m£ COLLECTION OF PURITAN AND ENGLISH THEOLOGICAL LITERATURE LIBRARY OF THE THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY ^"^V fj PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY m ^p ft! • / ■f Anicius-Manlius-Severinus-Bcetius, de- f ' icended from an illuftrious Roman family, was Confulinthe year 487, minifterof Theodoric king of the Goths, and one of the moil (kil- lui mathematicians of his time. He was im- prisoned on mere fufpicion, and during his confinement compofed his excellent book * e On the Confolation of Philofophy." After • i'urfering different kinds of puniihment, he vas beheaded at Pavi3, in October 524 or | 525. I FIVE BO Of PHILOSOP CO MF OR T, OfChriftian confolation, writ- ten a i o o o. yeeres (ince. By Anitius, Man!im t Torquatus ,Seuwnm , 'B o e t i v s ', a Chriftian Conful of R O M E. Newly Tranflated out of Latine, together with Marginal! Notes, explaining the obfturelt places. I London Printed by lohn Windtt^ for M a t h % vv L o vv n e s. i 6 o 9. TO T HE MOST Vertuous Lady, the Qtunte/Je o/D orset Dowager. His excellent Booke , pro- . uing tho ihortly , yet fure- ly, the'vanitieof all other qoods; the veritie of mans onely good to confift in folely ietling his foule on God the foueraigne^yea fole Good ; hailing proued profitable to all almoft neighbour Nations 5 as turned into their tongues; I prcfume to prefent vnto our Countrie alfo for our common good. Now for that it is acommonvfc, in communicating; to all a priuatelnuention or Tranllation,to appro.- A 3 priate The Epis tl priate the protection thereof to fome one particular Perfon: in the defigning of that Perfbn, vnto me none occurs more proper then your vertuous felfe , not fo much for my priuate obligations vnto you (which yet be manifold , I muft needes publikely ac- knowledge) as for a peculiar intereft (as I may fay) it fecms you haue vnto this booke. This Booke ( I fay ) fo much efteemed by your late moil worthy Lord arid Husband, as had his leifure beene anfwcrable to his learning and will,it had becne enobledby a more noble Tranilatour, ThisBooke (I fay) which though perhaps as Philofophicali for the fpeculatiue points, may be aboue your vnderftanding,yet as truely Theological for thepradticall partes, the principal! ende of fueh (peculations 5 it is I am perfwaded ac- cording, and vnder your wilt And yet alfo (Madame, fpr I had rather you (hould wife- ly feare, then I foolifhly flatter ) looke into it as a giafle , not fo much to fee if mod parts be much , as if any bee leffe beautiful!. Weigh if in all things and at all times , you haue truely preferred the veritie of good- nefle of God, afore the vanitie of vice of the world : if you haue, continue thercin/o much Dedicator ie. much more carefully, as remaines for you a lefTe time of this comberfome carefulnefle. If you haue not, bee carefullnowinyour laft times at the leaft in the principall points to begin your iourney with fuch alacritie,as with much fpeed to make perhaps a loner way in a fhort time. This is the greateS good I your poore Client can wifh you, this is the powerfulleft patronage and hi^h- eft commendation you can procure to this; Booke i that your lelfe doe vertuoufly no lelTe effect in will and worke, then your late loued Lord did affect it in word and vnder- ftanding. With the which wifh to the ?ich;ft (eruice my pouer- tie can reach vnto, I remaine. lourmoftmune but not leajl dtuoted jeruAnt I T. t -> T* To the Reader. T 'is an old 'faying, and notfo old as true/ bat vi- no vcndibili non eft opus h^dcra : / vouU it yen 'as true } that the besl tbinge-s are ah: ay mojlc [teemed then J Teguld not doubt but that this golden booke o/Boe thins n>ouldbein great requetf . for I cannot imagine, Hhat fault any man can find Tbitb it, that is delighted with Vertue. The frbietf of this Difccurfeis true Felici* f'f, thetajtoitj and the remouing of all impediments. J 11 this is expla. ned To the Reader. nedby T^hetoricallvrThilofophicafldif- cotojes. Jind leaji any thing fhould lee wanting y the Poetical Mujes are not ex* eluded $ Thus are all difpofitions fat if - fied y and ' profite ioyned leith delight, tt here fore well me may fay of this wor- thy Authour: Omne tulit pun&um, qui mifcuit vtile child. Jndyet this 1 milladde more ; that the noble , learned an ipyous mits and minds ^mill take moft benefite and plea fur e in Boethius. The reafon is , for that fimilis fimili gau- \ det j Who more noble then Anitius Manlius Torquatua* Seuerinus ; fince feme of 'that family deferued not to be Conjuls. And they mere worthy oj the golden chayne /vice their Champion monnettin the field. Titus MsnliUi lmeane ^mhotooh it from his French Challengers necke , and put it about his omne j mherebyhe purchafed tobimfelfe and bis pofieritie > thefyrname o/Tor* quatus. To the Reader. quatus. jind by another no lejje ad. mirabk aSi ofiuftice > came to bee called Seucrinus, not fearing bis o~tone conque- ring fonne i becaufebegaue the bat tell a- gawfl bts fathers commaund. What Jhould ffpeake of our Boethius his lear. ning? Let thefe bis fine 'Bookes giuefif- fident teftimonie thereof. Or if this will not f if fee } per if e "ft bo lijl bis ether mo. numents, fraught Tpith Ipar'tetie of all Sciences } both humane and diuine. His pietie appearetb in his lnhole life, but mofl of all at bis death ; bee bothuprote and dyed for defence of Chrifl and bis faith againfl the Arrians and other he- rcticks. finally he ivas truely Boethius, that is , an helper and relieuer of all in- nocent and dtjlrejjvd people, Jnd leaf bis *Benefite fhopJd line no longer then himfelfe, he committed it to icntmg^ and fendeth it to thce } in this his noble, bear- md i a)id pyousTborkc. It hicb that our Ccuth *. — , To theRcadei Countrey may the better eritoy , isno*fr, f a s thoujeefl ) both in Englijh Verfe and profe. Which b orfr h ard it was to effect, thoumayeft guejfe in part : jince our prince of Poets } Chaucer turned it on- ly into profe. Which S>ill be a fufficient motiue to take this labour in good part.^ and to heart -frith fuch faults as cannot eajily be amended. Though thus much alfo I doe affure thee,thatit "frill he more fleafing to the Tranflatour , to fee his labour rather amended then commended. As likewifehee will take it more in patience, to haue it carped at , then corrupted. Vale&fraae. (■■■) TO TOTHEYONG Gentlemen Readers, concerning the Title of this ( Booke of Tbilofi- phicali Comfort. WHo tdft s thofe ioyes which fading plc.tfurt yttlds^ His age mil rut thefolltes of his put h: But if ycu trauellin the fpatious fields Of learned Arts ^there Jeekingpretious truth , The [acred Trcafure> which you thence hauegrimd, In wants and troubles /hall your fnccour proue^ And though your bodies be in dungeons chained^ By wife domes ayd your minds jh all be aboue. Then f nee you may be nor etched^ p core and 'old, Let not fuch infants ft arue for lackecf care > Who fh&llltke thankefullchi dren you vpkold, When they more fir ong^ when you more feeble are. : Whereof ycu by this wcrke theproofe may fee Jnhimjwbofe comforts your infiruSliom bee. Another Another of theAuthour. IN thee (Boetius) thit true rule appearex, * That wife mengaine mo ft fame by fuffcring paints* Of all the aft ions of thyprofperous yeeres To after-rimes fmailmemorie remainesi But when the cloudes of for row ft roue t'obfcutt Thy vertues Itgbt, then it did clearer Jhine* Calamity makes fiudwus minds more pur e^ T heir gloric growth) as their /fates decline. Thou couldfi net in thy iojes haue picas' dvs f$ f as with this voorke^ which to thy grief e we owe. To To the friendly Reader. Sonnet. W Hat need my lirt\ to recommend theft lesucs, Sofreq tently by lea* ned hands perufd, As that I fear e they'll feeme to be abus'd> Since cuflomatiepr at fe fufpition weaues. For I miftrufl a gorgeous Frontifpice, Of mercenary firms. If thou doefffo, And art vnlearrid, to better counfell gee* /, thou, nor any can thinke that am/JJe. And lettered though thou bee'ft, here mayfl thoufifid, What other volumes have not, for thy good : Some parages explained of that kind As are, at frft r not eafdy vnder flood. 1 Friend> lot with thankes our Author be rewarded, WhogaineS) nor fame, but thy good hath regarded. G* G. T TT p FIR ST BOOKE Of Boetivs. Containing his Complaint and Mijeries. TheI. Verse. Wherein Boetius belemiletb his ejlate. I That withjeuihfullkeate didvsrfes write , Cfrfuft now my woes in doleftcll tunes endite, Alyworkfisframdby UMnfettoraeattd rude, And my (ad cheeks are wtth true teares bedew' d For thcfe alone no tsrrour could *jfraj y From being f&rtmrs of my weary w.:y, "B A O happy death jhat fpareth jweetcfl yeares , And c&mes inforrow ojten caltd withtea^ er m Alas how deaf e is he to wretches cries $ And loth he is to clou 9 vp wecpingeyes. While tr ttjfles chance me with vain fauour crowned^ Thatfaddefi houre my Ufe had almofl drewnedx Nowfhe hath clouded her deceitj ull face, My jpttef nil dayet prolong their weary race y ■Aly friends jp by did you count me fortunate} He that isfxlfrtjie'reftoed mjetledflate. The I. Prose- Containing the description of Thih/opby. Hilc I ruminated thefe things with my leife , anddeierminedto fet forth my woful com ^plaint in writing ; me thought 'Pbilofophicall Com for t. thought i fawe a woman ftand b Jiigner then my head, hauing a d graue * Becaufe h Lat nc an Greckc Pnilofophy ii the fern: nine cr-n- drr.° b Philofo- pkvisGods gift. c Bccawfe flic makctl her poflW. fors reue- redd and grauc. <* piercing and fpecu hting the hidden na- ture of things. c ihsbc.v ty of Philc fophy is r therencrcs fed th.n A minifhed wi:h year f Natural! ail J Mora Philnfop} arc noca- I bcur tr a common capacity : Aftronomy toticbech the keaaeris, Mctapn^ffcl or the knowledge of God a^d Angels, &c. cannot bee- jcxacllv con rrehended. s Her difpurations or dilcourfe*. h Learned Prop< fiuens. * Lcgickc. B 2 fliip countenance, u glittering cleare eyes, and of quicker fight, then coiimonly Nature doth af- ford; her e colour frefli and chcarc- full, and yet difcouering (b many year?, that (he cou d not be thoght to haudiucd in our timesjher* fta- ture vncertaine and doubtfull, for (bmetime (lie exceeded not the common height of men, and fom- time (lie teemed to touch the hca- uens with her head,and if fhe lifted itvptothehtgheuV, fhepearcedthe veryheauens,fo that fhe could not bee fecne by the beholders; her ^garments were made of mo!t h fine threads/with ' cunning workman- TZottius'his Chip, and of an k euer during Iturfe, which fas I knew afterward by her owne repo;t) die had wouen with her ! ownhands.Acerraine m duf- kifhnelTe caufed by negligence and time, had darkened their colour, as it is wont to happen , when Images liand in a fmokie roome. In the lower part of chtm was placed the letter n * , and ia the vpper ° 0, and betwixt the two letters, in thema- ner of flayers, there were certaine p degrees madefy which there was a paflage from ,the lower to the higher letter: this her garment had beencutbythe violence of fome, who had taken away fuch •* peeces as thev could get, In her r riaht hand fhe had certaine books, and in her 1 left hand (lie held a fcepter . This woman feeing the t i-'oeticall f Next (he wa« occupied in governing the Common wealth, t Poe- try is to be eftctmed or, according to the putter it handlcth* Mufes Euerla- iiog truth., eciufe K>n< with wtPhilo- fophy can veaue rhefe hfcourfes ^Le rning icgieded nthe time f Backus* md written >b(curely :>y ancient ?hilofa*i )hcn, 1 P.a£txa ; rhconca. ) All Icien- :c$ arc to ?c obtay- ncd wi.h Method. 1 omc featences ill applyed to the defence affalfe o- pinions;Sec the third Profc, r She chief- ly delighted' in ftudy and con- tem| htiou 5PA/ -hie a 11 Comfort. Muks (landing about my bed, and fuggeftins wordes to my teares, be- et? O t ' ing moued for a little ipacc, and inflamed with angry lookes- who (faythfhee) hath permitted thefe Tragical harlots to haue aceefle to this iicke man? which will not onely not comfort his griefes with wholefome remedies, but alfo nourifb them with fugredpoyfbnj for thefe be they, which with the iruitleffe thornes of u affections dee kill the fruitful crop of realon, and doe accuftome mens minds to fickneiTe, and notfreethem, But if your flattery did depriue vs of fome prophane fellow, as com- monly it happeneth , I fhould thinke^thatitwerenot ibgrieucu- fly to be taken,for in him our labors fbonld receiue no harme. But now you haue laid hand of him, who B $ hath c Boctius his r Note the force ola gftture re* prehenften * Griefefoi tewporaii lofTes dark- nethaad dullcth th< vnderftan- dino[. 1 The way robe com- fortedis t< giue earc u Socd coun tell. hath beene brought vp in x Peiipa- tcticall , and Academicall {la- dies : but rather get ycu gone, you Syrens pleafant eucn to de* fhuction , and leaue him ro my Mufes to be cured and healed.That > company being thus checked, c- uercomewith giiefe, calling ihcir eyesvpon theground,and bewray - ingtheir bafhiulncfle with blufh ing,went fadly away .And I,whofe 7 figh t w a s d i m m ed w i t h tcares, (o that I could not difecrne what this woman might be, fo imperious, and of fuch authority, was aftom- fhed^and fixing my countenance v- pon the earth, began to expect with a filence what fhec would doe af- terward . Then iric comming nigher. fate downe at my beds feet, and beholding my countenance fad with mourning, and caftypon the ground ThilofophicaU Comfort. ground with griefe^complained of the perturbation of my mind with thefcverfes. The II. Vers e^ Vhylofophy b^ayktb the pertur- bation of iBoetius bis mind. A las.how thj dkllniindis headlongeaft JLiLltJ depth es ofwoe y where all her light once UJ}, She doth to walkc in vtter darkenes haft, While cares grow great with e art h Ij tern pejls toft* He ^that through th 'oynedheauns dtdfreeiy mnne y And vfd to trauaile the caltftial! wajes, Marking we rofie fplendorofthefunne 7 And noting Qnthiaes cold andwatrj rajes* He that did br aue If comprehend m verje, The different fphcres , and wandrwg courfc offiafs. Be that was wont the ca fifes to rebearfe 9 Wh j founding winds doe wth thefeasmakeiwars 9 Whatfpirit moues the worlds wellfetledframe^ And why the Sunnejwhcme forth the £afl doth bring In wefierne wanes do ih hide his falling fUtxe, S ear chingwhat power temper $ thep/eaftngfpring, Which ma^s the earth htr ro fie flowers to be are. Whofe gift tits } that Autumn sfrtiitf till feafon, B 4 Should 1 ^ 'Boeiius bis * The fore- faid fpccu !ation. b ASfcftion to earthly things *nd Should with full grajtes few in a plenteous part} Telling offecrct Nature eneryrrajon^ New hauwg lojlthe a kcautyofbismwd* Lies with his necke compasl mporJ* row h chaws? His countenance withhcauj vfatght declmd Him to c behold tide Jtillen earth corftraives. the palsions which enfuc thereof c To thinks vp on earthly things- The II. P r ose. tpbyUfophy enquirctb ofBoetius bis difeafe. Vt it is rather t ; roe (faith fhe ) to apply remedies, then to make complain tes : And then looking wifhly vpon me; Art thou he(faith flie) which being long fincc n.Ur* fed with our miike, and brought vp with our nourifhments_, Wert come to mans eftate? but we had giuen thee fuch a weapons, as if thou haddeft not caft them away , would *Ttisintel- ic&ual sni Cardinal! , or moral] vermes. IPhik; Comfort. would hauemade thceimiincible: Oocft. thou not know me? why doeft thou no: fpeakerls it fmme- bftneiTe or vnferiiihieneiTe that makes thee iilent? I had rather it were ihamcfaftnefTe, but I perceiue thou art become vnfcnfible. And ieeingmenotonely filent, but al- together mute and dumbe; fayre andeafilyfhe laid her handvpon my breads faying/ there is no dan- ger, he is in a d Letbargie.thecom- mondifeafeofdeceiued minds: he hath a little forgot hinafelfe, but he will eafily remember himielfe a- gaine, if he be brought to know vs firft. To which end, let vs a little wipe his eyes, dimmed with the cloud of mortal! things. And ha- uing laid thus, with a c corner of her garment ihee dried my eyes which were wee with tearcs* The raftnefle caufeth on lvfiknce, vnfendble neiicc kcrl boi ipeech *z memory. c He it an illPbyfia. on wno de fpayretK o his cure. Sen I.e. Clem. d Forget- {ulaefle. e Some valgar L'n- which be could not altoge- ther forget. c Boetius his The III. Verse. How 'Boetius began to recouer his knowledge and memorj , ' THenfled the night anddarkenei ' dtdme leaue y , Mine eyes their rvontedfirergth receiue : As when thefiarres withdraw their kafiy band. If he Attn oretafi with cloudes doefland t The Sftme doth Ihrkejthe earth receiueth night 9 Before the time of {tarry light. But if fierce Borearftn tfrcnt Thrace wake way for the reflorivg of the day, Phabttsrvithfrep andfodatne beanies doth rtfe, Strtkingwitb light ourwondringeyet. The III. Pros e. Hole the perfecut'wn of Wifemen is no ne^o orjlrange thing, manner the mifts of fadnelTe dii- fblued I came to my felfe, and recouered my iudgement 3 fo that Thilofophicall Comfort. chat I knew my Phyinions face; wherefore caftingmine eyes vpon herfomewhat ftedfiftly, I beheld my nurfe tPbilofophy, in Whole houfe I had remained from my youth,and I faid : O MiftreiTe of all venues, for what cauie art thou come from a heauen into this our lolitarybanifhment?art thou come to beare me company in being fal- fly accufed ? Should I (faith fhe) forfakethee my Difciplc, and not deuide the burthen,which thou bear eft for enuy to my name , by partaking of thy labour? But Tbilo- fophy thought it not lawfull to for- lakethe innocent in his trouble. Should I fearcany accufation? as though this were any new matter? fordoeft thou thinke, that this is the full: time, that Wiledome hath beenexpofed to danger by wicked 4 a Philofo. phythc ojfcofGoc. men 'Boetim his h He was pat to dcatl ac A tb etas [or ao c now 1 ed- ging one God and he immor- U lit y of the ioulc< c Falfe opi- nions ai- ledge foro* fentences of Philofo phieina wrooe fcnfcf men?Haue we not in ancient times before our andthr«*t, SwrinQ Thilofopbicall Comfort. Stirrtngtbe waiter with angry he at e % Norhoate* Vefeuus when he calls From broke* hilles enflan:ed bla$ls\ Ncrfierj thunder can dtfmay y Whkhtzkes the tops of towers aw*}. Why doefi'rce tyrant t vs affright , Who fe raqe ufa y rt bey end their writht? For nothing hope norfearetboHharme^ So their weak* wrath thou Jb alt dtfarme: Bat he whome hope or terror take i\ Being a (Uhe bis file Id fur fakes, And haucs huplace^and doth provide Acbainejvberewtib his banas are tide* T H E III LP ROSE. Boetius difcoueretb the caufes of bis griefe. - Nderftandeft thou thefe things (faith [he) and doe they make imprefsion in thymind?Arc thoueW*pWp*V whv weepeftthou? why Rieddeft thou Co many teares ? %mifatfqf^j# If thou expe&eft to be cured , thou muft * A raoun Caincby Naples. AfSmn ad Lyram. §ccultct tn- tc'le&us. ^oetius his 1 T * e £rfi tushit :e was Msbacifh- ruifciy. muftdifcoier thy wound* Then Icolie&ing the forces of my mind together , made her anfw ere in thefevvotds. Doth the cruelty of fortunes rage neede further decla- ration., or doth it not iufrkiently appeaieofitielfe? doth not there- ry countenance of this 'place moue dee? Is shis the Library ., which then thy felfe hadft chofen to fie in at my houfe?in which thou hah 1 oftcnt mesciifcourfed with me of the knowledge of diuineand hu mant things? Hadl this attire or countenance, wheri Ifearched the iecrets of Nature with thee, when chou defenbedft vnto me the courfeofthe fiafres with thyCec- metricall rod, when thou diddefr frame my conueria ion, and the mnner of my whole life accftreKflg co thepacterrieof the cieleftia'l or- der. I Tbilofophicall Comfort. der. Are thefe die b revvardes, which chy obedient feruants hauc? But thou diddeft decree chat fenrence by the mouth of TUto; that com- mon weakhes fhould be happy, if either the Students of wifedom did gouerne them, or thole which were apDoimed to goueine them, would giue themlelues to che ftudy of wifedomc. Thou by che fame j Philofopher diddeft admoni/h \s, chat it is a fufficientcaufe for wife- men to take vpon themfelues the gouernement of the common- wealth, left if che rule of Cicies were left in che hands of lewd and wicked Citizens,they mould work che fubuerfion and o uerthrow of che good. Wherfore following this auchoricy,I defired to practife that by publike adminiftration which I had learned of thee in priuate con- C ference. b ihcicconc canfe.be- caufc he hid not deferacd tbem. ha- iling a goodinten tion in a.: mitring proEr.otioi - . Hoetitis his 1 cTHrJly, hedeferued the