IV.
Who mildly can his age dispose, And at his feet proud destiny throws: Who stoutly doth each chance behold, Keeping his countenance uncontrolled: Not him the ocean's rage and threat, Stirring the waves with angry heat, Nor hot Vesuvius when he casts From broken hills enflamed blasts, Nor fiery thunder can dismay, Which takes the tops of towers away.
141 BOETHII Quid tantum miseri saeuos tyrannos Mirantur sine uii'ibus furentes? Nee speres aliquid nee extimescas, Exarmaueris impotentis iram. 15 At quisquis trepidus pauet uel optat, Quod lion sit stabilis suique iuris, Abiecit clipeum locoque motus Nectit qua ualeat trahi catenam.
IV.
Sentisne," inquit, " haec atque animo inlabuii- tur tuo, an ovos A.V/DO.S? Quid fles, quid lacrimis manas?
5 Si operam medicantis exspectas, oportet uulnus detegas."
Turn ego collecto in uires animo: " Anne adhuc eget admonitione nee per se satis eminet fortunae in nos saeuientis asperitas? Nihilne te 10 ipsa loci facies mouet? Haecine est bibliotheca, quani certissimam tibi sedem nostris in laribus ipsa delegeras? In qua mecum saepe residens de hu- inanarum diuinarumque rerum scientia disserebas? Talis habitus talisque uultus erat, cum tecum naturae 15 secreta rimarer, cum mihi siderum uias radio de- scriberes, cum mores nostros totiusque uitae rationem ad caelestis ordinis exempla formares? Haecine praemia referimus tibi obsequeiites? Atqui tu hanc sententiam Platonis ore sanxisti: beatas fore res 20 publicas, si eas uel studiosi sapientiae regerent uel * Cf. Tr. v. (supra, p. 76), quasi non deterlor fiat inscienticu causa dum tegitur. U2 CONSOLAT. PHILOSOPH. I.
Why do fierce tyrants us affright, Whose rage is far beyond their might? For nothing hope, nor fear thou harm, So their weak wrath thou shalt disarm. But he whom hope or terror takes, Being a slave, his shield forsakes, And leaves his place, and doth provide A chain wherewith his hands are tied.
IV.
IV.
Understandest thou these things," saith she, " and do they make impression in thy mind? Art thou ' like the ass, deaf to the lyre '? Why weepest thou? Why sheddest thou so many tears? Speak out; hide not thy thoughts.* If thou expectest to be cured, thou must discover thy wound.6 " Then I, collecting the forces of my mind together, made her answer in these words: " Doth the cruelty of fortune's rage need further declaration, or doth it not sufficiently appear of itself? Doth not the very countenance of this place move thee? Is this the library which thou thyself hadst chosen to sit in at my house, in which thou hast oftentimes discoursed with me of the knowledge of divine and human things? Had I this attire or countenance when I searched the secrets of nature with thee, when thou describedst unto me the course of the stars with thy geometrical rod, when thou didst frame my conversa tion and the manner of my whole life according to the pattern of the celestial order? Are these the rewards which thy obedient servants have? But thou didst decree that sentence by the mouth of Plato: That commonwealths should be happy, if either the students of wisdom did govern them, or 143 BOETHII 143 BOETHII earum rectores studere sapientiae contigisset. Tu eiusdem uiri ore hanc sapientibus capessendae rei publicae necessariam causam esse monuisti, ne im- probis flagitiosisque ciuibus urbium relicta guber- 25 nacula pestem bonis ac perniciem ferrent.
Hanc igitur auctoritatem secutus quod a te inter secreta otia didiceram transferre in acturn publicae ad- ministratiom's optaui. Tu mihi et qui te sapientium mentibus inseruit deus conscii nullum me ad magis- 80 tratum nisi commune bonorum omnium studium detulisse. Inde cum inprobis graues inexorabilesque discordiae et quod conscientiae libertas habet, pro tuendo iure spreta potentiorum semper offensio.
