitur eademque in alterutro mutabilitas nee formidandas fortunae minas nee exoptandas facit esse blanditias. Postremo aequo 60 ammo toleres oportet quidquid intra fortunae aream geritur, cum semel iugo eius colla submiseris. Quod si manendi abeundique scribere legem uelis ei quam tu tibi dominam sponte legisti, iionne iniurius fueris et inpatientia sortem exacerbes quam permutare non 65 possis? Si uentis uela committeres, non quo uoluntas peteret sed quo flatus impellerent, promoueres; si amis semina crederes, feraces inter se annos ste- rilesque pensares. Fortunae te regendum dedisti; dominae moribus oportet obtemperes. Tu uero 60 uoluentis rotae impetum retinere conaris? At, omnium mortalium stolidissime, si manere incipit, fors esse desistit.
I.
Haec cum superba uerterit uices dextra Et aestuantis more fertur Euripi, Dudum tremendos saeua proterit reges Humilemque uicti subleuat fallax uultum. 5 Non ilia miseros audit aut curat fletus Vltroque gemitus dura quos fecit ridet.
" Literally, " When fortune with proud right hand plies her changes and ebbs and flows like foaming Euripus." Euripus was proverbial for irregular tides.
176 CONSOLAT. PHILOSOPH. II.
kept at our will,, and niaketh them miserable whom she at last leaveth, what else is fickle fortune but a token of future calamity? For it is not sufficient to behold that which we have before our eyes; wisdom pondereth the event of things, and this mutability on both sides niaketh the threats of fortune not to be feared, nor her flatterings to be desired. Finally, thou must take in good part whatsoever happeneth unto thee within the reach of fortune, when once thou hast submitted thy neck to her yoke. And if to her whom, of thine own accord, thou hast chosen for thy mistress, thou wouldest prescribe a law how long she were to stay, and when to depart, shouldst thou not do her mighty wrong, and with thy im patience make thy estate more intolerable, which thou canst not better? If thou settest up thy sails to the wind, thou shalt be carried not whither thy will desirest, but whither the gale driveth. If thou sowest thy seed, thou considerest that there are as well barren as fertile years. Thou hast yielded thyself to fortune's sway; thou must be content with the conditions of thy mistress. Endeavourest thou to stay the force of the turning wheel? But thou foolishest man that ever was, if it beginneth to stay, it ceasetli to be fortune.
I.
I.
The pride of fickle fortune spareth none, And, like the floods of swift Euripus borne,* Oft casteth mighty princes from their throne, And oft the abject captive doth adorn. She cares not for the wretch's tears and moan, And the sad groans, which she hath caused, doth scorn.
G 177 BOETHII Sic ilia ludit, sic suas probat uires Magnumque suis demonstrat 1 ostentum, si quis Visatur una stratus ac felix hora.
II.
Vellem autem pauca tecum fortunae ipsius uerbis agitare. Tu igitur an ius postulet, animaduerte.
' Quid tu homo ream me cotidianis agis querelis?
Quam tibi fecimus iniuriam? Quae tua tibi detraxi- 5 mus bona? Quouis iudice de opum dignitatumque mecum possessione contende. Et si cuiusquam mortalium proprium quid horum esse monstraueris, ego iam tua fuisse quae repetis, sponte concedam.
Cum te matris utero natura produxit, nudum rebus 10 omnibus inopemque suscepi, meis opibus foui et quod te nunc inpatientem nostri facit, fauore prona indulgentius educaui, omnium quae mei iuris sunt affluentia et splendore circumdedi. Nunc mihi retrahere manum libet. Habes gratiam uelut usus 15 alienis, non habes ius querelae tamquam prorsus tua perdideris. Quid igitur ingemiscis? Nulla tibi a nobis est allata uiolentia. Opes honores ceteraque talium mei sunt iuris. Dominam famulae cognoscunt; mecum ueniunt, me abeunte discedunt. Audacter 20 adfirmern, si tua forent quae amissa conquereris nulld 1 monstrat codd. 178 CONSOLAT. PHILOSOPH. II.
Thus doth she play, to make her power more known, Showing her slaves a marvel, when man's state Is in one hour both downcast and fortunate.
II But I would urge thee a little with Fortune's own speeches. Wherefore consider thou if she asketh not reason. ' For what cause, O man, chargest thou me with daily complaints? What injury have I done thee? What goods of thine have I taken from thee? Contend with me before any judge about the possession of riches and dignities; and if thou canst show that the propriety of any of these things belong to any mortal wight, I will forthwith willingly grant that those things which thou demandest were thine. When Nature produced thee out of thy mother's womb, I received thee naked and poor in all respects, cherished thee with my wealth, and (which maketh thee now to fall out with me) being forward to favour thee, I had most tender care for thy education, and adorned thee with the abundance and splendour of all things which are in my power. Now it pleaseth me to withdraw my hand, yield thanks, as one that hath had the use of that which was not his own. Thou hast no just cause to complain, as though thou hadst lost that which was fully thine own. Wherefore lamentest thou? I have offered thee no violence.