contra <* One of king Theo- doncus hi.' chiereft fa uontcs; e Another K ference. Thou and God himfelfe who hath inferted thee in the minds of the wiie^are my witneflcs, that nothing but the common de- fire of all good men,brought me to beaMagiftrate. This hath beene the c caufe of mygrieuous and ir- reconcilable disagreement? with | wicked men, and that which free- dom of conicience carrieth with it, of con temning the indignation of Potentates for the defence of iu- itice. How often haue I encounte- red with d (jonigaJluS) violently pof- iefsing himfelfe withpoore mens goods? How often haue I put backe e Triwlh Prouoft of the Kings houfe from iniuries which ,he had begunne, yea and finifhed alfo? How often haue I protected by putting my authority in dan- ger, fuch poore wretches, as the vnpu- ^Philofophicall Comfort. vnpunifbedcouetoufnefle of the t barbarous did vexe with infinite reproches? Neuer did any man draw rne from. right to wrong. It £rieuedme no h(Tc then them which fufTered it, to fee the wealth of our Subie<5ts war}ed,part!y wit h priuate pillage, and partly by pub- like tributes. When in the time of a great dearth things were fet at fo exccftiueand vnreafonable a rate, that the Prouinceof Campania wzs like to bee altogether impoueri- rifhed for the common good, I ftucke not to contend with the chiefe Praetor himfelfe, and the matter was difcufTed before the king, and I preuailed fo farre, that it went not forward . I drew Tauli- miSj who had beenCon(ull,outof the very mouth of the gaping Courtiers, who like rauenous curs, C 2 had ■ j > j * ^Boetius his had already in hope and ambition deuoured his riches. That jtlbinus who had likewife beene Conful, might not be punifhed vpon pre- fumptions and falfe accuiation, I expofed my felfeto the hatred of Cyprian his accnfer. May I feeme to haue prouoked enmity enough againft my ielfe? But others mould Co much the more haue procured myfafecy, fincethat for the loue I baretoiumce,Ueftmy felfeno way by the meanes of Courtiers to be fafe. sBut by whofe accufarions didlreceiue this blow? by theirs, who, long fince hauing put 'Ba/il out of the kings feruice, compelled himnowtoaccufe me, by the ne- cefsity which he was driuen to by debt.Opilio likewife and Gaudenti- us being banifhed by the kings de- cree, for the iniuries 'and manifold deceites, Thilofopbicall Comfort. ii deceites, which they had commie- ted, becauie they would not obey, defended themielues by taking Sanctuary; of which the king hea- ring, gaue fentence, that vnlefTe they departed out of the City of 1(auenna within certaine daies^they fhould be branded in the fore- heads, and put out by force. What could be added to this feuerity? And yet that very day, their accuia- tionagainftmewent for currant* What might be the reafon of this? did mv dealing deferue it? or did theircondemnation which went before, make them iuft accufersr was not fortune afhamed? if not that innocency was acculed, yet at lcaffc, that it had fo vile and bale ac- cuftrs? But h what crime was laid to my charge?wilt thou haue it in one word? iam faidtohaite dtR- C i icd 'Boetiushis red the Senates fafety. Wile thou know the maner how? I am bla- med for hauinghindred their accu- {er to bring forth euidence , by which he (hould prouc the Senate guiky of treafbn. What thinkeft thouOMift effe? Shall I deny this fault, that 1 may not fhame thee ?. But it is true, 1 defired it, neither wilileuerceafe fromhauing that defire. Shall! confefTek? but then Imuftleaue hindering their accu- fer. Shall I call it an offence to haue wifhed the (afety of that order? In- deed the Senate with their decrees concerning me, had made it an of- fence. But Folly al way decerning her felfe, cannot change the deferts of things, neither doe I thinke it lawfull for me by the decree of Sq- crates, either to haue concealed the truth, or granted a lie* But \ how ~ — ; ' : ". — — — r~ ■ r ~ " ~ — ~ — I — : ThilofbphicaH Comfort. how this may be, I lcauc to thine, and wifemens cenfure. And that the poller ity may not be ignorant of thecourle and truth of the mat- ter, I haue put it downe in wri- ting: for whatfhould Ifpeake of thofe funed 1 letters, in which I am charged to haue hoped for the Ro- mane liberty? The deceit of which would roanifcftly haue appeared, if it might haue been lawfull forme to haue vied the confession of my very acculers, which in allbufines isofareaceftforce : for what liber- ty remaineth there to be hoped for? I would to God there were any? 1 would haue aniwered as Canius did, who being charged by Cains (^e/4/",u>nne to Germankus, that he was priuy to the con fpiracy made ag jini\him r anjwered.*lf I had been : made acquainted with it,, thou C 4. ftionldeft c Boetius hu fhouldeft neuer haue known of it. Neitherhathforrowfb dulled my wits, thatl complainc ofthc wic- ked endeuours of finnefull. men a- gainfi venue, but I exceedingly matuaile at thole things, which they hoped to bring to palTe : for thedefireofdoingeutllmay be at- tributed to our weakeneiTe , but that in the fight of k God, the wic- ked fhouid be able to compalTe whatfoeuer they comriue agunft the innocent, is altogether mon- ftrousj vpon which occafion not withcuc caufe , one of thy fa- miliar friends demanded, (if lakh he jthcre be a God, from whence proceed fo many euils? and if the, e be no God, from whence com- meth any good? But let that piTe, that wicked men, which (eeke the blond of all good meo, and of the whole k$euenth!v He grieueth that wicked men area* bletopre- uadea- gainft the good. Thilofophicall Com for t. wholcSenate, would alio h a ue o- uerthrowne me, whome they (aw to fhnd in defence of good men , and of the Senate: l But did I de- lerue the fame of the Senators themlelues ? I fuppole thou re- membreil, how thou being pre* fenc, diddcfr. alway direct me ; when I went about to fay or doe any thing. Thou remembreft 1 fay, when at Verona, the king be- in^ defirous of a common ouer- throw^ndeauourcd to lay the trea- son, whereof one' y Aibinuswzs ac- cuied, vpon the whole order of the Senate, with how great kcw'nie of my owne danger, 1 defended the innocency of the whole Senate. Thou knowed that thefc things which I fay are true, and that 1 was neuer delighted in my own pra'le, for the lecret of a gocd con- fvience TZoetius bis m Ninthly, allconfpi red again! him.no mm had compafsi. on of him. Science is in fbme fort diminiflied, when by declaring what he hath done, a man receiueth the reward offame. But thou feeft to what pafTe my innoceney is come : in itead of the rewards of true vertue, 1 vndergo the punifhment ofwio- kednefte, wherewith I am falfly charged. m Was it euer yet feene, chat the manifeft: confefsion of any crime, made the Iudges ib to con- forme themielues to leuerity , that either the crrour of mans iudge- ment, or the condition of Fortune, which is certaine to none, did not inclinefomeof them to fauour? If I had beene accufed, that 1 would haneburntthe Churches, or wic- kedly haue killed the Prieftes, or haue iought the death of all good men,yetfentenee fhould haue been pronounced againft me pr:fen*, ha~ uinsf i i iii i , ..W, i iPM A Tbilofophicall Cotnfort. uing confeffed , and being conui- cted. n Now being conuaied fiue hundred miles of, not funered to make any defence, I am condem- ned to death and profcription, for bearing the Senate too much gocd wilL O Senate j which d denies thitneuer any may be conuicfed of the like crime.The dignity of which guilt, euen the very accuiers them- ieluesfaw, which that they might obfcure by adding fome kind of fault, they belyed me, that I had de- nied my confcience wkh°facr:- ledge, for an ambitious defire of preferment. But thou, which had- deft fcatedthyfelfe in me, diddefi: repellfrom the feat of my mind all defire of mortal! things, and within thy fight there was noplace foria- ciiiedgeto harbour; for thou d:d- 4eft inftill into my eares and thoughts " ro. He was con- demned beingab- fen:." Hcetius his Seand tread vnibfxlyon their necks, Vertue in darkpejfe lurkes, And righteous Joules are i harg 'd with impious works Decenesnor Per: tines t Dijg rs.ee notthefe^who c clour them with lies, For j® hen it doth themp 'eafe. To (hew their f or ctjhey to their will with cafe, The hearts of fags can ft care ^ To whomefo many crouch wfh tremhlmgfcare, O thou thai ioyn ft with lone All worldly things Jockc from thy feat alone On the tarthes wretched ftate, We men jiot the leaft worke thou didft create^ With fortunes blafts deefhahe^ Thou carefull ruler \thsfe fierce tempef}sfiake> And for the earth prouide^ iThofe laves by which thou hcauntn peace doft guide. The Thilofopbicall Coin for t. 1 7 The V. Prose. fhilofoplyfln^cth that (Boetius is the can ft of bis cV>ne mifery. Hen I had vttered thcfe fpeeches with continued (ffjSSj£%J criefc, fhee with an ami- able countenance, and nothing moued with ray complain. s, faid; when I firft Jaw thee fad and wee- ping, I forthwith knew thee to be in mifery and banifhment. But I had no: knowne how farre of, thouwertbaniihed, ifthy fpeech had not be w rayed it. O ho a' farre art thou gone from thy a Country, I not being driuenawav, but wan- dtingofihineowne accord* Or if thcuhaddeft rather be thought to haue been driuen out, it hath been onely by thy iclfc » for neuer could any other but thy fclfe bauedone D It; ^B&etius his SedQnat RiXettSwut Dq mot ut, it; for i ft thou remembrefl, of what Country thou art, it is notgouer- ned as Athens was wont to be, by the multitude ij& V&«Uv«-Ir, &*&- p#«, It is defirous to ha'ue aboun- dance of Citizens, and not to hsue them driuen away* To be goner- ned by whofe authority, and to be fubic<5ttoherlawes, isthe greatefl: freedome that can be. Art thou ignorant of that mofl ancient law of thy City, bywhich it is decreed, thathemav not bebaniflied,that hathmade choice of it for his dwel- ling place : forhetha tis within her fort or hold, needs not fearc, left he deferue to be baniflicd. Eutwho- foener ceafech to defire to dwell in it, ceafeth likewife to delerue fo great a benefit?. Wherefore the countenance of this place moueth me not fo much as thy counte- nance Thilofephicall Comfort. I 18 nance doch. Neither dol fo much require thy Library adorned with yuory feeling?, and chriftall win- do wes,as the feat of thy mind, in which I haue not placed bookes,' but that which makes bookes to be efleemed of, I meane the fenten- ces of my books, which were writ- ten long fince. And that which thou haft laid of thy deferts to the common good,is true indeed, but little in rcfpeel: of the many things which thou haft done.That which thou hail reported, either of the Ho- ne(ly,orof the falleneiTe of thofe things, which are obiccled agamft. thec,is knowneto all men. Thou diddeft well to touch but briefly thewickedneflfe and deceit of thy accufers, for that the common people to whofe notice they are come, doe more fitly and largely D 2 fpeake ^Boetius his fpeake of them. Thou haft alio fharply rebuked the vniuft Senates deed. Thou haft alio g ieued at ouraccufation, and haft bewailed the lolTe or diminifhing of our good name: and laftly, thy fbr- row raged againft fortune, and thou complaynedft, that delcrts were not equally rewarded* In the end of thy bitter verfe, thou de- firedft, that the earth might be so- uerned by that peace,wbich heaucn enioyeth. But becaule thou art turmoiled with the multitude of affections, griefeand anger draw- ing thee to diucrfe partes, in the plight thou art now , the more forcible remedies can not be apply - ed vnto thee; wherefore, for a while, we will vfe the more eafie, that thy affections , which are as it were hardened and fwolnewith. * c PbilGfopbicairComfort. I 19 pereu r nations, may by gende hand- ling be mollified and diipofed ro recciue the force of fharper medi- cines. Th e VI- Verse. Wilojophy prouetb'that order is necef- farj in all things. \7\J & e n boat Vith Tbtbus beams, * * The Crab cafts fiery gleames, He, that doth then yitbfeede, rbefiuit/e/s'efirrowesfeedej decerned of bis bread, Muft be Tvitb ahmesfed, Seeke not the floury -®oods % For Violets faeet buddes, When fields are ouercafl With the fierce Nortbeme blafi y Nor hope then borne to br'w 1 fhall not need to labour much to bring thefe things to thy remem- brance, for thou wert wont, when fhee c Philo[opbicall Qomfort. thee was prefenr, and flattered thee moft/io ailayle her wiih ir-anfull words andpurf-e her with (e ;.uen- ces taken forth of our moft hidden knowledge. Bat euery fbdaine change of thinges happeneth not without a certaine waucine and difquie-neireof mind. And this is the cauie^ that thou alfo for a while haft loft thy former tranquility and peace. But it is ti me for thee to take andtafteibme gentle and pleaiant thing, which being receiued may prepare thee for ftronger potions ; Wherefore let vs vie the fweetneffe of b Rhetorical!, perfvvafions, which then onely is well imployed, when it forlaketh not our ordinancesrand with this, letMuiickealittle flaue belonging to our houfe. c haunt fbmetime lighter and fometimc (adder notes. Wherefore O man, 'what e BcetiM his c Forfunc onelv con- ftant in be- ing muta- ble. * what is it, that hath caft thee into forrow andgriefe? Ifthouthinkeft that fortune bath altered her maner of proceeding toward thee ; thou art in an crrour. This wasalway her fafhion, this is her nature. Shee hath kept that c conftancie in thy affaires, which is proper to her, in being mutable ., (uch was hercon- diticn when fhe fawned vpon thee and allured thee with entifements of fained happineffe. Thou haft diicoueredthe doubcfulllookes ot this blind GoddefTe. Shee, which concealeth her felfe from others , |s wholly knowen to thee. If thou li- ked her,frame thy felfe to her condi- tions , and make no complaint. If thou detefkft her treacherie, delpife and caft her trT, with her pernicious flacteiie. For that, which hath cau- fed thee fo much fbrow,0iould haue brought < Philofophicall Comfort. *5 brought thee to great tranqujlitie. For fiiee hath foj Taken thee, of whom no man can be fecure. Doeft thouefteeme that happinefle preci- ous, which thou art to loole ? And is the prefent fortune deare vnto thee;, of whofe ftay thou art not lure, and whofe departure will breede thy gr'iefe. And if fhee can neither be kept at our will, and ma- keththem mitable, whom fhee leaueth , whatelfe is fickle fortune, but a token of future calamitic?For it is not fufneient to behold that, which wee haue before our eyes . wifedome pondercth the euent of things, & this mutabilkie on both fides maketh the threates of fortune not to be feared, not her Batterings to be defired.Finaly,thou muft take in good part } whatfoetier happe- ned! vnto thee within the teach of E fortune., ; Toetms bit fortune , when once thou halt Tub mitted thy necke to her yoke. And if to her . whom of thine owne ac- cord, thou haftchoien for thy Mif- trefle , thou wouldeft prefcribe a Law, how long dee were to flay, and when to depart,fhouldeft thou not doe her mightie wrong, and with thy impatiencie make thy e ftate more intollerable^which thou canft not better ? If thou fettefl: vp thyfaylesto the wind 3 thou (halt be cuied not whether thy will de- (Treth , but whether the Gale dri- ueth. Ifthouioweftthyfeed,thou confideieft, that there are as well barren, as fertile yeeres. Thou haft yeelded thy lei fe to fortunes fw ay,: thou muft bee concent with the conditions of thy miftrefle. Etv de'uoureft thou to ftay the force ol the turning whecle? But thou foolifh- Thilofopbicall Comfort. foolifheft: man, that euer was, if it beginnech to ftay 3 it ceafeth to be fortune. The LVerse. ) TJyiofopby difcrik'tb the conditions of fortune. T He pride of fif.kle fortune fparetb ticne, But lik? tbeflvids ejfrrtft a Eunpm borne, OftCfifteth might te Princes from their throne, And eft. the ahuti (apiine doeth adorne. Shee cares n. ifoi-ttje 33 niches teares andmene^ And the (ad grows jvbicb fat hath cavs'd doth skorne Thus doth fbge plajj , to wi.ke her power more k^owen, Shexvmggr :<.(■: dvdtrs % whin mans fikhfttite One boitre, hail: ffe dseth fee ^ndfonunaxe* TheM.P rose. Fortune fre^eth , that flee hath taken nothing from Boetiusjbat fas his. Vt Hvould vrge thee a lit- tle with Fortunes Owne Jipceches. Wherefore con- E 2 {Tder TScetius bis i fider thon,if fhee askcth not reafon. For what caufe> O man 3 chargeft thoumee with daily complaints? What iniurie haue I done thee? What goods of thine haue I taken from thee? Contend with mee be- fore any Iudge,about the pofltlsion of riches and dignities : and if thou canft fticWjthat the proprietie of a- ny of thefe things belong to any mortall wight , 1 will foorthwith willingly graunt, that thofe things, which thou demandcftjWere thine. When nature produced thee out of thy mothers wombe, I receiued thee naked and poore in all rclpects, checrifbed thee with my wealth, and (which makcth thee now to fall out with me) being forward to faucurthee, I had moft tender care for thy education, and adorned thee with the aboundance & Iplcndour of, .... i i ■ ■ ■ ■■■a n H'UJ.' W U ' ■ m p w *m w Tbilofophicau lomfort. of all things^wbich are in my pow- er. Now it pleafeth mee to with- draw my hand ., yeekkhankes , as one that hath had the vie , of that which was not his owne* Thou haftnoiuftcaufe tocomplaine, as though thou hadft loft that, which was fully thine owne. Wherefore lamented thou? I haue offered thee no violence. Riches, honours, and the reft of that (ore be'ongtomee. They acknowledge mee for their Miftrefle, and themfelues for my feruants, they come with me , and when Igoeawsy , they likewiie de- par:. 1 may bol.dy afh"rme,if thofe things which thou complained to betaken from thee,had beene thine owne, thou, fhouldeft neuer haue (eft them ^ Muft lonely be forbid- den to vfe my right ? It is law ml for .he heauen to bring foorth faire E x daves. Boettus his dayes , ancjto hide them againcin darkefbme nights . It is 1 awful 1 lor theyeerefometimeto compafiethe face of the. earth with flowers and Smites, and fbmetime to couer it with clouds & cold . T.he Seahath riaht fbmetime to fawne with o calmes , and fbmetime to frowne with ftormes and waues. And fh at the vniatiable defire of men tie me to conitancie.,fo cqntrarie. to my cuftome? This is my force , this is thefoort .which I continually" vie. ' 1 turn about my wheele with fpecd, andtakeapleafnre to turne tnings vpfide downe; Ak nd,ir choti wilt^ but w ith this condition , that thou thinkeftit not an iniurieto defcend, when the courie of my fport fo re- quired. Diddeft thou not know my f am ion ? V Veirthou ignorant how (vdfiti King of the Ljd'iam, not Thilofophicall Comfort. \ 2 8 Pcrfii. not long before a terrourro a Cyrus , I * king of within a while after came tcfuch miierie, thatheefliould hauebeene burnt,, had hee not beene faued by a fhower Tent from heauen . Haft thou fo: gotten how b Paul pyoufly bewailed the caiamties of King 'Terfus his puloner? What other thing doeth the cut-crie of Trage- dies lament, but that fortune ha- uingno refpeel:, ouerturneth hsp- ! pie (kites > Diddeftthou notlearne [in thy youth, that there lay two d Barrels jth'one of good things,and the other of bad , at Iupitert thtc- fhold ? But what if thouhaft tafted more aboundantly of the good ? What if 1 be no t wholly gone from thee? What if this mutabilitie of minebeaiuftcauiefortheetohope for better ? Notwkhftandinglooie ; not thy courage, and l.iuing in a E 4 king- ^oetius his kinadome which is common to all men, delire not to bee gouerned by peculiar Lawes, proper onely to thy felfe. Th eII. Verse, Fortune complameth of the ynfat table dejire of men* I'Fplentis as ma:b wealth fl?o uli gins, ne're helling ha:. tt/ ter!;ani y Jls the fierce winds in troubled Seas doe i o(Je vp heapes of /and, Or as the Stores, that Hcautnly Oibes in Ufhtfomc mghti doe grace: Ttt wretched men >votild pi 'I accufe their r,:iferab k cafe. Should God too Ub'ral o(bi$ gifts tittir greet te u i;hes heart, >Ani with br ; £ht honours them aiorne : yet all that nothing wef( % iince rau'nous minds deuouring all for mo e are ready ftJly Wliat bridle cancontaiie in bounds thh their content le£i w'i/l} WhenfiU'd with riches they retaine the tbi'B ofhauin^ more ? He is not rich, t bar fe arcs, andgrieues, and cqhms htmfelfi but poore. 