Quotiens ego Conigastum in inbecilli cuiusque 35 fortunas impetum facientem obuius excepi, quotiens Triguillam regiae praepositum domus ab incepta, perpetrata iam prorsus iniuria deieci, quotiens miseros quos infinitis calumniis inpunita barbarorum semper auaritia uexabat, obiecta periculis auctoritate 40 protexi! Numquam me ab iure ad iniuriam quisquam detraxit. Prouincialium fortunas turn priuatis rapinis turn publicis uectigalibus pessumdari non aliter quam qui patiebantur indolui.
Cum acerbae famis tempore grauis atque inexplica- 45 bilis indicta coemptio profligatura inopia Campaniam prouinciam uideretur, certamen aduersum praefectum 144 CONSOLAT. PHILOSOPH. I.
those which were appointed to govern them would give themselves to the study of wisdom. a Thou by the same philosopher didst admonish us that it is a sufficient cause for wise men to take upon themselves the government of the commonwealth, lest, if the rule of cities were left in the hands of lewd and wicked citizens, they should work the subversion and overthrow of the good.
Wherefore, following this authority, I desired to practise that by public administration which I had learnt of thee in private conference. Thou and God Himself who had inserted thee in the minds of the wise, are my witnesses that nothing but the common desire of all good men brought me to be a magistrate. This hath been the cause of my grievous and irreconcilable disagreements with wicked men, and that which freedom of conscience carrieth with it, of ever contemning the indignation of potentates for the defence of justice.
How often have I encountered with Conigastus, violently possessing himself with poor men's goods? How often have I put back Triguilla, Provost of the King's house, from injuries which he had begun, yea, and finished also? How often have I protected, by putting my authority in danger, such poor wretches as the unpunished covetousness of the barbarous did vex with infinite reproaches? Never did any man draw me from right to wrong. It grieved me no less than them which suffered it, to see the wealth of our subjects wasted, partly by private pillage, and partly by public tributes.
When in the time of a great dearth things were set at so excessive and unreasonable a rate that the province of Campania was like to be altogether impoverished, for the common good I stuck not to F 145 BOETHII praetorii communis commodi ratione suscepi, rege cognoscente contendi et ne coemptio exigeretur, euici. Paulinum consularem uirum ctrius opes Pala- 50 tinae canes iam spe atque ambitione deuorassent, ab ipsis hiantium faucibus traxi. Ne Albinum consularem uirum praeiudicatae accusationis poena corriperet, odiis me Cypriani delatoris opposui. Satisne in me magnas uideor exaceruasse discordias? Sed esse apud 65 ceteros tutior debui qui mihi amore iustitiae nihil apud aulicos quo magis essem tutior reseruaui. Quibus autem deferentibus perculsi sumus? Quorum Basilius olim regio ministerio depulsus in delationem nostri nominis alieni aeris necessitate compulsus est.
60 Opilionem uero atque Gaudentium cum ob innumeras multiplicesque fraudes ire in exilium regia censura decreuisset cumque illi parere nolentes sacrarum sese aedium defensione tuerentur compertumque id regi foretj edixit: uti ni intra praescriptum diem Rauenna 66 urbe decederent, notas insigniti frontibus pellerentur. Quid huic seueritati posse astrui uidetur? Atqui in eo die deferentibus eisdem nominis nostri delatio suscepta est. Quid igitur? Nostraene artes ita me- ruerunt? An illos accusatores iustos fecit praemissa" 70 damnatio? Itane nihil fortunam puduit si minus accusatae innocentiae, at accusantium uilitatis? 1 At cuius criminis arguimur summam quaeris? Senatum dicimur saluum esse uoluisse. Modum desideras?
1 uilitatis Glareanus; uilitas codd.