Riches, honours, and the rest of that sort belong to me. They acknowledge me for their mistress, and themselves for my servants, they come with me, and when I go away they likewise depart. I may boldly affirm, if those things which thou complainest to be 179 BOETHII modo perdidisses. An ego sola meum ius exercere prohibebor? Licet caelo proferre lucidos dies eosdem- que tenebrosis noctibus condere. Licet anno terrae uultum nunc floribus frugibusque redimire, nunc 25 nimbis frigoribusque confundere. Ius est mari nunc strato aequore blandiri, nunc procellis ac fluctibus inhorrescere. Nos ad constantiam nostris moribus alienam inexpleta hominum cupiditas alligabit? Haec nostra uis est, hunc continuum ludum ludimus; rotam 30 uolubili orbe uersamus, infima summis summa infimis mutare gaudemus. Ascende si placet, sed ea lege ne utique1 cum ludicri mei ratio poscet, descendere iniuriam putes. An tu mores ignorabas meos? Nesciebas Croesum regem Lydorum Cyro paulo ante 85 formidabilem mox deinde miserandum rogi flammis traditum misso caelitus imbre defensum? Nuin te praeterit Patilum Persi regis a se capti calamitatibus pias inpendisse lacrimas? Quid tragoediarum clamor aliud deflet nisi indiscrete ictu fortunam felicia regna 40 uertentem? Nonne adulescentulus Soious TTI$OI>S TOV /u,ev eVa KO.KWV TOV 8" e'repov edwv in louis limine iacere didicisti? Quid si uberius de bonorum parte sumpsisti? Quid si a te non tota discessi? Quid si haec ipsa mei mutabilitas iusta tibi causa est sperandi 45 meliora? Tamen ne animo contabescas et intra commune omnibus regnum locatus proprio uiuere iure desideres.
1 utique Klussmann; uti codd.
« Cf. Herod, i. 87.
6 Cf. Livy xlv. 8. Paul = Aemilius Paulus surnamed Macedonius for his defeat of Parses last king of Macedonia in 168 B.C.
« II. xxiv. 527.
180 CONSOLAT. PHILOSOPH. II.
taken from thee had been thine own, thou shouldst never have lost them. Must I only be forbidden to use my right? It is lawful for the heaven to bring forth fair days, and to hide them again in darksome nights. It is lawful for the year sometime to compass the face of the earth with flowers and fruits, and sometime to cover it with clouds and cold. The sea hath right sometime to fawn with calms, and some time to frown with storms and waves. And shall 1 the insatiable desire of men tie me to constancy, so contrary to my custom? This is my force, this is the sport which I continually use. I turn about my wheel with speed, and take a pleasure to turn things upside down. Ascend, if thou wilt, but with this condition, that thou thinkest it not an injury to descend when the course of my sport so requireth. Didst thou not know my fashion? Wert thou ignorant how Croesus, King of the Lydians, not long before a terror to Cyrus, within a while after came to such misery that he should have been burnt had he not been saved by a shower sent from heaven? « Hast thou forgotten how Paul piously bewailed the calamities of King Perses his prisoner? b What other thing doth the outcry of tragedies lament, but that fortune, having no respect, overturneth happy states? Didst thou not learn in thy youth that there lay two barrels, the one of good things and the other of bad,0 at Jupiter's threshold? But what if thou hast tasted more abundantly of the good? What if I be not wholly gone from thee? What if this mutability of mine be a just cause for thee to hope for better? Notwithstanding, lose not thy courage, and, living in a kingdom which is common to all men, desire not to be governed by peculiar laws proper only to thyself.
181 BOETHII II.
Si quantas rapidis flatibus incitus Pontus uersat harenas Aut quot stelliferis edita noctibus Caelo sidera fulgent Tantas fundat opes nee retrahat manum Pleno copia cornu, Humanum misei-as baud ideo genus Cesset flere querellas. Quamuis uota libens excipiat deus Multi prodigus auri Et claris auidos ornet honoribus, Nil iam parta uidentur, Sed quaesita uorans saeua rapacitas Altos l pandit hiatus. Quae iam praecipitem frena cupidinem Certo fine retentent, Largis cum potius muneribus fluens Sitis ardescit habendi? Numquam diues agit qui trepidus gemens Sese credit egentem.'
III.
His igitur si pro se tecum fortuna loqueretur, quid profecto contra hisceres non baberes, aut si quid est quo querelam tuam iure tuearis, proferas oportet. Dabimus dicendi locum." Turn ego: "Speciosa 5 quidem ista sunt/' inquam, " oblitaque Rhetoricae ac Musicae melle dulcedinis; turn tantum, cum audiun- tur, oblectant. Sed miseris malorum altior sensus 1 altos vulg.; alios codd. opt. 182 CONSOLAT. PHILOSOPH. II.
II.
If Plenty as much wealth should give, ne'er holdincr back her hand, As the swift winds in troubled seas do toss up heaps of sand, Or as the stars in lightsome nights shine forth on heaven's face, Yet wretched men would still accuse their miserable