1 he III. Prose, Tbilofophy proueth ? that fortune had beene more fauourable 3 then contrarie to 'Boetius, Herefore if fortune fhould plead with thee thus in her ovvne defence , doubt-Ielfe thou wouldeft not haue a word to an (were Thilofophicall Comfort. anfvvere iier. But if there bee any china, which thou canft alleacke in thy owne defence, thou mil ft vtter ir, wee will giue thee full liberde to fpeake. Then I laid, thefe things make afaire fhew, and being fet out with plealant Rhetoricke and Mu- ficke , delight onely fo long as they are heard. But thole, which are mi- f erable haue a deeper feeling of cheir miferjes. Theifore,when the found of theie things is pa ft , hidden for- row opprelTeth thr mind. It is fo in- deed,ciuoth me, for thefe be not the remedies of thy cifeafe, butcertaine fomentations to amvage thy griefe, which as yet refifteth all cure. But when it fh :11 bee time, I will ap- ply that, which fhall pierce to the quicke . And yet theie is no caufe, why thou moulded: tfiinke thy ielfe miferable; Haft thou forgotten, how ^BGetius his how many wayes, and in what de- gree thou art happie? I pafle ouer with fihnce, that hauing loft thy Father, thou wertprouicied for by men of thebeflfbrtj and being cho- fen tohane affinicie with the chie- feft of the Cicie , thou beganneft fooner to be deare vmo them, then to be akinne, which is the moft ex- cellent kind o/kindred. Who eftee- med thee not mofthappie , hauing Co Noble a Father inlaw, fo chnile a Wife , and Co many Sonnes ? I lay nothing (for I will not fpeake of ordinarie matters) of the dignities denied to others in their age, and graunted to thee in thy youth. I de- fire to come to thetopofthyfelid- tie. If any fruit of mo: tall things hath any weight of happinefle, can the remembrance of that light bee darkned with any cloud of niiieries that Thdofopbicall (o mfort. \ j u chat can ouercaft thee? When thou fa-weft thy two Sonncs being both Confuls together carted from their houfe, the Senatours accorhpaning them , & the people reioycing with them, when they fitting in the Se- nate in their Chaires of efLite , thou making an Oration in the kings praife,deferuedft the glory of witte and eloquence. When in publikc aftcmbly thou hauing fceene Con- ful thy ielfe, ftanding betwixt thy twoSonnes, diddeft fausfie with thy triumphant liberalise , the ex- pectation of the multitudes gathe- red together, Ifuppole thouflatte- redft fortune, while fbee fawned thus vpon thee.and vfed thee, as her dearefi friend . Thou obtainedft more at her hands,tben euerps iuate man had before thee. Wilt thou reckon with fortune? This is the firft iloetiM his firfttime, that euer fhce frowned vponthee. If thou confidcreft the number and meafure ofthy ioyfull and fad accidents, thou canftnor chufe but thinke thy ielfe happie ftill. And if thou efkemeft not thy felfe fortunate, becaufe thofe things which feemed ioyfull are paft,there is no caiife, why thou fhouldefr. thinke thy felfe raiferable, llnce thofe things which thou takeftto be forrowfull, doe pafle. Commeft thou now firfl as a Pilgrime and ftranger into the Theater of this life?5uppoleft thou to find any con- ftanciein humane affaires? Since that man himfelfe is fbone gone: for although things fubic6l to for- tune feldome keepe toucb in flay- ing, yet the end or life is a certairte death,euen of that fortune , which remaineth . Wherefore what mat- ter Thilofophicall Comfort. \ J>* ter is it, whether thou by dying leaueft it, or it forfaketh thee by flying? The ILL Verse. (philofophy dedaretb y hoH> all worldly things decay and fade a^ay. WHen ?h&bus with his Rofie teame - Shcwetb his lightfome beatne^ The dull and darkened S tarns retire Teeldtng to greater fire. WhenXefhyrushis warmth doth brings Sweete Rofes ddhe thtjprtxg Let nojfome Anfter blow apace, Plants foone will loofe their grace. The Sea hath rften quiet ft ood p With an vnmoued floed> And eft en is turmoyl d with wan es 7 When boyftrovs Boreas raues. If thus she world neuer lemgtarie The fame^ Oat often vane : On fading fortunes then relte, Truslto thofe goods that fie. An everlafting Uw is rnade^ That all things borne fb all fade. The! Hoetius bis The IIIL Prose. Thilofophyproueth, that Boetius is JIM fortunate , and that no man bath complete bappinejfe in this life, O which I anfwered , the |j things, which thourepor- __H teft are title } O nurfe of all veftucs,3nd I cannot denie the mod fpeedy couifeofmy profperitie, but this is th-at, which vexeth me molt, when I remember it. For in all ad- uerfitieoffortune.it is the moftvn- happie kind of misfortune, to hane beene happie. But, quoth .-(bet, thou canii not -iuftly impute to the things themjflues, chat thou art pu- nifhed for thy falfe opinion, For if thisvaine name of cafuall felicitie moueththee, let vs makeaccompt with how many, and how great thincis thou aboundeft . Where- fore T bilofopbicaU Comfort. fore if tl at, which in all thyreue- newcs oi: fortune, thou efteemedfl: mo'l precious , doeth ft 111 by Gods prouidence remaine fafe and vntou- ched, c: nit. thou, retaining the beu\ iuftly complaine of misfortune.'But thy Father in-law Sjmmacbus (that moil: excellent ornament of man- kind ) liueth in ffetie, and for the obtaining of which thou wouldeft willingly lpend thy life, thatman wholly framed to wifedome and vermes, being fecure of his owne, mourneth for thy iniuiies. Thy wi.eliueth , model! in difpofition, eminent in chaftitie,and to rehearlc briefely all her excellent gifts . like herFather. Sheeliueth, lfay,and wearie of her life ?• referueth her breath onely for thee. In which a- lone I m u ft alio gr aunt, that thy fe- licittc is dimini/hed, flie conlumeth her — _ — *Bcetiuibti herfelfe with teares and gride for thy fake. What fhould I ipeakc of thy children, which haue beene Confuls, in whome already , as in Children of that age, their Fathers, or Grand-fathers good difpoinion appeareth? wherefore fince the grea- teftcafe, that mortal.l men haue., is to faue their lines , O happie man that thou art , if thou know-eft thy owne we kh, who dill haft remai- ning thofethinffs, which no man doubteth to bee dearer then life it felfe? And therefore ceafe weeping. Fortune hath nor. hitherto "{hewed her hatred againA- you all , neither art thou aiiailed with too boyfhous aftorme, fince thofe Ankers hold faft which permit neither the com- fort of the time preient, nor the hope of the time to come, to bee wanting . And I pray God (quoth Tbilofopbicalt Comfort. | 33 I) that they may hold fa.'} , for fo long as they remaine, howfoeuer the world goeth, wecfhall efcape drowning. Bat thou feed , how great a part of our ornaments is loft, Wee haue gotten a little ground, 'quoth fhee) if thy whole eftate be not irkefbmevnto thee. But I can- not fuffer thy daintinefle,who with luch lamentation & anxieue com- plained, that fomethihg is wanting to thy happinefle : For who hath fo 1 entire happinefle, that he is not in fomepart offended with the condi- tion ofhis eftate. The nature of hu- mane felicitie is doubtfull and vn- certaine, and is neither euer wholly obtained, omeuerlafteth alvvayes. One man hath great reuenewes,but is contemned for his bafe linage. Anothers Nobilitie maketh him knowen, but opprefiTcd with penu- F He, Hoetius bis t> Thereof! Jiappie arc moft fenfi- Wc of affli- ction. rie,had rather be vnknowen. Some abounding with both,bewaile their vnfitnefle for manage* Some other well married ., but wanting chil- dren, prouideth riches for ftrangers to inherite . Others finally, hauing children , mournefully bewaile the vices, which tkeirfbnnes or daugh- ters arc giu en to. So that fcarce any man is pleafed with the condition of his fortune. For there is iome- thing in euery eftate , which with- out experience is not knowen , and being experienced doth tnoleftar.d trouble. Befides that, thole, which are b moi} happie are moil ienfible, and vnleiTe all things fall out to their liking, vnpatient ofalladuer- fitie, euery little croiTe ouerthrowes them, fo (mall are the occasions, which take from the moll: fortu- nate the height of their happinelTe. How \PhilofophicaU (jomfort, How many are there chinked thou, which would thinke themfelues almod in heauen , if they had but the lead: part of the remnants of thy fortune? This ver'/ place, which thou, called banifhment , is the Countrey of the inhabitants, So trueit.is, that nothing is milerable, but when it is thought fo-and con- trariwile, euery edate is happie , if he that beares it, bee concern* Who is there (o happie, that if he yeeldefh to difcontent.dehreth not to change his edate r How much bicterneiTeis mingled with the fweeienefTe of mans felicitie } which though it fee- methneuer fo pleafant, while it is enioyed , yet can it not be-retained from going away, when it will. And by this it appeareth how mile- rable the blelfednelTe of mortall things is, which neither endureth F 2 alway | ^Eoetius his d The Cen- ter of hap- pineile. alway with the contented , nor wholly delighteth the penfiue. Wherefore O rnortall men, why feel^e you for your felicitie abroad, which is placed within your fciues? Errour and ignorance do confound you. Iwillbriefdy fhew thee the d Center of thy ch iefeft happinefle. Is there any thing moreprecious to thee then thyfelfe. Iamfure thou wile fay nothing. Wherefore, if thou enioyeft thy felfe, thoufhalt poflTefle that, which neither thou wilt euer looie,nor fortune can take away ; and that thou mayeft aclmowkdge.thatbleiledneflecan- notconfiir. in thefe caluall things, gather ic thus: If bklTednefle be the chiefeft. good of nature endewed with realbn, and that is not the chiefeft good, which may by any meanes bee taken away , becaufe that iS < Pbilofopbic all Comfort. ?5 that , which cannot bee taken a- way, is better ; itis manifeft:, that the'inilabi'-itie of fortune cannot alpire to the obtaining of bltfled- nefle. Moreouer, hee that nowe enioy- eth this brittle felicitie, either knowethitto bee mutable, or no; if not, what eftate can bee blef- fed by ignorant blindneiTe? And ifheeknowethit, hee mult need es feare, lean 1 hee loofe that, which hee doubteth not , may bee loft, wherefore continuall feare permit- teth him not to bee happie, Or doeth hee thinks, that it were to bee neglected , though hee fhould loole it ? But fo it were a very fmallgcod, which hee would bee content to loofe , And becaule chou art one , whom I know to be fully perfwaded , that the failles F i of c Tempo- rail xhingf cannot make men tappic. Toetius bis ofmenareinnowilemortalb and fince it is clcare , that cafuall felici- cieis ended by the bodies death, there is no doubt , if this can caufe bleilednclTe, but that a\\ mankind falleth into miferie by death . But if we know many who haue fought to reape the fruit of bleiTednefle, notonely by death ., but alio by af- flictions and torments; how can this pi efent Jife make men happie, the loiTe of which cauieth not mi- lerie Th e I II I. Ve rse. Thtlofopbj commendeth a meane ejiate. WHowtlh an hcedcfullcare Will an eternallfiat*prepare Which cannot be dcrrne cajl By any force ofrrindtc blafl* Andrsill the floods defpife, W hen threatnmg bilkwes doe arife, Jie net on htb muSlftandj Ntr Thiiofophicall Comfort. Nor on the dangrousfinkjxgfancL For there the winds will threate. And htm with furious tempeft beate y *s4ndhere the ground too weak* Will with the heattte burthen break** The then the danaerom cafe nor our QWie. Vt fince my refons be°into (inkeinto thy mind, I will vfe thofc, which arc Tome- what more forcible . Goe to thai, if the gifts of fortune were not brit- tle and momentanie , what is there F 4 in Boetius hi* Moacy. In them , which can either cucr bee made your owne, or well weighed and confiJercd feemeth no; vile and of no accompt? Are riches ei- ther yours , or precious in them- (elues ? What part of them can bee fb efteemed of, Gold, or a heapes of mony ?But thefe make a fairer fhew, when they are fpent 3 then when they are kept. For couetcufnefle al- way ma) eth men odious 3 as libe- ralise famous. And if a man can- not haue that, which is giuen to another, then money is precious, when befto wed vpon others, it is notpoiTeiTed any longer* But if all the money in the whole world wetc in one mans cuftodie, ano- ther men fhould bee poote. The voice, at the fame time wholly fil- leth the eares of many , but your riches cannot paflc to many , ex- cept •*■■• **— W-Wi^ TbilofophicaU Comfort. cept th(y bee diminifhed. Which being done, they mull: needes make thempoore, whometheyleaue. O skant and poore riches, which nei- ther can bee wholly poiTeiTed of many, and come to none with- out the impouerifhment of others. Doeth the glittering of b Iewels drawethy eye; after them? But, if there bee any great matter in this ffiewe, not men but the Iewels fhine, which 1 exceedingly mar- uaile, that men admire. For what is there wanting life and members, that may iuftlyfeemebeautifullto a nature no: onely endewed with life, but alio with reafon ? Which, though by their makers woike- manfhippe, and their owne va- iictie thev haue fome part of ba- feft beauiie , yet it is fo farre infe- riour to your excellencie^that it did in ii b Jewels, c Boetim bis « Pleafent fields. in no for* deferue your admiration. Doeth the pleaf ant profpect of the ? fields delight you ? Why not ? For it is a faire portion of the faireff. worke. So wee are delighted with a calme Sea, fo wee admire the side, the Starres , the Sunne_, and the Moone. Doth any of thefe belong to thee ? Daren: thou boaft of the beautie , which any of them haue >■ Art thou adorned with May-flow- ers ? Or doeth thy fertilitie bring forth the fruits of Summer ? Why reioyceftthou vainely ? Why em- braceftthou outward goods, as if they were thine o w ne2 Fortune wit neuer make thofc things thine, which by the appointment of na- ture belong not to thee. The fruits of the earth are appointed for the fuftenance of liuina creatures* Bur if thou wilt onely fatisfie warn | which TbilofophicailComfert. \ 3 8 which fuffifeth nature, there is no caufe to require the fupcrfluities of fortune. For nature is contented with little, and if being fatisfied., thou wilt ouerlay it with more then needes, that which thou ad- deftjWili either become vnpleafant., or hurtfull . Butperhaps thou thin- keft it a fine thing, to goe decked in gay d apparel], which if they make a fairefhew., 1 will admire either the goodneiTeofthenUiffe,ortheinuen- tion of the workman. Or doth the multitude of e ieruants make thee happier VVhoif they bee vicious, they are a pernicious burthen to thy houie., and exceeding troublefome to their Mafter: and if they bee ho- neft, what fhalt thou bee the better for other mens honeftie? By all which it is manifeftly proued, that noneof thefe goods , which thou accoun- 1 Apparell. e S truants. Tlcctim his fTfcey which haue roach, irtcd njuch. accounted thine arc thine indeede. And if there be nothing in the wor- thy to be defired,why art thou eicher glad, when thou haft them , or fo- rie, when thou loofeft them ? Or what is it to thee , if they bee preci- ous by nature } For in this refpect, they would haue pleafed thee, though they had belonged to o- thers , For they are not precious, becaufethey are come to bee thine, butbecaufe they feemed precious thou wert defirous to haue them. Now, what defire you with io much adoe ? Perhaps you ieeke to driue away penurie with plentie* But this falleth out quite contrarie, for you ftand in neede of many fup- plies,to futniili your felues with va- rietie of precious ornaments. And it is truejthat they which ha ue f much neede much,and contrarj wife, that they Tbilofophicall Comfort. they neede licle, which meafure not their wealth by the fuperfluitieof ambition, but by thenecelsiticof nature. Haueyou no proper & in- ward good, that you ieeke Co much after tho/e things which are out- ward and ieparatcd from you? Is the condition of things lb chancred.that man^whoisdcferuedly accounted diuine for the gift of reibn.ieemeth to haue no other excellency then the polTefsion of a litle houfhold ftufTe? All other creatures are content with that they hane of their owne, and you, who in your minds carie the likenelTeof God,are content to take the ornamentes of your excellent nature from mod bafe and vile things, neither vnderitand you , what iniurie you doe to your cre- atour . Hee woulde haue man- kinde to excell all earthly things ; you Boetius his sMande- icð him- teife by lc- uing world- ly things. h Hceis worfc then beafts, whenhee knoweth not him- felfe. 1 Nothing can be a- dorned with the ornaments ofaaother. you debafeyour dignitie vnder eue- rymeanefi: creature. For if it be ma- nifeft, that the good of euery thing ismoreprecious then that } whofe good it is , fince you iudge the vi- left things that canbe^ tobeeyour goods r you§ deied your felues vn- der thern in your own; cftinaation , which queftionlefle commeth not vndcieruedly to paiTej for this is the condition cfmans jiature,that then only it furpafleth other things ^hen it knoweth it (elfe ^ and it is h vvorfe then bea-fis^w hen it is without that knowledge. For in odher liuins; creatures the ianprance of them- fellies is nature,buc in men icis vice* And bow fane doeth this errcur of you is extend } who think e , that ' a- ny can bee adorned with tb.e orna- ments of another? Which can in no wife be. For ifany adioyned thing feeme c Pbilofop'bicall Comfort. k RicJie»do often hurt tlieir pof- felioiUJ. feeme precious, it is that ,- which isi praifed, but that which isconered and enwrapped in it, remaineth notwithfianding . with the foule baienefle , which it hath of it ielfe. Moreouer, Ideniethattobegood, which hurtcth the poitefTpur. Am Ideceiued in this ? 1 am fure thou wilt fay, no. But k riches haue often hurt their poiTeiTours , fince euery lewdeft companion , who arecon- (equently moil: deilrous of that . which is not their owne, thinke themfelues moil worthy to poflefTe alone all the Gold _, and lewels in the world* Wherefore thou , who with much perturbation ' feareft now to be afTayled and flaine, if thouhadft entred the path of this life,like a poorepalTenger, neededil: not be afraid, but mightefl: reioyce andfing euenin the fight of moll: rauenous TSoerim his rauenous thieues . O excellent hap- pinefle of mortall riches, which when thou haft gotten > thou haft loft thy fafecie. The V- Verse. Thilofophy commend eth the former age 7 loblch 7ms free from couetoufuejje. TOo much the former age was t?lefi. When folds their pie a fed owners failed not , IV ho with nofouthfullUfl opprefi ISroke thetr longf^fis With akornes easlygot* No wine witn home mixed was, Nor dtd they [tike in purple colours ftecpt, Theyflcpt vponthc whole fotne grzffe^ And thetr coole drinf^didjetchf.om risers deepe. The Pines did hide them with kbeir fhade y No Merchant* through the dangrons bilhwes went y Nor w\th deftre oj gaimfulltrade Their traffick* wtoforraty.e Countrcyesfent* Thennojkrill Trumpets did amate Tht mit>ds of Souldicrs with their daunting founds, Ner weapons were through deadly hate Djd with the dreadful bloud of gaping wt unds. For how could any furie draw The mind of man tojhrre vp warrcs in Vainr, _______ Whn J Thilojopbicall Com for t. IVhen nothings but fierce wounds hefaw y Andfor his blo9d norec&wpenc? /bwld game. that the Ancient miners would In tie/i our latter bappelejfe times returne* . Now the desire ofhaHinggold Dotbltk? the faming fires of i £ma burnt . sslh who was he y thatfirjl did (b*w Tbebeapesoftreafitre, which the earth did hide j And tew els whii h l*y dolt behw Bj which he cottlj dangers did provide. \ A hill in Scicily. The VI. Prose. Ofdignitie andpvtter. Ovv why fhouldldifcourfe of dignities & pdiver, which ^you not knowing, what truedignitie and power me anerh, extol! to rhe skies? And if they light vpon wicked men,what fire,though the very flames of Mtm, fhoulcl breakefoorth, or what diluge can caufe fo great barmes ? 