" Presumptuous = founded on presumption. 146 CONSOLAT. PHILOSOPH. I.
contend with the chief Praetor himself, and the matter was discussed before the King, and I prevailed so far that it went not forward. I drew Paulinus, who had been Consul, out of the very mouth of the gaping courtiers, who like ravenous curs had already in hope and ambition devoured his riches. That Albinus who had likewise been Consul might not be punished upon presumptuous n and false accusation, I exposed myself to the hatred of Cyprian his accuser. May I seem to have provoked enmity enough against myself? But others should so much the more have procured my safety, since that for the love I bear to justice I left myself no way by the means of courtiers to be safe. But by whose accusations did I receive this blow? By theirs who, long since having put Basil out of the King's service, compelled him now to accuse me, by the necessity which he was driven to by debt. Opilio likewise and Gaudentius being banished by the King's decree, for the injuries and manifold deceits which they had committed, because they would not obey, defended themselves by taking- sanctuary, of which the King hearing, gave sentence, that unless they departed out of the city of Ravenna within certain days, they should be branded in the foreheads, and put out by force. What could be added to this severity? And yet that very day their accusations against me went for current. What might be the reason of this? Did my dealing deserve it? Or did the condemnation, which went before, make them just accusers? Was not fortune ashamed, if not that innocency was accused, yet at least that it had so vile and base accusers? But what crime was laid to my charge? Wilt thou have it in one word? I am said to have desired the Senate's safety. Wilt thou know the manner how?
147 BOETHII Delatorem ne documenta deferret quibus senatum 75 maiestatis reum faceret impedisse criminamur.
Quid igitur o magistra censes? Infitiabimur crimen, ne tibi pudor simus? At uolui nee umquam uelle desistam. Fatebimur? Sed impediendi dela- toris opera cessauit. An optasse illius ordiiiis salutem go nefas uocabo? Ille quidem suis de me decretis, uti hoe nefas esset, effecerat. Sed sibi semper mentiens inprudentia rerum merita non potest inmutare nee mihi Socratico decreto fas esse arbitror uel occuluisse ueritatem uel concessisse mendacium. Verum id 85 quoquo modo sit, tuo sapientiumque iudicio aesti- mandum relinquo. Cuius rei seriem atque ueritatem, ne latere posteros queat, stilo etiam memoriaeque mandaui.
Nam de compositis falso litteris quibus libertatem 90 arguor sperasse Romanam quid attinet dicere? Quarum fraus aperta patuisset, si nobis ipsorum con- fessione delatorum, quod in omnibus negotiis maximas uires habet, uti licuisset. Nam quae sperari reliqua libertas potest? Atque utinam posset ulla! Re- 95 spondissem Canii uerbo, qui cum a Gaio Caesare Germanici filio conscius contra se factae coniurationis fuisse diceretur: ' Si ego/ inquit, ' scissenr, tu ne- scisses.' Qua in re non ita sensus nostros maeror hebetauit ut impios scelerata contra uirtutem querar 100 molitos, sed quae sperauerint effecisse uehementer admiror. Nam deteriora uelle nostri fuerit fortasse 0 Cp. Plato, Rep. vi. 485; the 0iX6<ro0os cannot be (f>i\o\l/fv5r)s.
b Vide supra, p. 69. This seems to be the only record of Canius's retort to Caligula. 148 CONSOLAT. PHILOSOPH. T.
I am blamed for having hindered their accuser to bring forth evidence by which he should prove the Senate guilty of treason.
What thinkest thou, O Mistress? Shall I deny this charge, that I may not shame thee? But it is true, I desired it, neither will I ever cease from having that desire. Shall I confess it? But I have already left hindering their accuser. Shall I call it an offence to have wished the safety of that order? Indeed the Senate with their decrees concerning me had made it an offence. But folly, always deceiving herself, cannot change the deserts of things, nor, according to the decree of Socrates,0 do I think it is lawful either to conceal the truth or grant a lie. But how this may be, I leave to thine and Wisdom's censure. And that posterity may not be ignorant of the course and truth of the matter, I have put it down in writing.
