For if men die utterly, as our reason forbids us to believe, there is no glory left to them at all, since they whose it is said to be, do not exist.
If, on the other hand, the mind is still conscious and working when it is freed from its earthly prison, it seeks heaven in its freedom and surely spurns all earthly traffic: it enjoys heaven and rejoices in its release from the of this world.
'The mind that rushes headlong in its search for fame, thinking that is its highest good, should look upon the spreading regions of the air, and then upon the bounded tracts that are this world: then will shame enter it; that, though fame grow, yet can it never fill so small a circle.Proud men! why will ye try in vain to free your necks from the yoke mortality has set thereon? Though fame may be wide scattered and find its way through distant lands, and set the tongues there talking; though a splendid house may draw brilliance from famous names and tales; yet death regards not any glory, howsoever great.Alike he overwhelms the lowly and the lofty head, and levels high with low.
'Where are Fabricius's 1 bones, that honourable man? What now is Brutus? 2 or 52:1 -- Fabricius -- was the Roman general whom Pyrrhus could neither bribe nor intimidate, B.C.280.
52:2 -- L.Junius Brutus, who led the Romans to expel the last of the kings, and was elected the first consul, B.C.
509.Page 53
unbending Cato? 1 Their fame survives in this: it has no more than a few slight letters shewing forth an empty name.We see their noble names engraved, and only know thereby that they are brought to naught.
Ye lie then all unknown, and fame can give no knowledge of you.But if you think that life can be prolonged by the breath of mortal fame, yet when the slow time robs you of this too, then there awaits you but a second death.
'But,' she said,' do not think that I would urge implacable war upon Fortune.There are times when her deception of men has certain merits: I mean when she discovers herself, unveils her face, and proclaims her ways.Perhaps you do not yet understand what I would say.It is a strange thing that I am trying to say, and for that reason I can scarcely explain myself in words.I think that ill fortune is of greater advantage to men than good fortune.Good fortune is ever lying when she seems to favour by an appearance of happiness.Ill fortune is ever true when by her changes she shews herself inconstant.The one deceives; the other edifies.The one by a deceitful appearance of good things enchains the 53:1 -- Probably Cato Major, the great censor, B.C.184, the rigid champion of the stern old Roman morals; or possibly Cato Minor, who committed suicide at Utica after the battle of Thapsus, B.C.46, because he considered that C?sar's victory was fatal to the Republic and the liberty of Rome.Page 54minds of those who enjoy them: the other frees them by a knowledge that happiness is so fragile.You see, then, that the one is blown about by winds, is ever moving and ever ignorant of its own self ; the other is sober, ever prepared and ever made provident by the undergoing of its very adversities.Lastly, good fortune draws men from the straight path of true good by her fawning: ill fortune draws most men to the true good, and holds them back by her curved staff.
'And do you think that this should be reckoned among the least benefits of this rough, unkind, and terrible ill fortune, that she has discovered to you the minds of your faithful friends? Fortune has distinguished for you your sure and your doubtful friends; her departure has taken away her friends and left you yours.At what price could you have bought this benefit if you had been untouched and, as you thought, fortunate? Cease then to seek the wealth you have lost.You have found your friends, and they are the most precious of all riches.
'Through Love 1 the universe with constancy makes changes all without discord: earth's elements, though contrary, abide in treaty bound: Phoebus in his golden car leads up the glowing day; his sister rules the night that 54:1 -- Boethius in this passage is probably thinking of Empedocles's doctrine of Love which unites, and Strife which divides, the two primal forces in the universe.Page 55Hesperus brought: the greedy sea confines its waves in bounds, lest the earth's borders be changed by its beating on them:
all these are firmly bound by Love, which rules both earth and sea, and has its empire in the heavens too.If Love should slacken this its hold, all mutual love would change to war; and these would strive to undo the scheme which now their glorious movements carry out with trust and with accord.By Love are peoples too kept bound together by a treaty which they may not break.Love binds with pure affection the sacred tie of wedlock, and speaks its bidding to all trusty friends.O happy race of mortals, if your hearts are ruled as is the universe, by Love! 1 '
55:1 -- C p.Bk.I.Prose iv, p.10.