1 fuppofe thouremembreil 5 h'owybur ance-! flours by reaibn of theConfuls ar- G rooan* i n i h i i i ii i . . . — 2 • mi i m Hoetius his rogancie,defired to abolifh that go uernement,which had becne the be- ginning of their freedome.who be- fore fot the fame caufe hadrcmoo- ued die gouernment of Kings from their citie. And if fometime,which is very feldome , good men bee pre- ferred to Honours .what other thing can giue contentment in them, bu t thehonefty of thofe , which haue them ? So that vermes are not hon- oured by dignities, but dignities by vertue. But what is this your ioe- fteemed and excellent power? Con- fider you not O earthly wights, whom you feeme to excell ? For if among Mile thou fliouldcft (ee one claime iurifdi&ion and power to Mmfelfe ouer the reft, to what a , laughter would it moue thee ?. And what, if thou reipe&eft the body, canft thou find; more weake then man fy'hiiofdpbicail Qomfort. \ man , whom caen the biting of lit-; tie Flies, or the entring of creeping vyormes doth often kill ? Now,how can any man exerciie itirifdiction vpon any other, except onely vpon clicir bodies, and that _, which is in- i ur to their bodies,! meane their vnes ? Can ft thou euer imperi- pufly impofe any thing vpon a free! f mind ? Canftthou remoue afoulc ietled in firme reafon from the quiet (late, which it poiTeiTeth ? When a b tyrant thought to com- pel! a certaine free man by tor- ments, to bewray his confederates of a con(pirac ? e. attempted ag2infl: him,hec bic off his tongue andipit it out vpon the tyrants face, by that meanes wifely making thofe tor- tures^ which the tyrant thought matter of crueltie^o bee to him oe« cafion of vertue . Now , c what is G 2 there >TberoJDiJ' free. or Diome- ion.Ztno Evfet.ltl.ic deprtpar. Smtdas. c Whatfo- euer one fan doe to another,ai- other may doetohittu 'Boetius h'u 4 King of f Egypt- *M4tcus AitihuiRt- gulus a Conful of | Rome. there,that any can enforce vpon an- other, which he may not bee enfor- ced to fuftaine by another? We read, that d *Bu(:ri'des wont to kill his gueftes, washimfelfeflaineby his gueft Hercules. t( I{egulHs had laved' fetters vpon many Ajfricanes taken in warre, but ere long hee found his owne hands inuironed with his Conquerours chaines. Wherefore thinkeft thou the power of that man to bee any thing worth , who cannot hinder another from doing that to him, which hee can doe to another ? Moreouer , if f dignities and power had any naturall and proper good in them , they would neuefb.ee befto wed vpon the worft men, foroneoppofnevfethnotto aceompanie another. Nature refu- fethtohaue contraries ioyned. So that, ilnce there is no doubt , but that f Dignities and power often be- ftowedon the worft mco. Thilofophicall Comfort. that men of the Worft fott often enioy dignities, it is alio m an i felt, that they are not naturally good, which follow mod naughtie men. Which may worthily bee thought of all fortunes gifts, which are more plentifully beftowed vpon euery lewde companion . Concerning which, I take that alio to bee wor- thy confideration, that no man doubteth him to bee a valiaunt man, in whome hee feeth valour; and it is manifeft, that hee, which hath fvviftnefTe is iwift . So like- wife, Muficke maketh Mufitians, t^hificke Phifitians,and Rethoricke Rhetoricians. For the nature of e- ucry thing doth that , which is pro-, pcrvntoit, and is not mixed with contrary effectes , bqt rcpelleth all oppofites . £ut neither can riches extinguifh vnlatiable auarice, nor G 5 power JSoetius his power make him mailer of him- (elfe , whome vicious luftes keepe chained in ftrongeft fetters. And dignitie beftowed vppon wicked men , doeth not onei? not make them worthy ,biu rather bewrayeth and difcoucreth their v n won: hi- neflfe. How commeth this to paiie? Becaufe you take a pleafureirimif- calling things , which is eafiiy rem ted by the efFe&e of the things themftlues . Wherefore by right, thefe things are not to bee called ri- ehes, power or dignitie. Laftly, we may conclude the fame of all for- ; tunes, in whichitismanifeft, there is nothing to bee demed, nothing naturallygood , which neither are alway beftowed vpon good men, nor doe make them good, whome they are beftowed vpon. HE Thilofophicall Comfort. 44- ■■■■■>■ ■ ' ' ■ ■ H E VI. V ERSE. Tkilafophy dedareth by the example of Nero, that dignities orpoTver ^ doe not make men better. WE know wbatjftrres be made, Who did the* Senate fUy r and h Rcmcmth Who did his c brother kill* (fi r * tnuade, And with his d mothers btood bis moiflned had did fill. Who could without a teare Behold her nakit and 'dead ', whofe body him d*d be are. Tet hit dread power controlled Tbofe people whom the Sun doth m the Eafl behold, Andtbpfe l who doe remaine In WeUerne lands > or dwell vnder c Bootes wains, Andtbofe^whofe skvines aretannd With Southerne wtnds^ wbtch rofl andbume the par- What? could this gloriosu mtght {chedfartd. Refiraine the furious rage of wicked Neroes Ipight } But oh mtfbapye mojt badde, Which detb the wtckedfwordto cruelpoyfon adde I a Nero kil- led many of the Se- cateurs without any caufc b Hccanfed Rome to burnc for a wecke, that he might conceiue thcouer- throw of Troy. c Bntanni- cu5,toieign alone. d Agrippu na. The feucn Starrer io Vrfa maior,\vhich represent a wainc, with fewen Oxen, which in old time were called Trioaes,for which caufe thc(e Ftars are by Botttus cJled, Scfttm£*fiAi trioner , frona whence cpqunelb Sep tentrto, to figniSe the \6i th. HE c Boetius his 2 The dan- ger of the moft ex- c-Jlent naiads. ThbVII. Prose. Of £ h,-j. HEN I layde ; thou thy felfe knoweft.that the am- bitipn of mortall things hath borne as little fway with me as with anv,but I defired matter of action, leaft old acre mould come vponmee el had done any thing. To which fliee anfwercd: This is the only thing,\vhich is able to en- tice fuch a minds &s. being excellently quallified by nature, are not yet ful- ly bi ought to the perfection of ver- mes, I meane defire of glorie , and fame of beft deferts towards their common wealth,which how ilen- deritis, and voide of all weight, confider this, Thou haft learned by aftronomicall demonftrationSjthat the Tbilofophicall Comfort. I 4-* the compafle of the whole earth compared to the fcope of heauen is no bigger then a pinnes point, which is as much to lay, as that it hathnobigneiFeatall. Andofthis Co (mail a region onely the fourth partis knowne to be inhabited, as Vtolomrtus prouech. From' which fourth part, if thou takeft away the feas,andmarifh grounds , and all othet delertplaceSjthere will skarce- ly be left any roome at all for men toinhabit. Wherefore enclofed and fhutte vp in this b fmalleft point of that other point, doeyouthinkeof extending your fame, and enlar- ging your name? But what great or heroical matter can that glory hauc, which is pend vp in io fmall and narrow bounds? Befides that the little compalTe ofthis imall habita- tion is inhabited by many nations, dirTe- c Boetiushis ' fttfomvit SctjHonii. d A moun- tain: be- twixt Scy- thiaand India. e People of Afia maior. different i n language, fafhions, and conuerfation, to which by reafon of the difficulties in trauelling, the diu#fitieof ipeach, and the fcarci- tie of trafficker notonely the fame of particular men, hut euen of cities can hardly come. Finally in the age of Marcus TuIUhs, as he c himielfe writeth, the fame of the ^omane commonwealth had not patted the mountaine d faucafus , and yet it was then in the moftflourifhinge- ftate, fearful euen to the e Par thy arts , and to the reft of the nations about. Seeft thou,ho\v ftreight and narrow- that glorie is, which you labour to enlarge & encreafe? w here the fame of the ^omane name could not paiTe,can thegloryofa^owdwman penetrate? Moreouer, the cuftomes and lawes of diuers nations^doefo much differ the one from the other, that • ' ..'" Thilofopbkali Comfort. | 4^ that the fame thing, which fome commend as laudable, others con- detrvne as deferuing punifhment. Sothat>ifa man be delighted with the praife of fame_, it is no way con- uenient for him to be named in many countreys. Wherefore euery man muft becontent with thatglo- rie, which he may haue at home, & that noble immortalkie of fame muft be comprehended within the comp aflTe of one nation • Now,how many moft famous while they li- ued/are altogether forgotten, for f want of writers I Though what doe writings auaile which perifh as well as their authors by continu- ance and obfcuritie of time ? But you imagine, that you make your (Hues imniortall, when you caft your eyes vpon future fame.Where- as^if thou, weigheft attentiuely the infinite I c Boetim his infinite fpaces of eternitie, what cauie haft thou to reioyce at the prolongingof thy name? Forifwe compare the flay of one moment with ten thoufandyeres ; fince both bclimited, they haue fome propor- tion, though it be but very fatal!. But this number ofyeares, how oft fbeucr it bee multiplied, is no way comparable to endlelTe ajternitic. For limited things may in fome fort bee compared among them- fclues, but that, which is infinite, admitteth no companion at all. So that the fame of neuer fo long time, if it be compared with euer- lafting xternitie leemeth not little, but none at all. But without po- pular blafts,and vaine rumours you know not how to doe well, and re- jecting the excellence of a good confeience and of yertue,you chufe to Thilofopbicall Comfort. to be rewarded with others tatling* Hearehow plcafantly one iefted at this va'ne & contemptiblearrogan* cie. For hauing afTaulted with rc- prochfull ipeeches a certaine fel- low, who had fallely taken vpon him the name of a Philofopher,not forthevfe of venue, but for vaine glorie,and hauing added, that now he would know whether hecwere a Philofopheror no, by his gentle & patient bearing of iniuries. The other tooke al patiently for a while, and hauing borne his contumely as it were triumphing fayed : Dotft thou now at lengch thinke mee a Philofopher? To which he biting- ly replied, I would haue thought thee one, if rhou haddeft holden thy peace* But what haue excellent men (forofthefel fpeak)who feekc forgloricby vertue, what haue wee _...- g%; 13 oe tins bis sTbe ram tic of gjo- ry.tuen in the opinion of Atheift and much more of Chnftians (Kayjto expect by fame after death. Forifcontrarie to our beleefe,men 8 wholy periih, there is no glorie at all, fince he, to whom it is luyed to belong, is no where extant* But if agujkleffeminde freed from earth- ly irrtprilonment, goeth forthwith to heauen, will fhee not defpife all earthly traffike who enioying hea- uen/eioiceth to ice her jelfe exemp- ted from earthly affayres* > > ■ ■ ■ » ■ TheVILVerse. Ofthefmdnejfe andjbortnejje of fame. HE that to honour only fields to mount, \ And that his chief eft end doth count. Let him behold the largcnejfe of the sty** And ontheftre'tght earth cajft bisejeSj He will Jlefpife theglorte of his n*me>> Which cannot fillfr [mall a frame* Whj do proud mcfcorne, that their necks fhouUkarc That joke jwhicb euery man mufi wcartl Though fame through many nations fie al&njfy Andjhouldbe bla^d bj cur] tongue •, And ThilofophicaU Comfort. \ 4-^ And houfes fbine wtth ourforefathi rs ft cries, Tet death contemnes theft Stately glories, Andfttrnmoning both rich and poor e to die, CMakes the low cquall wtth the high. (p r *ft> Pj 7 ho knows y where 2 fatrhfnll Fabncc fonts Art Where b Brutus and thrift Cato reft} A fie rider fame now cauje then titles vaint In jome few letters toremaine, Becaufe their famous names in bookes we reade, fomewee by them to know the dead: Ton dying then remembred are by none, Normyfamecanm^kejoHknowne. But if yon thinks jw l iHe eue n *f ter dtath, Tour names borne vp with mortal/ breath: When length of time takes this away hkiwife, AJeconddeathfttll yoHJurpr\z*e % *ACon(til] of Rome, who made warrewith Virrhut Kmg«f*the Fpirotes, by whom tee could not be cor ruptedby bnbes,and ,to whorne he fentonc that offeree to kill him *> The firft CoDfuIlofRorae* who reuenged Luerecids rape. c A noble Ro mane,whome nothing could corrupt , Lucan, V$Brixcuufadti$pUcutt, feJVifla Catont % meaning oiCtfar, and Pempey* The VI II- Prose. jiduerjitie more profitable tbenprofpe- ritie. VT leaf! : thou fliouldeft: thinke, that I am at vnpla- cable warrewith fortune, there c Boetius his * The vti. luieofad- uerfitie. ^ Fortane is ttacly knowce. there is a time , when this thy de- ceitfull GoddeflTe deferueth forhe- what well of men^to wit,when fhe declareth her ielfe,when fhee difco- uereth her face, and flieweth her felfe in her owne colours. Per- haps thou vnderfhndeft not yet, what I fiy. I would vtter awon- derfull thing, infomuch as lean scarcely explicate my minde in words* Forlthinke, that a fortune when fhee is oppofifeis more pro* fitableto men,thcn when fhee is fa- uonrable* For in. profperitie fhee falfely counterfeited* a fhew of happineffe_, but in adueifitie 1 fhee fheweth her felfe truely vnconfhnt by changing. In that fhee decei- uethjin this die inftructeth^n that , fhee imprifoneth the mindes of men with falfely feeming goods, which they enioy : In this fbeefet- teth.., Vhikfopbicall Comfort, j \9 tern them at liber tie by difcoue- iri£ the c vncertaintie of them* Wherforein that, thou fhaltalvvay fee men puffed vp , and wauering, and blinded with a felfe conceit of thcmiclucs : in this thou ihaltfind them d fbber, fetled,and with the very exercife of aduerfitie,wife. Fi- nally, pioipericie with her flatte- rings withdrawal) men from true goodneire,aduer(itie e recalleth and reclaymeth them many times by force, to true happinefTe. Doefr. thou eftceme it a imall benefit that this rou?h and harfli fortune hath made knowcc vnto thee the minds of thy faithfull t friends? Sheehath (eueredthy afifured from thy doubtfull friends j proiperi tie at her departure tooke away with her thofe, which were hers, and left thee thine- How dearely woul- H ' deft c Thevn« ccrrainctfc or worldly things is difcouercd. d Men be- come (o* bcr,fcticd, wife. c They are drawenby force to true happioeffe, f Faithfull friends arc difcerr.cd. 'l m miMSB-!:.W**j£j+-K l n-wiJOkl V . lM » VJ « »Jr** ■ w > *Boetim his deft thou haue bought this before thy fal, and when thou feemed ft to thy felie fortunate?Defift from feek- ingto recouer thy loft riches, fince thou haft found friends, the moft precious treafure in the world. The VIII. Verse. Teartng the world who fe or dred forme thetr quiet motion/ beare. By it all holy Lowes are made ^and mam age rttes arettd, By it ts fatthfull friend /hippe ictnd. Hew happy mortalls were, If that pure lotte dtdgui d thetr mtnds, which heau'nly Sphearst doth guid ? HE 5° THE third'booke Of Boetiv$» 111 which Philofophy begin- neth to apply more forcible re- medies;, and treated! of true'felicitie. The I. P r ose. Thilofopby promifetb to explicate true feltd tie. ~^ Hough fhee had en- ded her verfe, yet the fweetnefle of it made mee remaine afloni- H 2 fiied, < Boetim his fhed, attentiue, and defirous to heare her longer. Wherefore after awhile, I faicie. O mod cflRctuall refrefhment of wearied minds, how muchhaue lbecne comforted with thy weightie fentences, and. plea- ting Muficke! Infomuch that I be- gin to thinkemy felfenot vn able to encounter the aflaults of foitune. Wherefore I am not now afraid, but rather earnestly defire to know thole remedies , which before thou toldeft mee were too fharpe. To which fhee anfwered,! perceiued as much, aj; thou fayeft, when I fawc thee hearken to my fpeeches with (o great lllence and attention 9 and I expected this difpofition of thy mind, orrather more truely caufed it my ielfe. For the remedies which remaineare of that fort, that they are bitter to the taftc, but being in- wardly TbilofopbicaU Com for t. wardly receiued waxe fweete. And whereas thou fayeft that thou art defirous to heare ; how much would this defire encreafe,ifthou kneweft,whether!we goc about to bring thee} Whether (quoth I.) To true felicitiefquothfhe) which thy mind alio dreametb of,ibut thy fight is Co dimmed with phanta- fies^that thou canft not behold it as it is. Then 1 befceched her to expli- cate without delay, wherein true happinefle confifteth. To which ilie anfwered, I will willingly doe So for thy fake, but a firft I wilicn- deuourto declare that, which is better knowne vntothee, that ha- uing through lyvnderftoodit,by re- fit ctmg of the contrary thou maieft difcouer a glirnpfe of perfect blef fedneflc, H 5 The TZoetius his Th e LVer s e, Falfe felicitje tnufi bee fotfahn , that \ true happinejje may be embraced.. HE that afrHtifpilficldvfill/oWy c Dothftrfi the ' grafted frGmbujbcs free , All Fearne and Brjerf/ifypfje mov? y That he his Harm ft great may fee. Home feewes fleeter to our tafi $ Ifcloydwith noyfomefoode it bee . . Starr cs clearer pome when Nvim blafk Hath ceafl the ramie ftormet to breede* When Lucifer 'hath night defact, The dajes bright horjes thenfucceede. So t hoiiy wloomjee minggcoAsAoe feed** Firjtjhilze offj*kes 9 which fptkee preffe. That tweth may thcnthj.mindfeffeQc. Th eI LP rose. Hwallmendefircbappineffe, but ma ny miftake it* Hen for a while looking ftedfaftly vpon theground, and as it were retiring her felfe to the moft fecret feateof her fettle* Tbilofopbicall Qomfort. | 52 (bule, (Lee beganne intlysmaner? a A\\ mens thoughts,which are tur- moylcd with manifold cares , take indeede diuers courfes,buc yet en- deuour toattaine thelame end of happineiTe, which is that good, which beinor once obtained, no- thing can be further defired. Which is the chiefeft of al goods,& cqntai- neth in it ielf,whatloeuer is good,&. if it wanted any thing,it could not be the chiefefLbecaui'e there would fomething remaine befides it. which might be wifhed for. Whet fore it is manifeft,that D bleflednefle is an eft-ate. jjeplenifhed with, all; that is good. ' This (as we find) all- men endeuour to obte;r\e by diuers,; wayes. For there, is. riaturalty inH grafted in mens minds an earneft' dejirc of that v which is truely good; but deceitful! errour withdrawedi; I v . ' H 4 v c Boetiushis c Riches. d Honours., « Power. ^Famc, sPka(urc.; 1t to that, which falfUy ieemeth fudh. So that forne cflceming i: their greateft good to want no- thing, labour by all meanes toa- bound with c riches : others ma- king more account of d honours \ hunt after prefcrments,to be reipec- ted by their inferiours.Others think it the greateft felicitie, to e haue great power and authoritie, and thefe Will either raigne them- feiues,or at lead procure to be great With Princes. But they who thinke f fame better then all thefe . make all fpeed pofsible to (pread their names farreand neere,by a!5hieuing forne Worthy enterprife either in wane or peace. Many meafure happinefTe bysioy and mirth, and their chie-' feftcareis, how they may abound with pleafure. Some fubordinate one of thefe to theother,as richest©, pewerj 'PbihfophicaU Comfort. 1 5 5 power and pleasure, cr power to wealth & fame. At thefc and focti o- ther doe mens regions and defires aime, as nobilitie and popularity, which make men eftccmed , wife and children, which bring pleafure and delight. For holy friendfhip is rather to be attributed to vercue, then to fortune. Other things for themoft part are defired either for power or pleafure. And it isanea- fie matter to reduce all corporall goods to the former heades. For ftrength and oreatnefle siue habi- lit:e,beautieand fwifrneile, fame, and health yeeldeth pleafure. By all which wee rrunife'ily feeke for nothing elfe but happinefTe. For tbat,which euery man feeketh mcil: after, is by him cfteemed his grea- teftgood. Which is all one with happineife. Wherforeheefteemeth that IZoetius his h AIIa to griefe and trouble, when euen in fmalleft matters we defire that , which wee delight to haue and enioy ? And thelebe the things> which men de- defireto obtaine, and to this end procure, riches , dignities., king- domes, glory and pleafures.becauie by them they thinke to haue fufflci- encie, refpect, pOvA'cr/ame^dight $nd *Boetws hrj and ioy . Wherefore that is good, which men feeke after by diuers de- fires, in which the force of nature is eafily defcried, fince though there be many and different opinions,yet theyagreein chufing far their end that which is good. Th e IL Verse. Holt nature cannot bee wholly changed. HOw theftrtH raines ofal things guided ar* Tiypowtrfull nature } as the chief eft caufc* Andkorpfbee kcepes. with aprefeeingcare Thefpaciom world in order by her lawes> And to fare knots 9 r»hzch nath ing can vntts x By hcrftrong hand alt earthly motions drawes ; To (hew all this wepurpofe nov to trie Our p/eafizg Verfes^andour Mufickc found* Although ihf Lybian Lyons often he Gent If and tame in willtngfetters bound % And fearing their incenfed maflers wrath With patient took* s endure each blow andwo^n^ ? Tet if their iawes they once m blood doe bathe y They gaining courage wthfiezce uoyfetftakg The ■ ■ .v..' «»■ > ' (njjrP i Tbilofopbicall Comfort. 