For why should I speak of those feigned letters, in which I am charged to have hoped for Roman liberty? The deceit of which would manifestly have appeared, if it might have been lawful for me to have used the confession of my very accusers, which in all business is of greatest force. For what liberty remaineth there to be hoped for? I would to God there were any! I would have answered as Canius did, who being charged by Gains Caesar, son to Germanicus, that he was privy to the conspiracy made against him, answered: ' If I had been made acquainted with it, thou shouldest never have known of it.' 6 Neither hath sorrow so dulled my wits in this matter that I complain of the wicked endeavours of sinful men against virtue, but I exceedingly marvel to see that they have brought to pass the things they hoped to do. For the desire of 149 BOETHII defectus, posse contra innocentiam, quae sceleratus quisque conceperit inspectante deo, monstri simile est. Vnde baud iniuria tuorum quidam familiarium 105 quaesiuit: 'Si quidem deus/ inquit, ' est, unde mala? Bona uero unde, si non est? ' Sed fas fuerit nefarios homines qui bonorum omnium totiusque senatus sanguinem petunt, nos etiam quos propugnare bonis senatuique uiderant, perditum ire uoluisse.
110 Sed num idem de patribus quoque merebamur? Merninisti, ut opinor, quoniam me dicturum quid facturumue praesens semper ipsa dirigebas, meministi, inquam, Veronae cum rex auidus exitii communis maiestatis crimen in Albinum delatae ad cunctum 115 senatus ordinem transferee moliretur, uniuersi inno centiam senatus quanta mei periculi securitate de- fenderim. Scis me haec et uera proferre et in nulla umquam mei laude iactasse. Minuit enim quodam modo se probantis conscientiae secretum, quotiens 120 ostentando quis factum recipit famae pretium. Sed innocentiam nostram quis exceperit euentus uides; pro uerae uirtutis praemiis falsi sceleris poenas subimus. Et cuius umquam facinoris manifesta confessio ita iudices habuit in seueritate Concordes ut 125 non aliquos uel ipse ingenii error humani uel fortunae condicio cunctis mortalibus incerta submitteret? Si inflammare sacras aedes uoluisse, si sacerdotes impio a i.e. Epicurus, cp. Lact. De Ira Dei xiii. 150 CONSOLAT. PHILOSOPH. I.
doing evil may be attributed to our weakness, but that in the sight of God the wicked should be able to com pass whatsoever they contrive against the innocent, is altogether monstrous. Whence not without cause one of thy familiar friends a demanded: f_Ifj' _ saith he, ' there be a God, from whence proceed so many evils? And if there be no God, from whence cometh any good? ' But let that pass that wicked men, which seek the blood of all good men, and of the whole Senate, would also have overthrown me, whom they saw to stand in defence of good men and of the Senate. But did I deserve the same of the Senators themselves? I suppose thou rernem- berest how thou being present didst alway direct me when I went about to say or do anything. Thou rememberest, I say, when at Verona the King, being desirous of a common overthrow, endeavoured to lay the treason, whereof only Albinus was accused, upon the whole order of the Senate, with how great security of my own danger I defended the innocency of the whole Senate. Thou knowest that these things which I say are true, and that I was never delighted in my own praise, for the secret of a good conscience is in some sort diminished when by declaring what he hath done a man receiveth the reward of fame. But thou seest to what pass my innocency is come; instead of the rewards of true virtue, I undergo the punishment of wickedness, wherewith I am falsely charged. Was it ever yet seen that the manifest confession of any crime made the judges so at one in severity, that either the error of man's judgment or the condition of fortune, which is certain to none, did not incline some of them to favour? If I had been accused that I would have burnt the churches, or wickedly 151 BOETHII iugulare gladio, si bonis omnibus necem struxisse diceremur, praesentem tamen sententia, confessurn 130 tamen conuictumue punisset. Nunc quingentis fere passuum milibus procul muti atque indefensi ob studium propensius in senatum morti proscriptionique damnamur. O meritos de simili crimine neminem posse conuinci!
135 Cuius dignitatem reatus ipsi etiam qui detulere uiderunt, quam uti alicuius sceleris admixtione fuscarent, ob ambitum dignitatis sacrilegio me con- scientiam polluisse mentiti sunt. Atqui et tu insita nobis omnem rerum mortalium cupidinem de nostri 140 animi sede pellebas et sub tuis oculis sacrilegio locum esse fas non erat. Instillabas enim auribus cogita- tionibusque cotidie meis Pythagoricum illud CTTOII Oew.1 Nec conueniebat uilissimorum me spirituum praesidia captare quern tu in hanc excellentiam com- 145 ponebas ut consimilem deo faceres. Praeterea penetral innocens domus, honestissimorum coetus amicortim, socer etiam sanctus et aeque ac tu ipsa 2 reuerendus ab omni nos huius criminis suspitione de- fendunt. Sed, o nefas, illi uero de te tanti criminis 150 fidem capiunt atque hoc ipso uidebimur affines fuisse maleficiOj quod tuis inbuti disciplinis, tuis instituti moribus sumus. Ita non est satis nihil mihi tuam profuisse reuerentiam^ nisi ultro tu mea potius offen- sione lacereris. At uero hie etiam nostris malis 155 cumulus accedit, quod existimatio plurimorum non 1 6e6v codd. z ipsa Sitzmannus; ipso codd.
a Cf. 6 /Si'os tiiras ffwrfraKTai Trpbs TO a.KO\ov6flv T<+ Qetf, Iambi. De Vita Pyth. xviii., and Seneca, De Vita Beata xv.
152 CONSOLAT. PHILOSOPH. I.
have killed the priests, or have sought the death of all good men, yet sentence should have been pro nounced against me present, having confessed, and being convicted. Now being conveyed five hundred miles off, dumb and defenceless, I am condemned to death and proscription for bearing the Senate too much good will. O Senate, which deserves that never any may be convicted of the like crime!
The dignity of which accusation even the very accusers themselves saw, which that they might obscure by adding some sort of fault, they belied me that 1 defiled my conscience with sacrilege, for an ambitious desire of preferment. But thou, which hadst seated thyself in me, didst repel from the seat of my mind all desire of mortal things, and within thy sight there was no place for sacrilege to harbour; for thou didst instil into my ears and thoughts daily that saying of Pythagoras, ' Follow God.' a Neither was it fitting for me to use the aid of most vile spirits when thou wast shaping me into that excellency to make me like to God. Besides the innocency which appeared in the most retired rooms of my house, the assembly of my most honourable friends, my holy father-in-law Sym- machus, who is as worthy of reverence as thou thyself art, do clear me from all suspicion of this crime. But O detestable wickedness! they the rather credit thee with so great a crime, and think me the nigher to such mischievous dealing, because I am endued with thy knowledge, and adorned with thy virtues, so that it is not enough that I reap no commodity for thy respect, unless thou beest also dishonoured for the hatred conceived against me.
And that my miseries may increase the more, the greatest part do not so much respect the value of F2 153 BOETHII rerum merita sed fortunae spectat euentum eaque tantum iudicat esse prouisa quae felicitas com- mendauerit. Quo fit ut existimatio bona prima omnium deserat infelices. Qui nunc populi rumores, 160 quam dissonae multiplicesque sententiae, piget reminisci. Hoc tantum dixerim ultimam esse ad- uersae fortunae sarcinam, quod dum miseris aliquod crimen affingitur, quae perferunt meruisse creduntur. Et ego quidem bonis omnibus pulsus, dignitatibus 165 exutus, existimatione foedatus ob beneficium suppii- cium tuli.
Videre autem uideor nefarias sceleratorum ofticinas gaudio laetitiaque fluitantes, perditissimum quemque nouis delationum fraudibus imminentem, iacere bonos 170 nostri discriminis terrore prostrates, flagitiosum quem que ad audendum quidem facinus impunitate, ad efficiendum uero praemiis incitari, insontes autem non modo securitate, uerum ipsa etiam defensione priuatos. Itaque libet exclamare: V.