55 Theforce which nature in them jetted batb y Amdfromtheir neckes the broken chaintsdoe {bakgy Then he, that tamd thtm firfl doeth fee le their rage, And time in pieces doth their farie flake. The bird font vp in an vnpleaflng cage % IVhtchontheloftte treet dti fotcljfing, Though men her want of freedoms to afflvage 9 Sljotdd vnto her with carefullUbour bring Ttefweetcft meates, which they can bejl dewfe: Tet when on toppes of bou ft i fluttering Thepieafingfbadowes of the grones ftee fpics % Her bated foode (hcefcatters with he/fecte, \And dtfcontentedto the woodt Jhee flies, I And their delights to tune her accents fweete. Whenfomeflrcng hand doth tender plant conjlraine With hit debafedtop the ground to meete, If it let goe jibe crooked nviggeagaine Vp toward heaucn it /elf e it f freight doth raife. Ph aebtfs doeth falltnto the Weftcrne matne, Tet doeth he backe returne bjfecret wayes % And to the Eafl doeth guide his chariots racel Each thitig a certatne courfe andlarves obeyes $ Striving to turne backe to hispr per places Nor any (et led order can be found. But that, which doth within itfelfc embrace The birthes and ends of all things in around^ The ISoettus hit The III. Pros e. That true happinefieconfijleth not in riches. Ou alio ( O earthly crea- tures) thogh flightly & as it wereinadreame acknovv- ledgeyour beginning, and though not perfpicuoufly yet in fome fort behold that true end o( happineffe,- fbthat the intention of nature lea- deth you to the true good^nd ma- nifold errour withdraweth you from it.For confider,whether thofe. thing.s.by which men thinke to ob- taine happinefle, can bring them ro their defired end. For if either mo- ney > or honour, or any of the reft be of that qualitie , that they want nothing which is goo d^we will al- io confeflV, that they are able to make men happy. But if they nei- ther Thilofophicall Comfort. 1$ cher be able to performe that they promife, and want many things which are gpod. f are they not mani- fdMydifcoueredtohaue afalfe ap- pearance of happineffe? Firftthen, 1 aske thee thy felfe, who not long fince diddeft abound with wealth- In that plenty of riches, was thy minde neuer troubled with any in- iuries?! cannot remember ( quoth I.);hateuer my mind was io free from trouble, but that fomething or other ftill vexed me. Was it not becaufe thou either wantedft fom- thing, which thou wouldedft haue had, or elfe haddeft fomething which thou wouldefl: haue wan- teds is true (quoth 1.) Then thou deilredft the prefenceof that, and the abfence ot this, Iccnfefleldid (quoth 1.) And doth not a man want that (quoth fheej which hee deil- c Boetiu$ his a Richc*ta- kethnota- way wanr. *> Money cannot de- fend it leUc, and there- fore nce- deth fome- thing to de- fend U. 4m defireth.Hedoth f quoth I.) But he that wantech any thing, is not alto- gether lufhcient of hi mfelfe. He is not f quoth I.) So that thou fcli'ft this infufficiencie, euen in the height of thy welch. Why not (quoth I.) Then a riches cannot makea man wanting nothing nor fufficientof himfelfe, and this was that they fcemed to promife. But this is moll of all to be considered, b that mony hath nothing of it felf, which can keepe it from being ta- Jcen from them, which poflfefle it, agaioft their will 1 grant ( quoth I.) why fliouldeft thou not grant it,iincethat eueiy day tho(e> which are more potent, take it from o- thers perforce? For from whence proceede fo many complaints in Law,but that mony gotten either by violence, or deceit is fought to be Tbiiofophicall Comfort* be rCcouered by that meanes?lt is Co indeed (quoth 1.) So that ci: cry man needeth Lome other helpe to defend his mony* Who denies that?(quoth I.) But heefhould not neede that helpe^vnlefTehehad ir.ony, which he might locfe. There k no doubt of that (quoth I. ) Now then the matter is -fallen out quite contrary, for riches whkh are thought to fuffiie of chcmfelues > rather make menftand in need of other he 1 pes. And after what mancr dee riches expel I penury ? For aie not rich men hungry?are they not thirfly ? Or do- eth much money make the owners ienieles of cold in w interrBut thou wik fay, wealthy men haue where- withal to fatifne their hungcr,flake their thirft, and defend themfelues from cold. But in this fort, though wants may be fbmewhae relicued I by' ! 57 'Boetim his I by wealth, yet ic cannot akogethe betaken away* For if euer gaping and crauing,it bee fatiated by riches, theremuft needes alway remaine fomethingto be fatiated. I omitte, that to nature very little to cone- tou(ne{Te nothing is fufficicnt VVheref ore if riches can neither re moue wants^and caufe fbme them- felues, why imagine you, thatthey can caufe fufficiency* The III. Verse. Holo riches affliSl their pojjefiours in life } andforjake them in death. ALlhough the rich man from his mines of gold, Digge tresifure^ which his mmdcanneucr $11 } Andlefu* necke with precious Pear /et enfold . tsind his fatte fields with many Oxen till : Yet biting cares will never leatte his bead. Nor will his wealth attend him beingdezd. The Thilofophicall Comfort. TheIIILPrq^e. That trw happinejfe confrjhtb not in dignities. Vt dignities make him ho- nou* able and ReiTerend, |j o n w h ome rli ey I i gh t . Haue offices, that force to* plant vertucs and expell vices in rhe minds of chofe who haue them ? Bur they are not wont to ban. Oiy. bur rather a to vphoU wickedneffe. So that we many times complaine, becaufe moft wicked men cbraine therm Whereupon '» Qatullus called c Nom- as a icabbe or jrripoftume though he fate in his chaireofeftue; Seefr thou, what great ignominie digni- ties heape vpo?i euill men! For their vnwordiineiTe would lefTe ap- peare, if they were neueraduaun- cedtoany honours. Could fo ma _^___^^ I 2 . ny* ?3 a Dignities vphold WiC- kedndfe. b A famous Poet of Verona. c A wicked Rormnefu! , of vice*, whole fir- name wis appeareth inPiio.iib. I' ?*3? c Boetius his <*Boetitts refuted him e Dignities make not men re« (petted. ny clangers euer make thee beare office with d (Decoratus hauing dip couered liim to be a very varlet and fpie ? For c wee cannot for their ho- nours account them worthy of reP pe6t, whomewee iudge vn wor- thy of the honours them (clues. But if thou feeft any man endewed with wifedome^canft thou efreeme him vnworthy of that refpect or wi{tdome,which he hath.'No true- ly. For vertue hath a proper digni- tieofher owne,which fhe present- ly endeweth her poiTcflours with- al!. Which fince popular prefer- ments cannot doc, it is manifeft that they haue not the beauty, which is proper to true dignitie. In which wee are farther to confi- der^thatiftobe contemned of ma- ny, make men abiecl:, whom dig- nities cannot make relpe6ted,they rdther Tbikfophicall Comfort. \ ' 5° rather make wicked, by laying their defects and ignominy open to the viewofthe world. But the digni- ties goc nor lcot-free, for* wicked men do as much for them, defiling them with their infectious difeafes. And that thou mailr. plainely lee, that true refpect cannot be gotten by thefe painted dignities, inrerreit thus,let 8 one,tha: hath beene often Coniul goe among barbarous na- tions, will that honour make thole barbarous people refpecr. him? And yet, if this we;e naturall to digni- ueSjthey would neucr forfa';e their function in anv nation whatfoe- uer; as fire^vherloeuer it bee, aiway remained"! ho ate. But becaufe not their owne nature, but the deceit- full opinion of men attributeth that to them, they forchwith come to, nothing, being brought to __ 13 them A f Wiclred men defile dlgOltiCS, 5 Diuerfitie of nations make Dig- ' ici rs con- temptible. TSoetim his them,whoefteeme them not to be dignities. And this for forraine nations. But doe they 11 al way lafr. among them, where they had their beginning ? The P railed:- fh'ppe a great dignkiein time paft,is now an idle name, and an heauy bur- then of the Senates Cenfure. If heretofore one had care of the peo- ples prouifion , he was accounted a great mum ; Now what is more abject then that office? For as wee iaied before, that which hath no proper dignitie belonging vnto it, icmccime receiueth, and fome- timeloofem his value at the vfeis discretion. Wherefore if digni- ties cannot male vs leipecfed, if they be eafily defiled with the in- feclon of the wicked , if their worth decaies by change of times_, ifdiuerfide of nations make them con- T 'bilofopbicall Qomfort. ] 60 contemptible, what beautie haue they in themfclues , or can they a£ foid to others worth thedefiring? The III1. Verse. HqK> Nero being mofi "kicked ? n>as in greatejl digmtie. T Hough fierce and lufl full Nero didadome Htmfelfvith purple robes jvhtch gems dtdorace He did but gam? a gene rail hate and f corns'. Jet by his poveer he Officers moil bafe 3 Oner the Reurend Senators did place, ^ho would efieeme of fading honours then, Whim may begin a thus by the wickedfi men I ' Th eV. Prose. Of lyings and their fauoriles* ISfri^J Vtcjnldnsdomesandthe ilpf^f * arni * !aritieo f kings niake ffri&iei amanmighty?VVhynot, wh$n their felicity l lafteth alwaies? I 4 But Boe tuts his But both former and preient times are full of examples, that many kings haue changed their happi- neffe with miiery. O excellent power, which is not fufficient to vphbld it fclfe. And if this ftrength of kingdomes bee the author of hleiTedneiTe, doech it not diminifh happineffe and bring mi(eiy,when it is any way defectiue ? But though b fame Empires extend themielues farre,, there will frill re- maine manv nations out of their dominions. Now, where their power endeth, which maketh them happy, there entered the con- trary,which maketh them mifera- ble, To that all kings muft needes haue leiTe happineifethen miiery, That c tyrant knowing by experi- ence the dangers of his eftate, ilgni- fied the d feares incident to a king- dome,! rmlojopbicau lornfort. o i dome.by the hanging ofa drawne fword ouera mans head. What power is this then., which cannot expell nor avoid biting cares and pricking feares? They would wil- lingly haueliued iecurely^but could not,and yet; they brag of their pow- er. ThinkefT: thou him mighty, whom thou Jeefl: defire that,which he cannot doe? Thinkeft thou him mighty who dareth notgoe with- out his guard, who feareth others more then they feare him,who can- not feeme mighty, except his ier- uaunts pleafe? For what mould I lpeake of kings followers _, fincel (Lew, thackingdomes themielues arelo fullofweakeneife? Whome the power of kings often Handing, and many times ralling,do,th ouer- throw. Nero compelled Seneca his familiar friend and Matter, to make choice c Anrelivs Antoviat Bafuanuty CartcalU flew Vafim anus a. fa- mous Law ycr,and th< chiefc man in his Court to whomo Stuerui ch i c% com- mended hi> two fonncs ? shecaufeof \ his death, was for thai he would notexcufc themur- thcr ofGetti the Srnper ours bro- ther, and o< CKher No- ble men. * Xifffisfa. uountcs cannot will draw them. felues,whei they would. 'Boetius his choice of his o.wne death. e Jnto- rims cauied Tapinianus , who had beene long a gallant courtier,' to be cutte in pieces with his fouldiers fword. And they would both haue renounced their power> yea Seneca endeuoured to deliuer ^p his riches alio to Nero, and to giue himkl e to a contemplatiue life. But theii; very greatnefTe drawing them to their diftru&ion, neither of them could compafle that, which they defired. Wherefore what power is thiSjthatthepofireflbrsfeare^which when thou wilt haue, thou art not fecure, and when thou f wilt leaue, thoucanfl not avoid. Are wee the better for thofe friends, which loue vs not for our vertue, but for our profperity?But whorne profperitie rnaket'i our friend, aduerlitie will make our enemy. And what plague is 'Phtlofophicall Comfort. \ 6l :s able to hurt vs more, then afarni- ii renemie? Th e V. Verse. True power confijlctb in conquering our oipnepafiions. WHo would be powerful!, muft His owne aft cltons checke, Nor letfoule raynes cj lujl Subdue his ccnq'itrd neckg* Tor though the Indian land Should tremble at thj beck*) Ard though thy dread command The fart he jl parts obey, XJnleffe thou c.v.sl with/land. And baldly drtxt away Black* care andypretchedmoave Thy might islmaflornone. Th e VI. Prose. That true bappinejje confijieth not in o-lorie. S for x glory, how deceit- full is it oftentimes and diflionefl ? For which caufe 1 glory of- ten folic. Boetim his OgUria % %Urta t tnfi mtts tam WilLuipref$i %HAm tuarn fcctfttmag- nam. b Tfce vani- tie Oi true glorie. «T!iC final mile of it. caufe the Tragicall Poet deferuedly exclameth; • Ms* ^a pupp j nence heeretoiore, and art not now free fom care. In which I ;appiouethe opinion of Euripides^ who laid that they ,which haue no children 'Boetius his children^are happy by being vnfor- tunaie. The VII. Vers e. That there is no plea/tire without paine. A LI pie afar e hath U>i \ property, Shee wowdcth ihoje^ who haue her moft* And like vnto the a*?grte Bee 9 W ho hath her pie a j % ant heme loft k ShceflieS awe iftdaa- gerofthy lubieds treacheries. S:e- Keft thou for d gloty ? But dra ; .vne into manv difficulties . thou fliak looie thy fafety. Wilt thou liuea e voluptuous life? 8ut who would notdifpife and neglect the fetuice of Co vile and bale a thins, as his body ? Now they, who boaft of the l liabilities of their bddy/ vpon how vnftedfaft a poffeffion doe they ground themfdiucs ? For can _ K you Money. b Digeuics. Power, Glory* * Pleafurc * Habitliv ricsocthe body # 'Boetius bis you bee bigger then Elephants, or ftrongerthen Buls? Or fwifcerthcn Tygers?looke vpon the fpace,firm- neflc and ipeedy motion of the hea- uens, and ceafe at length tohauein admiration thefc bale things. Which heauens are not more to be admired for thele quallities, then for the maner of their gouerne- ment.As for the glittering of sbeau- tie, how foone and fwiftly doeth itvanifhaway? As fuddeniy decay- ing and changing as the fraile flow- ers in the fpring. And if, zsJtiflo* tie fayeth, men had h Lymes eyes, that they could fee through ftone walles/,vo old they not iudge that body of 1 jikihiades feeming out- wardly moil: faire, to be moll foule and vgly by difcouering his en trailes? Wherefore not thy nature, buttheweaknefleofthe beholders eyes sBeautie, hThebeaft Lynx hath , the quickfft fight of any bcaft.Plin. lib.3a.Hift. aat.cap.8. There was alfoaman caled Lynce- us # who did fee through wals &c. Ap oil on tut tn s4rgonduti- * A noble Captaine of Athens. T hi lo fop hie all Comfort. eyes makeditheefeeme faire. But eileeme the goods of the body as much as you will, fothat you ac- knowledge this, that whatfoeuer you admire, may bedsffblued with the burning of an Ague of three dayes. Our of 11 which, 'wee may briefely collect this fumme; that thefe geeds, which can neither performe that they promife, nor are perfect by hauing all that is good, doe ncyther, as fo many pathes, leade men to happineiTe, nor make men happy of them- {elues. L The VIII. Verse. Ho^o men are Tvife infeekingfor things of little lvalue , andfoolifl? in finding out their foueraigne good. ^Las^ how tgnoranct makes rvrctchesftraj put of the ypayl Ton <**» — — p c £oetiushir Tot* from greene trees expetl no golden mivef, nwpcarUsfrom vines. Ncr vfcyw on inouniames to lay your net, filhes to get. Nor , if the p leaf ant fp9rt of hunting pleafe, runne you to ft as* Men will be sty full in the hidden caues tf tV Ocean rvauts* Andm what csafts the orient pearles are bred, or purple red \ Alfe, whttdif rent forts of f[he4fiorc eth feuerall fa ore* Hut when they come their chief eft goodtofind y then arc the) blind* Andfeanhfor that vnder the earthy nhuh lief aboue tlje slates. Hovpjhould I curfe thefef coles} Let thirfl them hold of fame and gold, That bailing got falfe goods with payne^thcylearnc Trvetodtjcernc. The IX.P ros e. Why true felici tie cannot confift in tem- poral! things. jj^s^Et it fuffice, that wee haue ^jhcthcrco difcouered the ^ forme of falfe felicitie, which Tbilofopbicall Comfort, which ifthou hafi: plainely feene, order now requireth, that we (hew thee^in what true happinefTe confi- fteth. I fee (quoth 1) that neither jufficiencie by riches, nor power by kinadomes,nor refpecx by dignities, nor renowme by glory, nor loy can be gotten by pleiures-Haft thou alfo vnderftoodthecaufes,why ids fo? Me thinke I haiie a little glimpfe of tbem,butlhad rather thouwoul- deft declare them more plainely. The realon is manifefl:, for that, which is fimpleand vndeuided of icfelfe, isdeuided by mens crrour, and is tranflated from true and per- fect to falfe and vnpetfecl. Think- eft thou, that, which needech no- thing,to Hand in need of power. No ( quoth I . ) Thou iayelt: well, for if any power in any refpectbee weake , in this it. mutt neceiTarrly J K i iizad ^oetius ku ftand in need of the helpe of others. It is true (quoth I . ) Wherefore fuf- ficiencie and power haue one and the fame nature. So it feemeth. Now thinkeft thou,* hat, which is of this fort ought to bee defpifed, or ratherthat it is worthy to be ref- pected aboue all other things ? There can bee no doubt of this (quoth L ) Letvs adde refpect rhen to fufriciencie and power, fothat wee mage tl.efe three to bee one. We muftaddeit,ifwe willconfefle the truth. What now (quoth (he) thinkeft thou this to beobfeureand bafe, or rather mod excellent and famous? Co.ffider whether , that, which thou haft granted to want nothing, to bee moil potent, and moil worthy of Honour, may (eemeto want fame, which ir can- not yeeld it file, and foi that cauie be Tbilofophicall Qomfort. be in fbme relpect more abiect. I muft neede> confefle (quoth I.) That it is alio moil fanions. Con- fequently thenwee.muft acknow* ledae, that fame differeth nothing from the former three. We muft Co. (quoth I.) Wherefore that which wanteth nothing, which can performs al things by his owne power, which is famous and. ref- pe£ted,is it nor manifeft that it is al- io moft pleafantrTo which I anfwe- ted,howfuchaman fhould fall in- to any griefe, I can by no meanes imagine. Wherefore it that, which wee Lane faid hitherto be true, wee muft needs confeiTe,that he is moft joyfull and content. And by the lame reaion it followeth that a fuhi- cienciejpower/ame., refpect, plea- furc haueindeede diuers names,but differ not in fubftance. It follow - K 4 eth ^Boetms his b He {hit diuideth thein,hat!i n.inc of thenv i tch indeed ^cjiiothL) This then, which is o ne and firnple by natm c, mans wickedneffe cleuideth, and while he c&deaouteth to cbtaine par: of I ! i at, which ^^ no partes , he neither l h a part, which is mdncnorthe whole, which he ke- ■iteth nq-t aker . How is this ? (quoth I.j Hee who teeketh '-alecr riches ; (quoth fhe):oavo'd *M»Ht_, taketh I no thought ib-r power, hee had ra- ! therbe Brail andobicure, he depri ueth himleife euen of many natu- xall pleafures ,that he may not loofe themoncy, which he hath gotten. But by this m canes he aitaincth' not to furEciencie, whom power; forfaketh/whom trouble mokf- teth, whom .bafenefle maketh ab- iedj whom obfeuritie ouerwhel- meth. Againcj he that onely dcfi- reth pdwer,confumeth wealth^defe pfethj Thilcfopbicall Com/or t. pileth pleafures, and fetteth light by honour or glory, which is not porenr. Butthou feed how many things are wanting tothisman ah fo. Forfbmetimes he wantethne- ceiTaries,and is perplexed wich an- xieties, and being not able to ndde hirmelfe, ceafeth to bepowerfuU, which was the thing he onely ay- medat. The like diicourfe may be made of honours, glory, pleafures, Fortfin^e euery cneof thefe things is die fame wich therehV, whcfbeuer ieeketh for any of themwithout the jei^obtaineth not that,whieh hee deJiieth. V Vhat then ? (quoth I ) If one fhoukl defire to haue them altogether, he fhould wifliforthe fumme of happinefi^butiTiall hee find it in thefe things, which wee haue (hewed canndt performe whatthey-promife? No ( quoth 1) where- Hoetius his wherefore we muft by no meanes feekefor happineffein thefethings, which are thought to afford the fe- uerall portions of that, which is to be deiired. I confefTe it (quoth I ) and nothing can be more true then this. Now then (quoth fhe) thou haft both the forme and caufes of falfe felicitie,cafr. but the eyes of thy minde on the contrary, and thou fhaltprefentlyefpie the true happi- neiTe,which we prorniied to fhew thee. This (quoch I) is euident,e- uentohim that is blind, and thou fhewedft it a little before, while thou endeuouredft to lay open the caufes of the falfe.. For, if I bee not deceiued, c that is true and pencct happineffe, which maketh a man fufficient,potent,refpecl:edvfamous, ioyfull. And that thou maHlknow thatl vndeiftoodtheearighr, that which . c Wberein true happi- neffe con- fiaeth. Tbilofophicall Comfort. 