O stelliferi conditor orbis Qui perpetuo nixus solio Rapido caelum turbine uersas Legemque pati sidera cogis, 5 Vt mine pleno lucida cornu Totis fratris obuia flammis Coiidat stellas luna minores, Nunc obscuro pallida cornu Phoebo propior luinina perdat, 154 COXSOLAT. PHILOSOPH. I.
things as the event of fortune, and they esteem only that to be providently done which the happy success commends. By which means it cometh to pass that the first loss which miserable men have is their estimation and the good opinion which was had of them. What rumours go now among the people, what dissonant and diverse opinions! I cannot abide to think of them; only this will I say, the last burden of adversity is that when they which are in misery are accused of any crime, they are thought to deserve whatsoever they suffer. And I, spoiled of all my goods, bereaved of my dignities, blemished in my good name, for benefits receive punishments.
And methinks I see the cursed crews of the wicked abounding with joy and gladness, and every lost companion devising with himself how to accuse others falsely, good men He prostrate with the terror of my danger, and every lewd fellow is pro voked by impunity to attempt any wickedness, and by rewards to bring it to effect; but, the innocent are not only deprived of all security, but also of any manner of defence. Wherefore I may well exclaim: V.
V.
Creator of the Sky, Who sittest on Thine eternal throne on high, Who dost quick motions cause In all the heavens, and givest stars their laws, That the pale Queen of Night, Sometimes receiving all her brother's light, Should shine in her full pride, And with her beams the lesser stars should hide; Sometimes she wants her grace, When the sun's rays are in less distant place; 155 BOETHII 10 Et qui primae tempore noctis Agit algentes Hesperos ortus, Solitas iterum mutet habenas Phoebi pallens Lucifer ortu. Tu frondifluae frigore brumae 15 Stringis lucem breuiore mora: Tu, cum feruida uenerit aestas, Agiles nocti diuidis horas. Tua uis uarium temperat annum Vt quas Boreae spiritus aufert 20 Reuehat mites Zephyrus frondes Quaeque Arcturus semina uidit Sirius altas urat segetes. Nihil antiqua lege solutum Linquit propriae statiom's opus.
25 Omnia certo fine gubernans Hominum solos respuis actus Merito rector cohibere modo. Nam cur tantas lubrica uersat Fortuna uices? Premit insontes 80 Debita sceleri noxia poena, At peruersi resident celso Mores solio sanctaque calcant Iniusta uice colla nocentes. Latet obscuris condita uirtus 35 Clara tenebris iustusque tulit Crimen iniqui. Nil periuria, nil nocet ipsis Fraus mendaci compta colore. Sed cum libuit uiribus uti, a Literally, " And that he who as Hesperus, in the early hours of the night, drives the cold stars before him, should change chariot (lit. his accustomed reins) and become Lucifer, growing pale in the first rays of the sun."
156 CONSOLAT. PHILOSOPH. I.
And Hesperus that flies, Driving the cold, before the night doth rise, And oft with sudden change Before the sun as Lucifer doth range.* Thou short the days dost make, When Winter from the trees the leaves doth take; Thou, when the fiery sun Doth Summer cause, makest the nights swiftly run.
Thy might doth rule the year, As northern winds the leaves away do hear, So Zephyrus from west The plants in all their freshness doth revest; And Syrius burns that corn With which Arcturus did the earth adorn.
None from Thy laws are free, Nor can forsake their place ordained by Thee.
Thou to that certain end Governest all things; deniest Thou to intend The acts of men alone, Directing them in measure from Thy throne?
For why should slippery chance Rule all things with such doubtful governance?
Or why should punishments, Due to the guilty, light on innocents?
But now the highest place Giveth to naughty manners greatest grace, And wicked people vex Good men, and tread unjustly on their necks; Virtue in darkness lurks, And righteous souls are charged with impious works.