7' which can truely performe any one of thefe becaufe they are allone,! acknowledge without all doubt tobefuli and perfect happinefTe* O my lchoiler., I thinks thee happy by hauing this opinion., ifthou ad- deft this alfo. What? (quoth I.) Doeft thou? imagine that there is d any mortall orirailething,which can cauie this happy eilate? I doe not (quoth 1) and that hath beene (bproued by thee, that more can- not be defiied. Wherefore thele things f:eme to afford men the i- mages of the true good, or certaine vnperfeft gooas, bur they cannot giu€ them the true and perfect oood it felfe. I am of the lame mind ( quoth I. ) Now then fince thou knoweil, wherein true happi- nelTe confifteth, and what haue ojiely a falie fliew ofit, it remai- neth i No mor- tall thing can caufe truehappi- netfe. 'Boeiius his neth that thou fhouldeft learne, where .thou maiefl ieeke for this which is true. This is that (quoth I ) which I haue long earneflly e:c- ■ (peeled. B utfi nee as ' (I .iX moving Unn, (Jfide, P'Vho to t>>] work* wert mou d b)no txtenta!lc*ufei T bib fbphicall Comfort. \ 7 1 But by d fweete defire, where enute hath m place , a f ( 1C j : -j-Jj iX ' Thai then perfect the whole, perfect* ech tart doft frame ; Cc j| j. Ihoutempreflelcmsntisnaktngcoldmixewtthflamey motieth \\ t And drie things toy nt with moy (I \ ledft fire away (houldfiie t heaasm Or earth opprefl with weight, buried too low (hould he. c 3 t mm Thou tn a confent/ng parts fitly dt(pcfed haft q q j • TW all moumg ^foule m^midft of threefold nature pldct, inen* Whteh d cut in feuer all parts ,t hat runne a different race^ a £)[ u j4 c J Into tt c felfe returnes, and arcing do +h embrace j nto ^ -^ The f highefi mtnd^ { li\e cdufe h <&*# ^/t.;- //,• that are bound, Wbrfe bafc and earthly minds are draper? d By Itiftfvhickdoetb them tye incruellcbaynes : Htre is a feat for men op fire si, Here ts a port ofpleafant reft 5 Htre way a wretch haue refuge from h%$payne$. Nogotd } vhich * Tagus fands bettow, Net * Tbilofophicall Com fen. 77 Norvuhich on ** Herman bavhe s dotbpw, Nor precwis ftcnes, which skonked\nA\az'S get, Can clear c the (harpcnejfe of the mirid 9 But rather make itfarre more blind And it infartber depth of darkenefiefet. for this thatfets ourj'ouUs on worke Biirhdw canes of earth dctb lurke. But beau 'nts guided bj •another light , V/ktch caxjeth vstojhmne the darkf^ ±Andr»ho this light doth tritely marke, Alttfi needtdenji that Phoebus bsamts are bright. The XI.Pr ose, Tbatgoodmjfe is the end of all things. S^gfe^j Content ('quoth I ) for all ^fesfe/H is grounded vpon moil .p firmeieafons. But what "" account wile thou make (quoth fLe) to know what good- nefleitfdfcis. I will efreeme it in- finitely, (quoth I) hecauiebythis meanes I fhaiJcome to know God alfOj who is nothing clfs but good-' riefTe. I will conclude this (quoth .fheej b A riuer in lydia« 'Boetius hit fhee ) moft certainely , if thofc things be not denied , which 1 hauc already proued. They (hall not ( quoth f .) Hauc wee not proued (quoth fhee) that thole things, which are defired of many, are not true and perfect goods , becaufe they differ one from another, and being (eparated, cannot caufe com- plete , and abfolute goodnefTe, which is only found,when they are vnited as it were into one forme and caufality,that the lame may be fufficiencie , power, refpeel:, fame, and pleafure? And except they be all one and the lame thing, that they haue nothing worth the defiling? It hath bin proued (quoth I) ney- thercanit be any way doubted of. Thofe things then , which when they differ, are not good,and when they are Qne,becomegood, are they. not Thilofophicall Comfort. 7^ not made good by obtayning vni- cic? fbmethinke (quoth \.) But doefl thou grant that all , that is good, is good by pertakinggood- nelTe? It is fo. Thou mayeft graunt then likewiie , that a vnitie and ooodnefle are the fame. For thole things haue the lame fubftance, which naturally haue not diuersef* feita-, I cannot denier, (quoth I.) Knoweft thou then ( quoth fheej that b euery thing that is. doth fo long remaine and fubilfl , as it is one, and perifheth and is diiTolued, Co fbone as it cealeth to bee one. How ? As in liuing creatures, (quoth (lie)fo long as the body and the foule remaine v nited , the liuing creature remaineth. But when this vnity is dilblued by their feperation, it is manifeft that it perifheth, and is no linger a liuing creature. The body 'Bcetim.bis e All tilings delnc to be body alfo.it felfe,fb long as ic remai- ned} in one forme by the coniun<5ri- on of the parts there appeareththe likenelTeofa man. But if the mem- bers of the body being feperated and fundred, haue loft their v- nkie,k is no longer the fame. And in like maner ic will bee manifeft to him that willdefcend to other par- ticulars, that euery thing conti- nueth fo long as it is one,and perifli- ethwhenitloofechvnitie. Confide- ring more particulars, I find i: to bee no #rherwife. Is there c any thing (quorh fhe^thatin thecourfeof na- ture,leauing thedefire of being, fee- keth to come to deftruction &. cor- ruption? lf( quoth I )I confider lining creatures, which haue any n uure to will and to nill, I find no- ching,tlut without externecompul- fion/orfake the intetion to remain, and Tkilofbphicall Comfort. and cf their owne accord haften eg diftru&ion.For euery liuing creature labourcth to preicrue his health,and eicheweth death and detriment. But what 1 fhould thinkc of hearbs,and trees^nd of all things without life, I am altogether doubtfull. But there is no cauie why thou fhouldeft doubt of this, if thou confidereft firft, thathearbs and trees grow in places agreeable to their nature, where lo much as their conditu- tion permittcth , they cannot ioone wither and peridi . For fome grcwinfields^ other vppon hils, fbmein fenni?, other in {ionic places, and the barren finds are fertile for fome, which if thou wouldcft tranlplant into other , places . they dye . But nature giueth euery one that which is fitting, and ftriuethtokeepethenf from Tyoetius his from decaying Co long as they can remaine. WhatfliouldItellthee,if all of them,as it were thrufting their head into the ground, draw nou- riQiment by their rootes, andcon- uey fubfrance and barkc by the in- ward pith?VVhat, that alway the (bftehY,as the pith is placed within, and is couercd with more firms woodland laM of all the bark is ex- posed to the weather, as being beft able to beare it off: And how great is the diligence of nature, that all things may continue by the multi- plication of ieedc; all which who knowcth not to bee,as it were cer- taine engines, not onely to remaine for a time, but fucceifuuly in a ma- 1 ner to endure for euer. Thofe things alio which are without all life, doth not euery one in like maner deflre that, which appertained! to their owne TbilofopbicaR Qomfort. j 80 ownc good ? For why doth leuitie liftvp flames, orheauinefTe weigh downechc earth, but becaufethefc places and motions are conuenienc for them? And that which is agree- able to euery thing, conterueth it, as that which is oppofite, caufeth cor- ruption . Likcwife thole things which are hard , as ftones, fticke moil: firmely to their parts, & make great refinance to any diflolution. And liquid things, asayer and wa- ter, are indeed eafiiy deuided, but doeeafily alfb ioyne againe. And fire flyeth all deuifion, Neither doe we now treate of the voluntary mo- tions of the vnderftanding foule, but onely of naturall operations. Of which fort is, 10 digeft that, which wee haue eaten, without thinking of it , to breath in our fleepe not thinking what wee doe. For j ^Boeiius bis Foreiienin liuing creatures the loue di life proceeded! not from the wil of thefoule,but from the principles of nature. For the will many times embraceth death vpon vrgentocca- fions,whichnatureabhorreth;and contrariwise the aclof generation,, by which alone the continuance of. mortal things is maintainedjis fbm times bridled by the will } though naturedoth alway dcfireit.So true ins , that this felfe-loue proceedeth not from any voluntary motion,- but from natural!- intension. For prouidence gaue to htr creatures this as thegreatell cauie of continu- ancc, that they naturally defire to continue fo long as they may, w; erefore there is no cauie^, why thou fhouldefr. any way doubt, that al things, w r hich are jdefire na- turally ftabilitieof remaining, and eichue Thilofophicall Com for t. Hi cfchue corruption .1 confefle(quoth I) thatl now feevndoubtedly that, which before Teemed very doubt- full. Now that ( quoth fhe) which defireth to continue and remainc, (eeketri to haue vnity. For if this be takenaway, being it felfe cannot remaine. It is d true ( quoth I.) Alii things then ( quoth (Tie) defire vni- tie. I granted it tobeib. But wee haue (hewed that vnity is the fame thatgoodncfle. You haue indcedc. All e things then defire goodnefle., which thou mayert: define thus : That goodnefTeis that, which is defired of all things. There can be nothing imagined more true. For either all things haue reference to nothing, and being deftitutc as it were of onehead ? fhall be in confu- (16 without any ruler :or if there be any thing,to which al things hafte, M that d All tilings defile vnity. « AH tfiing- defire gooc ncfie* < Boetius his fGooJnes is the end ofai things that muft bec the chiefeft of all goods. 1 reioyce too much O fchol lcr(cjuotk fhec^) for thou haft fixed in thy mind the very marke of veri tic. But in this thou haft difcoue red that, which a little before thou iaideft , thou wert ignorant of. What is that ?' (quoth I.) What the end of all things is(quoth flic.) For certainly it is that , which is defired of all things, which finccwehaue concluded to bee goodneiTe, wee muft alio confefle that f ooodnefle is the end of all things. The XL Ve rse. HoIp voe may attaine to the kno^ ledge of truth* HE that would fee^e the truth with thoughts profound, And would not Bray in wascs which are not rtgl t, He to ktmfelfe muft turne hts inward fight, J nd?vtd his motions in a circled round, Teaching khmndphat cuer Jhe dij itgne 9 Her i J i'jiophiCAU Comfort, \ <& &er Iti-'etn'mzr mnctrtafyretf pofjeflh : S& t\ atjvbtck I ate lay h/Ade tn cloudmejfe, Msre bright ana chert then Vhcebus beames (kdllfbine. tUfa h At knot cjuenc he i all tht f pint slight , h t*t*o&h«tous U>mp holdi her otprtfr ^ iedeoftrxi- vewatneth m oui kre{) % tPilcht^ttfvUtfdmgkg e.-Jly dothexat* % Tcr bttng a^^how can ne anj'&eretrue Vnkffe that grace vitkmovr htarxsisk Ave Hi if P i a t o t f Iseau 'nlytn t*je t be tru t b $s tt ft, iVe learning thing*? rcmzmber them amw . TheXII.P ROSE. Hole the^orldisgoueniedby God. Hen I faid , that I did verie we! like ot TLtoes doctrin, fcrfl e had brought the.'e things to my remembrance now the fecond lime. Firft^becau fe I loft their mcmorie by the contagion of my bodie., and after when 1 was op- preiTedwith the burthen of griere. If (quoth fhe) thou refie<5teft vpon that , which heretofore hath bcene granted, thou wilt not be f.rreof from rcmembring that , which in M z the A T bis y. as P'ito pinion the tr- that ten byin- uenrio\^ inPruAton fppj o(Tno iharonc harh the light ofvr- dfft.ncmg wHichivc pabicoftic < Boetius his the beginning thou confefTedft thy felfe to bee ignorant of. What i (quoth I.) By what gouernment (quoth fhcjthe world is ruled. I re- member (quoth I) that I did con- fefle my ignorance , but though I forefee what thou wilt fay , yet I defireto heare it more plainly from thyfelfe. Thouthoughtcfta little before, that it was not to be doubt- ed , that the a world is gouerned by God ; neither doe Ithinke now ( quoth 1) neither wil I euer thinke, that is to be doubted of, and 1 will briefely explicate the reafons,which moue me to thinke io. This world could neuer haue becne compacted of lb many diuers and contraric parts, vnleife there were one, that doth vnite theie fo differet things, and this difigreeing diuerfity of na- tures being vnited, would feparate and *Thc world is goucmed by God. — — — »^ — ^ www— m % l J biioJophicall Comfort. J 8j and diuide this concord , vnlefle there were one that holdeth toge- ther that, which he vnitcd. Neither would the courfe of nature conti- nue focmz'me, nor hold fbwell ordered motions in due places, times, caufalitie , ipces and quali- ties,vnle(Te there were one, who himfelfe remaining quiet,difpofeth and ordereth this varietieof moti- ons. This,whatfoeucr it bee, by which thingscreated continue and are moued,! calGod,a name which all men vfe. Since ( cjuoth fiiee) thou art of this mindjhhinke with little labour, thou mayeft be capa- ble of felicity , and returnc to thy countreyiniafctie. But let vs con- fider,whatwepropo{ed. Hauewc not placed fufficiency inhappines, and granted , that God is bleflednes it (cite ? Yes trucly. VVhereforc M $ (quoth 'Boetim hi* i » b God dif- yofctb all things by hiinfsife, that's by go.odncfl'e. (quoth fhee ) hee needech no out- ward helps to gouerne the wotld, otherwise, tr lie neederh any thing, j he hath not full (urnciency, Thac (quoth T )' mad neceiTarily bee Co., VVherefbxe b hedifpofexhal things by hiaifeife* No doubt hee d@erh. (quoth I») But it hath beene proued that, Gqc\ is good nefFe it felie. 1 re- ;nierH.berit very well (quoth I.) Then hee difpofeth all things bv goodneffe: ii ace he gouemeth ail things by himfdf c,whom we hauc granted to be goodneiTe* And this is as it were the (karne and gpuernement , bv which the frame of the world is -kept ftedfaft and vncorrupteJ,.! moil: willingly agree (quoth I) and Iforelaw a little before ? f hough onely with a Header gueiTe,thatthou wouUefl conclude this, I beleeue thee (qu.Qth dice) fox now I ' Jfti-... I . . ■ Tbilofophicall Qomfort. | H now I fuppofe thou lookeft more watchfully about thee to difcerne the truth } but that which I wil fay is no lefle manifeft. What?(quothlJ Since that Ood is deferuedlv tho^hi. togouerne al things with theftearne of goodnciTe, and all thefe things likewife^as 1 haue {hewed, haften to goodneife with their naturallinten- tion, can there be any doubt made, but that thev ate oouerned c willing- ly,- and that they frame thcmfelues of their owne accord to their dif- pofers becke, as agreeable and con- formable to their ruler? It mufr, needes bee fo ( quoth I ) neither would it feeme an happy gouerne- ment ; if it were an impofed yoake, not a defired health* There is d no- thing then which following nature, endcuoureth to refill: God. No- thing (quoth L)V Vhat ii any thing M 4 doeth ^Bcetim his « Out J lib. i. Mttamor. iff Maerob. Ltb.XSa- turn*!. docth endeuour (quoth fhe) can a- ny thingpreuailcagainft him,whom we hauc granted to be moft power- full by reafon of his blefledneiTe? No doubt (quoth I) nothing could preuatle. Wherefore there is no- thing, which either will or canre^- fift this foueraigne goodnelfe. I thinkenot (quoth I.),lt is then the foueraigne goodnefle^which gouer- nethall things ftrongly,anddifpo* feth them fweetly. When (quoth I) how much (quo;h I) doech not onely the reafon,which thou allead- gell,but much more the very words, which thou vfeft, delight mee,that folly which bauleth forth gteat things, may at length bee aflhamed of her felfe. Thou haft heard in the e Poets Fables how the Gyants prouokcd heauen, but this benigne fortitude put the alio down,, as they -de- •—** TbilofopbicaU Comfort. o J deferued. But wilt thou hauc rac vrge farther by way of deputati- on ? perhaps by this arguing there will fiie out iome beautifull fparke oftruth. As itpleafeeh thee (quoth I.)No man can doubt (quoth fhej but that God is Almighty.No man (quoth 1) that is well inhiswittes. But (quoth fhee) there is nothing, that he , who is Almigh tie, cannot doe. Nothing ( quoth I. ) Can G od do euil ? No (quoth I.) Wher- fore (quoth fliee) f EuiUisno- thingjfince hee cannot doe it,who can doe any thing. Doeft thou mocke mee ( quoth I ) making with thy reafons an inextricable labyrinth, that now thou maiftgo in where thou meaneft to goeout againe, and after goe out, where thou cameft in 3 or doeft thou frame a wonderful circle of the fim- plicity (hiog. do- 'Boetim his plicityof God ? For a little before taking thy beginning from blefled- ne(ic,thou affirmedft that to be the chiefeft good, which thou fay deft was placed in God, and likewise thou prouedftjtba!; God hirnfelfe is thechiefeft good,and fui happines, out of which thou madeft mee a prefeat of that inference , that no manfhallbehappy,vnlefleheebee afoa God.Againe thou toldeft me, that the forme of goodnes is the fubfbnce of God and of blefled- nes ^ndthat vnity is the fame with goodneSjbccaufeitisdefired by the nature ©fall things, thou didftaL fo difpute, that God gpuerneth the whole world with the reynes of goodnes, end that all things obey willingly, and that there is no na- ture of cuill, and thou didft expli- cate all thefe things with no for- reine Thilofophicall Qomfort. ] 8d rcine or farre fetched proofes , but with thofe which were proper 2nd drawen from inward principles, th e ne co h h* i m i n 2 f h e oth er ? n . icherpUy nor mock (cjuoth fhe) and weehaue finifhed thegreateit matter,that can be by the aC- iilance of God, whole aide we implored in the beginning. For fach is the forme of the diuine fubftance , that ir neither is diuided into outwaid things , norreceiueth any fuch into it (elf, but as f Parmenides faith ofit : <9MTt$iV tV KVKhOlCI oth notpoore d Ti tius huer tear** We by hts verfes conquer 'edare, Sarththe great King whom (piritsfe arc. Let vs not then from him debarre Bis wife 7 w horn he withfongs dothgaine^ Jet left our gift fhonld fir etch ioofarre, We will it with this law reftraine, That when from hell he takes his flight. He Jb all from looking backerefrainc. Who can for louers Uwes endite ? Loue hath no law^Ht her owne will. Orpheus feeing in ttit%d of night Euvidicc^doth locfe ana \ktll Her andhimfelfe withfoohfh loue y But you this famed tak fulfill, JVb» &5 *> With which he is torroented in hell for attempting to commit adultery with Ihtio. Who kil- led bis own foaae to en- tcrtaiac the Godf,and therefore is tormented with hun- ger & thirft. iwho would hauc committed adultery with Lato- na Apolloes mother,or with Dun:. « ■.* ■ ? WffU p ,.W!i. »P « * ■ 'Beetius his Who think* vnto the day abeue To bring with (pee devour d*rkc{ontc mind. For tfyo^reye^{conqHerd)jou mone Backward to P i ut o left behind. Ail the rich prfiy^whch thence yen toche y Ton loofe^whiie i<*ike to heilyo* Loke. THE 4 XX FOVRTH BOOKE Of Boetivs. Conteining the reafons., why Godpermittcth cuill. The I. Pros e. its mermileth at the impunltie. and eritieofeuillmen. Hen Philofophy had fung theie verfes with a foft & fwcetc voice, obferuing due digni- tieand grauitie in her coun- mm.m.Jt.-. > - i JM I f l l c Boetius his countenance and gefture,«I not ha- iling altogether forgotten my in- ward griefe, interrupted her {peach, which fhee was about to continue, and fayed, O thou, who bringeflvs to fee true light,thofe things,w hich hetherto thou haft treated o£ baue manifeftly appeared to bee Diuine in their owne knowledge^nd in- uincible by thy reafons, and thou haftfaid, that though the force of griefe had made me forget them of late, yet heretofore I was not alto* gether ignorant of them. But this isthechiefeft caufe of my forrow, that, fince the gouernour of all things is Co good, there can either beanyeuillatall,orpafrevnpuni(h- ed. [Which alone 1 befeech thee con- fider, how much admiration it de- ierueth. But there is another grea- ter then this, for wickedncfle bea- ting, rbitoj opmeaU Com/or t. ring rule and fway, ver:ue is no: oncly without reward, but liem alio trcden vnder the wickedsfeet, and is punifhed in fteid of \ic$* That which things mould be done in the kingdom? of God,who kno- weth ?.li things , can doe all things, butwill doe ontlv that, which is good, no man can fufficicntlyadi! mire nor complaint. To which meanfwered , It were indeede infi- rmly ftrange , and i'urpaising all monlterSjif , asthouconceiiuit,in the bell: ordered hou!e of io sreat an houfholder, the vileft veflels were made account of , and the oretious neolected , but it is not (o For if thole things which were a lit- de before concluded , be kept v nui- olated ; thou malt by his helpe , of whole kingdome we fpeike,know, that the good are alwaypowerrull, N and «? ^oetius hu and the euill alway abiecl: and weakc, & that vices are neuer with- out puni{hment,norvertue with- out reward , and that the good are alwayprofperous, and the euil vn- fortunate } and many things of that fort,which will take away all caufe of complaint, and giue thee jfirme and follide ftrength. And finccbymy meanes thou hafl al- ready feene the forme oftrueblef- iedneiTe., andknowen where it is placed , running ouer all thofc things, which 1 thinke neceflary to let paffe, 1 will fhew thee the way, which will carry thee home. And 1 will alio fatten wings vpon thy mind s with which fliee may roufe her ielrV,that al perturbation being driuen away , thou mayefl: re- turne fafely into thy countrey by my direction, by my path, and with my wings. The Thitofopbicall Qamfort. j 9® The I. Verse. Ho^ fphylofophy brin^eth mm to the contemplation of God. Fjr \ l/tucfcift andntmble Wfngj.wJ-icr will afcendthe lefty jties, With which H> l jenfhy juic^mnidis clad.it wil the loathed earth difftfe And goe beyond the air* g-obt , and v?a?ry cloudes behind it leaue VafZmg the $re,wbicb sl>orclo tng heat doth ft omt\ e heau'm (mift courfe re KhttU it reach the fiarry houfe^anAget to treade bright Ph&^uiwatesCcemr, toyntng ttfelfe in company with aged Sktunta Ugitfome rates, And trace the circles o] ( the ftarres^hieh. in the nig I t to 9s appcure .■bid hdntngftai d there long enough eoe en beyond the fan. Sitting Spsntke high? ft orbepartj^tr of the glorious ltg!;t, Vyherehighejl \\tng btt Scepter Inids^nd the worlds rainei doth guide /t+ And in his Chariot /landing frr?ne t doth euery th'tng tn order fet [right, P r nto this feat when thou art brought t ??j countrcy^?. ic t'i cu didrr/orgef, Thou then wilt challenge to thy felfe/aying this is the glorious land Woere I was borne and ins his fotle my feet for euerm re/haft il t nd\ Whence if 'thou & iedjift tohehoU the earthly might .wl icb thouhafi /eft 9 1 ho 'e Tjraun:s y which th e people feare, will teem e eft', en true ho *nz b-rcjt. The II. Prose, That good men are powerful!, and euili men weake. H (quoth I. ) How great things doeft thoti promife ? And I doubt not but thou N z canft TSoetim his \ * Good men are powerful], and cull raeawcake canft performs them , wherefore (by me not now ; that thou hall: itirrei vp my defire. Firft then ("quoth fh cjibat* good men areal- way powerful! , and eui .\ men of no itrength , thou mayeft eafily kno;ve,.and the one is prousd by the other. For fines that good and euill arecon:raiie5,ifitbeconuin- ced, that good nefie is potent, the weakenefie of eu-il will be alfo ma- .hifeft ; and contrariwise if wedif- cerne thefrailty ofenill , wecmuft needes acknowledge the firmenes ofgoodneife. But that our opini- on may be more certainely embra- ced y I will take both waies , confir- ming rriy piopofitions , fometime from one part,(ometime from an- other. There bee two things. by which all humane aftions areef- fected, will and power 3 of vvhicl if c Philofophicall Comfort. \ 91 if- either be waning, there can no- thing be performed. For i'f there want will', no man taketh any thing in hand againi}: his will , and if there be not power. ti\e will is in vaine. Soihatjif thou ft eft anie wil- ling to obraine that, which he doth nor obtaine, thou canft not doub^ but that he wanted power to ob- taineywhat he would. It is mani* feft^qupth Ijand can by no meanes be denied. And wilt thou doubt, that he c Hild,who thou fecit bring topaiTe, what he defircd ? No. But ( , euery man is mighty in that which he can doe,, 8c weakein that.which he cannot doe. I confeiTe it(q 112th I, ) Doeft thau remember then (quoth (he jthat it was inferred hv our former d.icourfes , that all the intention of mans will doth haiien to happineOTe^though %\\ eir courfes N ? be c Boetius hk bedmers ? I remember (quoth I ) that that alfo was proued. Re- membrefl thou aifo that bleffed- netfc is aoodnefTe it ficlfe. and con- fequently when bleiTednefle is fought after, goodneffe mull of force be dclired ? I hauc that aifo fixt in my memory. Wherefore all men both good and bad } without difference of intentions endeuout to obtainegoodneiTe. It followeth ( quoth I. ) But it is certaine, that men are made good by the obtay- ninsofsioodneire. i c i s { o . Wher- Z3 • nor euill without jyjtmfhments* PPiS Eefl thou then, in what §§|||i myre wickednelTe wallows, tiB&E&zxid how ciearely homily fiiineth ? By which it is manifeft, that the good ate neuet without re- wards, nor the euill without pm nidiments * For that, for which a- nything is done, may deieruedly ieeme the reward of that action, as to him that runneth a race, the crowne for which hee runneth, is propofcd.'as a regard. But we haue (hewed, char bleiTednefle is thefelfe famegoodnes-, for which all things are done. Wherefore this 3 goOd- neiTeis propofed as a common re- ward for all humane a&ions, and this Th'thsfophicall Comfort. \ 97 this cannoc be k'pa'ated from thofe, who are good. For hee fhall not rightly be any longer 'called good, who wanteth 'goodntfTe : where- fore vertuous actions are not left without their due rewards. And how much fbeuer the euili doe rage, yet the wife mans crowne wii not fade nor wither. For others wick- ednefle deprineth not vertuous minds of their proper glory. But if hce fhoulJ reioyce at any thing which hee hath from others _, either he,whogweit,or any other might take itraway .But becaufe etery mans verrueis thecaufc of k , then only he fhall want his reward , when he fca- ueth to be vertuous* Laftly , Cmcc euery reward is therfore defired., be- c-uiie it is thought to be good, who can iudge him to bee deuoyd of re- wardjWnich hath goodnefle for his O poflef- lyGetius bis A Good men are Gods. pofleision ? But what reward bath hee? The moii beautifull and the greateft that caa be. For remember that Corollarium } which I prefented thee with a little before, as with a rare and pretious ievveli , and inferre thus : fince thatgoodneile it ielfe is happineife, it is manifeir. that all goodmeneuenby being good, are made happy. But we agreed 3 that blefled men are Gods. Wherefore the reward of b good men, which no time can wait , no mans power diminifh,no mans wickednefleob- icure, is to become Gods. Which things being fo, no wife man can anyway doubt of the infeparable punifhment of the cuill. For fince goodnefle and euill , punifhment and reward areoppofite the one to the other: thole things, which wee fee fall out in the reward of good- neffe, Thiiofophxall Comfort' ae(Te,muft needes be anfwerable i:i a contrary maner,in thepunimmsnt sfeu 11, Wherfore as to honed men, aonefty it felfe is a re.vard j (o to the wic';ed their very wickedneiTe is a runimment. Andhee that ispuni- l~hed,doub:ech not, but that he is af- licted with euill. Wherefore if they /voald truely confider their o,vne »hhte,can theythinke themfeiues Tee from punifhmen t , whom w ic- sednefle the word of all euils , dorh notonely touch ,but ftrongly in£c £t> But weigh thepnnifhmen: , which accompanieditfi?wic ed , b ; co n* paring it to the regard of z.\e vertu • dus. For thou learned;!- nor long before, that whatfoeueris at all, is one,andtha::vniiy isgoodneiTe, by which it followeth, that whatioe- ueris ,muftalio bee good. And in this manner , whiiioeuer Llleth O i from 9* <■ Wicked- nJiTctlie punifhmen ofeullmcr. IBoelws bis i F.uilt rren ■ cealeto !>e > that which theywcic from goodneffe ; ceafeth to be, by which it followeth,that d euil men leaue to be that , which they were. But the fhape of men , which they they mil retaine , fheweth them to hauebeene men, wherefore by em- bracing wickenelfe.thev haueloft the nature of men. But imce vertue alone can exalt vs ahoue men, wic- kedneiTemufl: necd.'s call: thole vn» der the defert ofmen , which it hath bereauedofthatcondition. Where- fore thou canft not account him a man,whom thou feeft transformed b) vices. Is the violent extortour of other mens goods carried away with his couetous defire ? Thou mayelT: liken him to a wolfe. Is the angrie and vnquiet man ahv^y contending; and braulina ? Thou mayelt compare him to a dogge. Doeth the trecherous ftl.'ow reioyce that Tbtlofopbkali Comfort* j 99 that hee hath decerned others wich his hidden fraudes ? Lee him be ac- counted no better then a fox. Doth the outragious fret and fume? Let him bee thought to haue a Lions mind. Is the feareful & timorous af- fraicl without caufc? Let him bee- fteemed like to Hares and Deares. Is the flow and ftupideal way idle? He liueth an aiTes life. Doeth the light and vnconftant change his courfes ? Hee is nothing different from the birds. Ishediowned in filthy and vndeane lufts ? He k entangled in the pleafure of funking finne* So that hee, e who leauing vertue , cea- feth to be a man , fince he cannot be partaker of the Diuine condition.is turned into a beaft. 03 Th e * Wicked men arc bcalls. 'boetimhk »The.IfIe ^Mttturiu*- The IILVers e. rhat Vices are of greater force, then enchauntments. THc fatkSywhschwifeVlints bore 9 ' AndjhtrpSyT*l:tch ix the jeas long time did flr,ay y The Eaflerne wind draue to that a (hore^ Where the fare Goddejfe Lady Ctrce lay Daughter fa birth to Ph&kus bright ^ Who with inch anted cups and char me s did flay Her ouefl s, decern d with their delight^ And into fundry figures them did change 9 Being mo ft skillfull in the mighty And fecre: force ofherbes and fimplssftrangs, Some like tofauage bores andfome Like Lyons fierce jyhtch datle vfe to ratinge Vpon the h* by any lames ^become. . Others are changed to the fhape and guifi Qf rati nous Wolues^and xv axing dumbc ffe hording in theftead of manly cnes 4 Others like to the Tigre roue\ Which m thefecrched Indian dtfert lieu And though the^wmgedfonne of lout , From Wefe bewitched cups delight/ kilt 00 Tokeepe the famous Captaincftroue, let ihtm the greedy manners imbrue t With ^kilofophicaU Qomfort. With much de fire till turn d to fwine :ed of bread they fed en oken maft. Nhj» m thetr outward (bape nofigne, Nor (hew rcnsdtKes of any htiWAXe er&cc y Onely their minds vncbaungA repine To fee their bodies mfuch vgfj cafe* O feeble baxd 7 andtdle art y syhich ih$*gb it could the tutward Urns defaeel Yet b*dno force to change the heart. Tor Mi he force ofmengiu n by Gods *rme Lyes hidden in their inmost part. Thepoyfons tkerefore^whith within t hemfw&rme Afore deeply pierce, and with more might, For to the body .though they doe no hzrmei Jet on%eJjHle they wotke their fpight. Th e IIII. Prose. Of the mifery of wicked men* Hen faid I J confeflfe, and oerceiuc that thou affir- L meft not without caufe, that the vicious, though they kcepe the outward fhape of men are in their I Hoetim his their inward fhte of mind changed into bruitc beafK But I would haue had them, whole cruell and wicked heart r?gei:h to the harme of the good, reft rained from execu- ting this their malice. They are re- strained (quoth fhcejas fhallbee proutd in conucnient place. But yet if this a liberty,which they feeme to haue, be taken away, their pu nifhmentalfoisin great part rfelea- fed. For, (which perhaps to fbme may feeme incredible^) euill men muftneceiTarily be more vnhappy, when they haue brought to pafle their purpofcs,thenifthey could not obtainewhat they defire. For if it bee a miferable thing to defire that, which is euill, it is more miferable to be able to performeit, without which the miferable will could not haue any efTe&.Wherfore fince euery one Thilofopbicall Comfort. 101 one ofthefe hath their peculiar mi< (ery,thcv muft of force bee oppref- fed with a threefold wretchednelTe, whom thou frcft defire,be abie.and perform e wickedneiTe . 1 grant it (auoth I) but I earneft'y wifh,that they may foone be deliuered from this miferie hairing loft the pow- er to pcrforme their malice. They will looie it (quoth lftee) fooner then perhr.ps cither thou woul- deft, or they themfeiiKS fuppoie. For in the fhor: compafTe or this lifethere is nothing folate., which the immortal! Icule thinketh to expectlong, [o that tre great hope and higheft attempts or the wic- ked are many times made fruP trate with a fuddaine and vr.ex- pected ende., which in truech ma- keth their miferie to bee in iome meafure. For 'Boetim his *The Ion" %er a man is wicked, the more miferablc He is. Wicked inen more happy,whc they are punimed, then when they ttcsf c For if wickednes make men miferable,the b longer one is wicked, the more miserable he muft needes be; And I fhould iudge him the moft vnhappy man,that may be,if death at leaft did not end their malice. For if wee haue concluded truely of the mifery of wic- kedne(le,it is is manifeft, that the wretched- nefle,which is euerlafting, muft of force b ee infinite. Aftrange illation (quoth I) and hard to bee granted : but I fee , thar thofe things, which were granted before 5 apree very well with thefe. Thou thin^eft aright (quoth fhe)but he that findeth difficultie to yeeldto the conclufion, nvjft cither fhew r , that fomthing which is pre'uppofed is falfe, or that the combination of the propofiti- ons make not a necefi) ry conclufion,other- wife granting that, v Aikh went before , hee hath no reafon to doubt of the inference. For this alfo, which I will conclude now, will feerne no >jffe ftrange , and yet follow- ed! as neceffr.rily out of thofe things, which are already affumed. What ? (quoth I.) C T hat wicked men(quothfhe)arc more hap-* p/y being punifhed , then if they efcaped the hand*, of iuftice* Neither doe I now gee [ abo ut to (hew that , which may come into eu.ery mans minde^thateuiil cuftomesare corrected Thilofopbicali Comfort. \ ^ z Corrected by chart ifetn en t, and are red; :edtoveitue By the terrourof punifhment, and thatothersmay rake example toanoid euill , but in another manner alio I thinke viti- ous men, that goc vnpu nifhed to be more m i ferable , although we haue no relation, nor rtfpecr. to correcti- on or example. And whar other manner fhail this be (quorhljbe- (ides thele ? Haue we not graunted (qnoth fheejthatthe good are hap- py ,and the euil mlferable ? VCc haue (quoth I.) If then (quoth flie)lom thing that is eood be added to ones mifcry,isnochee happier then an- other,whcfe mifeiy is dcfolate and folitary , without any participation ofgoodnefle?Soitieemeth (quoth I«) \\ r/ hat if there be ibme other euill annexed to this miierable man^vho i,s depriued of all goodneflcjbeiides^ thcie, < Boetms his thofe, which make hirti miferable, is hec not to bee accounted much morevnhappy then he, whole mi- ftrie is lightned by pertaking of goodnefle ? Why not? (quoth I.) Then the wicked haue lome good annexed when they are puniftied, towitte 5 the punifhment it lelfe, which by rcafbn ofiufticeis good, and when they are not punifhed, they haue a farther euill, thevery impunitie, which thou haft defer* uedly graunted to bee an euill to wickednelTe. I cannot deny it. Whet fore the vicious are farre more vnhappy^ byelcaping puniihment vniuftly , then by being iuilly pu- nifhed. But it is manifeft, that it is iuft, that the wicked be punifhed, andvniuft that they mould goevn- punifhed . Who can deny that? But neither will any man deny this Tbilofophicall Comfort. [jtoj this (quoth fliee) that whatfbe- ueris iuft, is good, and contrari- wi(e 7 that whatfoeuer is vnjuft, is euill. This followeth (quoth I ) out of that, which hath becne concluded before. But I pray thee, leaueft thou no p-'nifhrnents for the loules after the death of the body? And thoie great too (quoth fliee.) Some of which 1 thinke to bee executed as fharpe puni fo- ments , and other as mercifull purgations. Butlpurpofenotnow to treate of thofe. But wee haue herherto laboured, that thou fhoul* deftperceiue thepower ofthe wic- ked ,which to thee feemed intollera- ble, to bee none at all, and that thou fhouldeft lee, that thofe , whomc thou complainedft went vnpunifhed, doe neuer efcape without pumlhment for their 1 wic- c Boetius bis wickedneiTe. And chat thou fhoul- deft learne , that the licence , which thou wifhedit might fbone end, is neither long, and the longer, the more miferable, and moft vnhappy if it were euerlafting. Befides , th at the wicked are more wretched be- ing permitted toelcape Wkth iniuft impunity ,then being puniflied with iuft ieuerity. Out ot which itfol- loweth, that they are then more greeuoufly punifhed, when they are thought to goe (cot-free. When I conflder thy realons ( cjuoth 1 ) I thinke nothing can bee laid more truely. But if' I returne to d the iudgements of men , who is there, that will thinke them worthy to be beleeued,orfomuch as heard ? It is true (cmothfbee) for they cannot lift vp their eyes accuftomed to darkenefle, to behold the light of mani- T bile fopbic all Qomfort. mamfeft truch , and they are like thole birdsjwhcfe fight is quickned bv the night , and dimmed by the day. For while they looke vpon ; not the order ofthings^but their owns auctions, they thinke that li- cence and impunity to finne,is tap- pie. Hut ke } what the eternall law eftabliQicth, If thou applieft thy mind to the better , thou needeft no e to reward thee : thou haft ioy- ned thy felfe to the more excellent things. If thou decline!! to that hidb is worie^ neuer expect any other to punifh thee , thou haft put ielfe in a miferable eftate ; as if byturnes thou lookeft downe to themyerie ground 5 and vptohea- uen, ail outward things ceaiing, by thy very fight thou feemeft lome- time to be in the durt^ and fbmtime prefenuotheftarres. Butthecom- mon CI Hoetiushis « They which Joe iniury are more vn- happy.then they which fufierk. men fort coniidereth not thefe things. What then ? Shall wee ioyne our fellies to them , whom we rune proued to be like beafts? VVhatifonc hauing altogether loft his fioht. fhonld likewife forset, thathee euer had any , and fliould thinke, that hce wanted nothing which belongeth to humane per- fe<5tion;fhould we therefore thinke rhem blind, that fee his folly ? For they will not graunc that neither, which may be proued by as forci. le reafbns, 6 that they are more vnhap- py,that doeinhinr, then they which (liffer it. I would ( quoth 1 ) heare thefe realbns. Denied rhou ( quoth i he) that eueiy wicked man defer* ueth punifhment ? No. And it is many wayes cleare , that the vi- rions are miferable. It is true (quoth 1. ) If then (quoth free) thou c Pbtlofbpbica!l Comfort. \ 105 thou wcrt to examine this caufe? whom wouldeft thou appoint to bepunimed, him that did, or that fufrfrd wrong ? I doubt not (quoth I)but that I would fatisfie him that f fTered, with the forrow of him that did it. The offerer ofthe iniury then would Icemc to thee more mi- te; ab!e.,th en the recciuer. It folio \v eth (quoth I. ) Hence therefore , and for other caufcs groundedvpon that principle, that dimonefty of it (life maketh men miferablc,it appeateth, that theiniury which is offered any man, is not the receiuers, but the doers mifery. But now a dayes (quoth fhe) orators take the Con- trary courfe. For they endeuour to draw the Iudges to commiferatidn of them, who haue fufTred any grec- uous afflictions, whereas pitty is more iuftly due to the caufers there* P of 'Boetiushis of,who (hould be brought not by angry, but rather by fauourable a nd I companionate accufers to iudge- ment, as it were llcke men to aPhy- (ltion,that their diieafes and faults might bee taken away by punifh- m£nts,by which meancs the defen- ders labour, would either wholy ceafe,orif they had rather profite in fome fort , they would change their defence into accufations. And the wicked themfelucs , if they could behold the leaft part of vcrtue at fome little rift , and perceiuc that they might be deliuered from the filch offinneby the affti&ion of pu- nifliments, in refpect of obtaining vertue^hey would not efteeme of torments^and would refufe theaf- fiftance of their defenders , and wholy reiigne themfelues to their accufers and ludges. By which meanes Thilofopbicall Comfort, j 106 mcanesic commcth to pafle, that : in wife men there is noplace atall ior hatred. For , who but a vetie foole would hate the good And to hate the wicked were againft rea- ton. ForasfaintneiTeis adifeaieof thebodie, fo is vice a fickenelTebf the mind. Wherefore, fi nee wee iudge thole 3 that haue corporall in- firmities , to bee rather worthy of cortipalsion,then of hatred, much more are they to be pkiej , and not abhorred , whofe minds areoppref- led with wickedneffe the greatefi malady that may be. The II 1 1. Verse; 2sf man is to be bated , 'thev$o4are to be louecl,andtbeeuiiltobi fit tied. Hjfboutdwe jlriuefeJ'ufomanj waiei, Andjlajf ottrjelftes with our own hands » P 1 — :•' '• -—** — -— 1 . — -j* — i— vv U wife man h.itcth cone. 'Boetius his Ifwefee^e de*tb } thee ready fiands, She willing comet, her pajfage never/} ayes. Thofe again ft whome the wild beafls armed be f Are armd *gavifl themfelmswith rage. Doe the j fuch warres vnmftly wage, Becaufe their hues, andwi&nners dij agree f And fo thtmfclucs with mutual weapons kUl^ Ala*, butt hn revenge is f mall, Wonldjt than glue due defer t to all? Ltue then thegood 7 andpitty thou the ill. Th e V. Prose, ftoetius complainethjbat profperity and aduer/ity art common both to good and badde. See (quoth I) what felicity .,or mi- fery is placed in the deferts of ho- neft> and difhoneft men. But I coniider that there is fomewhat goodjOreuilleuen in this popular fortune* For no wife man had rather Hue in banifh- mentjpouerty and ignominie -> then profper in his owne countrey D being rich, refpe&ed, and powerfull. For in this manner is the office of wifedome performed with more credite and rcnowne D when the gouernours happinefleis participated by their people 5 fo Vbilofophicall Comfort. 