Deceits nor perjuries Disgrace not those who colour them with lies, For, when it doth them please To show their force, they to their will with ease 157 BOETHII 40 Quos innumeri metuunt populi Summos gaudent subdere reges. O iam miseras respice terras Quisquis rerum foedera nectis. Operis tanti pars non uilis 45 Homines quatimur fortunae salo.
Ilapidos rector comprime fluctus Et quo caelum regis immensum Firma stabiles foedere terras."
V.
Haec ubi continuato dolore delatraui, ilia uultu placido nihilque meis questibus mota: "Cum te," inquit, " maestum lacrimantemque uidissem, ilico miserum exsulemque cognoui. Sed quam id longin- 6 quum esset exilium, nisi tua prodidisset oratio, nescie- bam. Sed tu quam procul a patria non quidein pulsus es sed aberrasti; ac si te pulsum existimari mauis, te potius ipse pepulisti. Nam id quidem de te numquam cuiquam fas fuisset. Si enim cuius 10 oriundo sis patriae reminiscare, non uti Atheniensium quondam multitudinis imperio regitur, sed es KOtpavos ecrnv, eis qui frequentia ciuium non depulsione laetetur; cuius agi frenis atque obtemperare iustitiae summa libertas 15 est. An igiioras illam tuae ciuitatis antiquissimam " Horn. II. ii. 204. 158 CONSOLAT. PHILOSOPH. I.
The hearts of kings can steer, To whom so many crouch with trembling fear.
O Thou that joinest with love All worldly things, look from Thy seat above On the earth's wretched state; We men,, not the least work thou didst create, With fortune's blasts do shake; Thou careful ruler, these fierce tempests slake, And for the earth provide Those laws by which Thou heaven in peace dost guide."
V.
When I had uttered these speeches with continued grief, she, with an amiable countenance and nothing moved with my complaints, said: " WThen I first saw thee sad and weeping, I forthwith knew thee to be in misery and banishment. But I had not known how far off thou wert banished, if thy speech had not bewrayed it. O how far art thou gone from thy country, not being driven away, but wandering of thine own accord! Or if thou hadst rather be thought to have been driven out, it hath been only by thyself; for never could any other but thyself have done it; for if thou rememberest of what country thou art, it is not governed as Athens was wont to be, by the multitude, but ' one is its ruler, one its king,' a who desires to have abundance of citizens, and not to have them driven away. To be governed by whose authority, and to be subject to her laws, is the greatest freedom that can be. Art thou ignorant of that most ancient law of thy city, 159 BOETHII 159 BOETHII legem, qua sanctum est ei ius exulare non esse quis- quis in ea sedem fun dare maluerit? Nam qui uallo eius ac munimine continetur, nullus metus est ne exul esse mereatur. At quisquis earn inhabitare uelle 20 desierit, pariter desinit etiam mereri. Itaque non tarn me loci hums quam tua facies mouet nee biblio- thecae potius comptos ebore ac uitro parietes quam tuae mentis sedem require, in qua non libros sed id quod libris pretium facit, librorum quondam meorum 25 sententias, collocaui. Et tu quidem de tuis in com mune bonum meritis uera quidem, sed pro multitudine gestorum tibi pauca dixisti. De obiectorum tibi uel honestate uel falsitate cunctis nota memorasti. De sceleribus fraudibusque delatorum recte tu quidem 30 strictim attingendum putasti, quod ea melius uberius- que recognoscentis omnia uulgi ore celebrentur. Increpuisti etiam uehementer iniusti factum senatus. De nostra etiam criminatione doluisti, laesae quoque opinionis damna fleuisti. Postremus aduersum fortu- 35 nam dolor incanduit conquestusque non aequa meritis praemia pensari. In extremo Musae saeuientis, uti quae caelum terras quoque pax regeret, uota posuisti. Sed quoniam plurimus tibi affectuum tumultus in- cubuit diuersumque te dolor, ira, maeror distrahunt,