107 fo chiefcly becaufe prifons 5 chaines 5 and o- ther torments of legall punifhments are ra- ther due to pemitious fubiedts , for whom they were alfo ordained. Wherefore I much marucilcjwhy thefe things are thus turned vpiide downe 5 and the puniihments ofwickedneife oppreflfe the good 3 while c- uill men obtaine the rewards of the good And I defire to know of thee ^ what may feemc to be the reafon of fo vniuft confufi- on, For I would marueile leffe^if I thought that all things were diforder ed by cafuail e- uents. Now God being the gouemour^my aftonifhment is encreaied^becaule fince that hee diftributcth oftentimes that which is pleafant to the good , and that which is di£ taftfull to the badd > and contrariwifc aduer- fity to the good 5 and prosperity to the euill, vnleflewe find outthecaufc hereof; what difference may there feeme to bee betwixt this 5 and accidentall chances ? It is no mar- ueile (quoth ilie) if any thing be thought te- merarious and confufed 5 wlienweeknowe not the order it hath. But although thou beeft ignorant of the caufes why things be fgdifpofed, yet becaufe a the world hath a good gouernour^doubt not 5 but all things are well done, P * Th» i Wc muA chinkc thac God doth all thingt wcljtNcugh wcvnder- ftwd not thcrcafoa of Ls do- ings. l Boetim his 1 Sitfctjjorfjs and Vtnda rus thought that the moone was cdipted b; longSj&rtd therlcrtc to binder it, they caufcj : the beilestc berungouf £f ordcr.iec TheV.Verse. Admiration ceafetb } Iphenihe caujesof things are knolane. O WHo knows not hew the Bars neare to the poles doe And ho n? Bootes, htsfiw Wtttne de th ?utdc t (fide And mhy bee jet i {o late^anddcth jo ear el) rtfe, May wonder at t cecourf s of the stoics. jfrvbenthe moonersfuU her homes feeme pale to fight, Infeftcd rctth the dar*> x enejfe of the night jind Stars from \whtck allgracc fhc with her htphtnes tocf^e, Now Jh:w * them[e\t4es .while foe doth dimly loot/ . A A pHb{t : ecrrour nrtight through Vulgar minds doth f>*Jfe> And they with many ftrcaiees 'beate^pon hraffe . None wonders, why the winds fyonthe waters llow^ Nor why ho ate Pha I us L ea ntes dtfjolu-? t ' ejnow. Tlefe eajte are to hno \v t the other hidden ^e. nd i' erefore more our hearts they tet rtfif. /H(?rwge events, which ti *nt to light 'mere (eldome brings, And tie ^atnr people cowat as fudden thsnes, ifwc cur (loaded mtndt from ignorance could f re f 9 No U nger xzould by %s adm.'trd be. The V I. Pr ose„ Of providence and F^te y and why pro f peritie andaduerfttle a-recQmmon&oi I), tovoodandb&d. I T i$ true (cjuothl) bur I fin ecu is thy profefsion to explicate tic caufes cf hid- den ThilofophtCAlt Qomfort. \ l °S denthings.&tovnfold thereafons, which arc couered with darkenefle, Ibefeech thee vouchfafe to declare this miracle, which troubleth mea- boue all others. Then (lie fmiling a little la: de ; thou inuiteft me to a matter, which is raoft a hardly iound our, and can fcarcely be fufn- ciently declared, for it is fuch, that one doubt being taken away, innu- merable other, like the heads of b Hydra, fucceed, neither will they haue any end,vnle(Fea man repreffe them with the moft liuely fire of his mindetforin this matter are won t to be handled thefe quefti- ons* Of the fimplicitie of proui- dencc,of the courfeof fate, ot fud- den chaunces , of Gods know- kdge and prasdeftination,. 2nd or free will, which, how weighty they are, thou thy ielfe diicerneft. P 4 Hue | a How hard t is to find out the tea- fon of;. oh prouidtuce b Which had pr^. or ^o.heads, an I if. enc were cut of 2»aro(eia the jlacc. r "B'oelius his But becaufe it is a part of thy cure, co know theie things alfo. though the time be fhort,yet wee will ende- uour to touch them briefely. But if the fweetnefle of verie delight thee^thou mull forbeare this plea- fure for a while, vntijl Ipropofe vn» to thee fame fewe arguments. As itplealeth thee (quoth I. ) Then ta- li ng as it were a new beginning, me difcourfedin this maner. The ge- neration of all things, and all the proceedings of mutable natures, and whatfoeaer is moued in any fort, take their caufes, order, and formes from the ftahilme of the Diuiqe mind. This placed in the Cattle of his own? fimplicitie, prefixeth manifolde wayes for { ail that is to bee wrought or donej which wayes being confideredin thepurjfje of Gods vnderftandiqg, I are .' - «. Tbilofophicall Comfort. j I0 P arc named prouidence, but becing referred to thofe rhinos, which hee moueth and diipoleth, they were by the ancients called Fate . The -druer- fide of which will eafi'y appeare, ifwc weigh the force of both. For c prouidence is rhe very Diuine rea- fon it i"lfe, ieated in the h^hdt Prince, which difpofethall things: But d Fate is a dilpoilcion inherent in changeable things,by which pro* uidence connected! all things in their due order . For prouidence embraceth all things together, though diuerSjthough infinite $ bur Fate putteth euery particular thing into motion, beeingdiftributed by places,formes,& times : (b that this vnfoldingof temporal order being vnited in the forcfight of Gods mind,is prouidence & the fame v- nitingjbeingdigefted&Ynfoided by times, Hoetius his cimes^ts called fate. Which although they be diners, yet the one depend- etbon the other. For fatall order proceedeth from the fimplicitie of prouidence . For as a workeman concerning the forme of any thing in his mind, taketh his worke in hand, and executcth by order of time^that which he had (imply and prcfently forefeene: So God by his prouidence diipofeth whatfoeuer is to be done with Ci mplicitie and fta= bilitie : And by fate erfeðby ma- nifold and temporal waies thofe ve- ry things which he difpofetruWber- fore/ whether fate bee excrcifed by the fubordination ofcertaine Di- uine fpirits toprouidence, or this fa- tall webbebe 'wouenby theferuicc of the foule ; of all nature,, or o: theheauenly motions of the Starres- ot 1 angelicill verrue,or of diaboli- cal! i n ■ » ■ . ' .. ' ■ ■■ . ■: ■ .— * Thilofaphicall Comfort. IiO cal induilrv'jor of fomeoral of thefe; that certainly is manifcft , that pro- uidence is an vnmoueable and fim- plc forme ofthofe things jWhich are to be done ; & fatea moueable con- nexion and temporall ord^r of thoie things, which theduiineiimpHci- ty hath difpofed to be done. So that all ,that is vnder fate , is alfo fubiecl: to prouidence, to which alfo fate it felt obeieth.sRut Tome thingswhich are placed vndcr prouidence, are a- bouethe courfeof fateAPoetcl Cordona. Now, what is die health of foules., but verrue ? What fitkenefle haite they , but vice* ? And who either conierueth goodnefTc, orexpelletli euilsj but God the ruler and gouef - nour of mens minds? Who 1 behol- ding From his high turret of proui- dence^feeth what is fieri ng for euery one, and appliech that, which hee knoweth to bee mo ft conuenient. Hence proceededi that flrange wonder of fatal order, when he that knoweth what is belt, doth that, which the ignorant admire* For to touch briefelyfome few things of the diuine depth, which humane reafbn is able to attaine, whome thouthinkeft moftiuft, and moft obleruant of equity > feemetfrother- wife in theeies of prouidence which knoweth all. And our friend m Lu* can note:k,that the caufe of the con- cjuerours _ ~i i ' ~ ' " — " ^PbilqfbphicallComfert. \ nj querours pleated the Gods, and that of the conquered , Cato. Whcref of e whatfbeucr thou feeft done heere againft thy expectation, is right or- derin the things themfelues 3 but a peruer/c confufion in thy opinion. But let there be onefb wcl conditio- ned ,that God and men approuc and praife him ; yet perhaps he is Co weake a minded man, that if he falleth in- to aduerfity,he wil forfake his inno- cency, which was not able tokcepe himin proiperity. Wherefore Gods wife dilpcnlation fparcth him that aduerfity might make worfe,leaft he mould fuffer, to whome difficul- ties aredangerous^Thcre is another complete in al vermes, a Saint and nigh^to God,prouidence iudgeth it a factiledge to lay any afflictions on him, infbmuch, that flic permit- ted* him nottobctroubledfomuch Ct as n This is a faying of a Chriftun diuine^who Plulolo phy lcknow- lcdgethto cxccll hcr # F'$r$fdcr$ ccrfus %trtH ttsddtfica here. 'Boetius bis as with corporall fickefiefle. For as one/that exccllech mc, faith : a*/^ hf* the vfe of which is pleafant. Wherefore he refblucth to changhis cuftomes, % and whiles he feareth to loofe his profperitie,he forfaketh wickedncs. The incrcafc of honor vndeferued. lyobtcincd, hath throwne fom headlong into their deferucd def traction. Others arc" permitted tc * haue aathoritic to punifh others that they may cxcrcifc the good and punifli the bad. For as there i n< fe TbilofojfhkaUComfort. I "5 1 no league betw^cne vertuous & wic- ked men/o. neither can the wicked igrceamon^themfelues.Why not? Since they difagree within them elues,by reafon of their vices which :earc their confeience, fo that they nany times doe that, which after- ,vard they wifh vndon. Fro whence :hat higheft prouidencq often wor* ceththat wonderfull miracle, that :uill men make thofc, which arc c- .nll,good.For fome confidering the niufticedonethe^bymoft wicked Tien,out of their hatred to their ene- nies,hauc embraced vertue,, procu- ingto be contrary to them, whom hey hate. For it is oncly a Diuine trcngthjto which cueneuill things ire good, when by vfing them in luefbrt, it drawcth; fomc good ef- fect out of them. For acertaincor- ler embraccth al things/o that euen Q^5 that 'Boetius^is mrfctu it i em eit me (trmone explicate cjMtm ad modttm De ■ ■is omntare f4t et pr»- \titnt*4t that, which departed from the or-' der appointed to i^thbi^rit talleth into another, yet that isftrderal'o, leaitcofufed ralhncs fiiold bca-e any fvvayin the kingdomeor prouidece A?yct\iw£ tfAiTctVTciQiayac %tt»l abfiVitvJ* QX It IS impo ffibie for any man either to co- prehend by h is witt,, or to ex plicate in Ipech al the frames of Gods woi ■■■ . his fufficient, that we-rauc feene thus'much,tbat God theautbour of all natures, dire&ecb anddifpolcth aifo all things to goodneffe, and while hee end cue urem to reduce tbofe things which he hath proriu ced to his ownc liken elTe, hee ba= nilheth all euill from the boundes of his common wealth, by the coude of f atall necef iiie. So tiat, if thou confiderr doth the N on heme hare defire iVtihin the Ocean* wane to hide her beam*. Though (he beh Id Th * other Starres their couching: Tet [bee vncejftnt/j is row I'd About the heaun the Ocean neuer touching. The Eunninglight With certame courfe doth fhov The camming ofthejhady »*ght, 1' And Lnvfer before the day dothgof*. JL±_ I*L 'Boetius his This mutuall hue Courfcs aurnali makes 9 ^Andfrom theft arry\pheres aboue AH caufe ofwarre^and dang' reus difc or d takes. Thisfweet consent In dquall bands dothtye The nature of each Element 9 So that the moifl things yeeld vnto the dry. The purring cold With flames dot hfnendpnp keepe The fire the higheft place doth hold % And tbcgrojfc earth jinkes downe into the decpe. The jlewry yeare 'Breathes odours in thefpring The fcorchingfummer come doth be*n The Autumne fruit from loaden trees doth bryng* The falling rain* Doth winters moifl ure giue The/e rules thus nourijh andmaintaine AHcreatures } whtch we fee on earth to Hue. And when they dye y Thefe bring them to their end, While their Crcatourftttes on high 9 Whofe hand the raines of the whole world doth bend* He as their King Rules them with Lordly might + Fnmhim they rife. flourish Andfpring] Be a: their law and tudge deuides their right • Thofe things ywhofe courfe Afoftfwiftly (lidesaway, His might doth of en backwardforce, And Thilofophicall Comfort* And fuddenlj their wandring mot ion ft af. Vnlejfehtsftrength Their vwlen e fhontd found, And l hem which elfe would runne At lengthy Should bringwithin she compare of arotmdi That firm? decree Which now doth alladome Would foone dcHroid and broken bee y Things bemgfarrefrow their beginning borne*. This powerful! hue Is common vnto all W hich for de fire of good dee mone Backe to the fpringsjrom whence thtjfirjl did fall. No wordlj thing Can a contin nance haue Vnlejfe lone backe agame it brings Vntothecaufe^whichpr^ the e[fenee gaue '♦ The V1L Prose. .All fortune is good. Erceiucftthou now, what followeth ofal^that vvc hau hetherto (aid?what?(quoth I.) That (qnothfhe)all mancr of fortune is good ; How can that bee? (quoth I ^Beattcntiue^uothfheJ fince that al fortune,be it pleating or vrplea- TSoetim his vnplea(ing,is directed to the rewai d orexercile or the good , and to the punifhment and direction of the wicked, it is manifeft, it is all good, fincc it is all iuft , or profitable. Thy rcafonisverytrue(quo:hI)and if I conflder prouidence & fate, which thou diddeft explicate a little before, thy opinion is well grounded* But if thou pleafeft let vs account it a- mong thole , wi ;ich thou not long fince I uppofedft incredible. What ? (quoth fhe)Becau(emen common- ly vfe to lay , and te peat , that fome haue ill fortune: Shall wee (quoth fliee) frame our fpeech to the vulgar phrafe^leaftweieeme to haue as it were forfaken the vie of humane conuerfation ? As it plealeth thee (quoth 1. ) Doeft thou not thinke then that that is good,which is pro- fitable ? Yes (quoth I.) But that, which Tbilofophicall Qomfort. j *-8 which either exercifetn , or correct- ed^, is profitable. It istrue(quoth IJ It is good then. VVhy not? But this is die eftate of tliem,who being ei her vertuous ftriue with adueth- ry,orfoifaking vices, betake them- feinestothewayofvertue. I cannot denie it(cjuorh I. ) Now, what fay- eft thou to that pleafing fortune, which is aiuen in reward to the good, doth thecomrncn people ac- count it badde? No ,butiudgeth it exceeding good, as it is indeed. And what of the other , which being vn- plcalingjrcilr ,iineih tneeu 1 with iuft punifhment,doeth not the people thinke it.good ? Yea (quoth I ) they thinke it the meft miferable that can be. Lool.e then (quoth fhee) how following the peoples opini- on,wehaueconJudeda very incre- dible matter. What ?(quo:h l.)For it follow- TSoetiusbis followe'th (cjuoth fheejoucof chat, which is granted , that all their for- tune,whatfoeuer it be } who are ei- ther in the poffefsiorv, or en create or entrance of vettue, is good : and theirs, which remaine in vices, the worftthatmaybe. ThisfquothI) is true, though none dare fay fo. VVhereforcCquoth fhe)a wife man mull: be no more troubled, when he is afTaulted with aduerfitie : then a valiant Captaine difmayd at the found of an alarum. For difficulties are the matter, by which the one muft encreafchis glory, and the o- ther confirmc his wifcdome. For which caufe vertueis fo called, bc- caufc it hath fufficient ftiength to ouercome aduerfitie. For yon, that are proficients in vettue , are not come to bee diflblute with dainties, or to languish in plea- iiircs, TbilofophicdU Com for t. fares, but you skirmifh fiercely with any fortune, leaft either af- fliction opprefleyou, or profperitie corrupt you, and fo procure to flay your felucs ftronglyin themeane. For ' whatfbeuer commcth either fliort, or goeth beyond, may well contemne felicity , but will neuer obtaine any reward of labour* For it is placed in your power, to frame to jour felucs, what fortune you pleafc. For all that feemeth vnfauo- ry >either cxercileth, or corrc<5teth,ot punifheth. The VII. Verse. tPhylofophy exhorteth to labours . "D Euengfull '■ At reus fonme did ten whole jeares employ *^ln wars/tllhe his * brother i ioffe rtpat'dwtth ranfr^t He fitting I forth the Fleete of Greece^ pen the (eas (Troyi Aud k»ow sng well \that oneljbUud the angry winds would Forjpt a fathers part and wsth his cruel i»/fe (pleafe Vnf the Gods dsdfacrtfice hss dearefi « daughters life. Vliffcs vattdtholofie ofhssmo^ fat th full men Whom * Polipkemns diddeuourt snelofedin his den laJicily.Laaingbut eae eye iithis fore-head, which Vliflc --- B*t 'Boetim bk c « i a 1 1 men and hulfe horfes. r Huge birds in the ci callrd Siymphilus in Arcadia. I The dog Cerberus ivho hid i leads. j Diome- ies King of Fhracia, vhofedde sis horics vitKmans But when his bandbyjl.ight bad made the Cyclops blind, Mof pleafant toy in Read of former teartspejfeft hti rntnd Hercules famous si for h$s laborious tsyle^ (Ipoyle Who tarn '4 the* Zen aurs.and did take tbedreah c ul Uons H* the^Stymphali4n birds with piercing arrorves fir oo^e , Anal from tbt watchful Dragons care the golden apples took He tn a threefold chame the*, hetf/fh f orter ledde % And With thetr cruell h maftersflfo tbefttiage horfes feddt Redidth'encreafing beads of poyj'nous Hydra hurne t Andbreaktng 1 Acheh>u« homes dtdma^ehimbackjreturn He on the Libyans fands did ptoud k Antaeus £iH, Andwttb the mighty !Ckus blond™ i ; Hinders wrath fulfil* He with the dreadfu/lBore sneovntred^and htm flew , Kern (he began toturne her lpeech to cer* taine other quefti- onsjwhcnlinter- ruptedher/aying: Thy < Boetius bis Thy exhortation is very good , and well beleeming thy authority. But I find it true by experience , as thou affirmedft, that the queftion of pro- uidence , is entangled with many o- thcrjror Idcfirc tok now, whether thou thinkefl chanceto be anything ataL,& what it is.I make haft (quoth (lieej to performe my promife, and to fhew thee the way, by which thou mayeft returne to thy coun- trey. And thele other qucftions , though they be very profitable, yet they are fomewhat from our pur- poie,and it is to be Tcared , leaft be* ing wearied with digrefsions ,thou beeft not able to finifli thy direct iourney. There is no feare of that (quoth I) for it will be a great cafe to me,to vnderftand thole things , in which I take great delight , & with- all when thy diiputation is fenced in Thilofopbicall Comfort* IZI inoneuery fide, there can bee no doubt made of any thing thou fhalt inferre. I will'cjuothfheejdoe, as thou wouldeft haue me,and withall begjanne in this maner : If any (hall define chance to be_,aneuent produ- ced by aconfufed mocion , & with- out connexion ofcaufes, Iaffirme that there is noiuch thing , and that chance is only an empty voyce with- out any reall iignification. For what place can confufion haue, fi nee God difpofeth all things in | due order. For it is a true fentence, that of nothing com meth nothing, which none of the ancients denied, though they held not that principle of the efficient caufe, bu t of the ma* teriall fubiecl:, that is of the nature of all formes. Butifanythingpro* ceedeth from no caufes, that will feeme to haue come from nothing, R which 2W/#x his which if it cannot bee, neither is i c pofsible there fhould be any iuch chance, ask defined a little before. What then (quoth I,) is there no- thing that can rightly bee called chance,or fortune? O r is there lorn- thing, though vnknowen to the common fort,to which theie names agree ? My Jriflotle (quoth fhee) in his bookes of nature declared this point briefely and truely. How ? (quoth I.) When ( quoth fhec)any thing is done for fome certain caufc, and lome other thing hapneth,for fomcrealbns, then that, which was intended, this is called chance : as if onedigginghis ground with inten- tion to till it,findeth an hidden trea» fure. This is thought to haue fallen thus out by fortune , but it is not of nothing, for it hath peculiar caufes, whole vnexpe&cd & not forcfecne con co uric Thilofopbicall Qomfort. concouriefeemethrohaue brought foorth a chance. For vnldTe the Husbandman had digged vp his grounds , and vnleffe the other had hidden his money in that place, the treallire had not heene foun<].Theie are therefore the cauies of this for- tunate accident, which proceeded from the meeting and concourfe of cauies, and not from the intention of the deer. For neither he thar hid the golde, nor hee thar tilled his ground,had any intention th re the money.fhould be found, but, as I (aid, it followed and concurred,th at this man mould dig vp that, which the other hidde. VVherefore wee miy define a chance thus : that it \% anvnexpecled euent of concurring caufes , in thoft things , which are done to (bmeend and purpofe.Novy thecaufe, why caufes coacurre and R 2 meete » Wlu: Clvuce s. ^Boetius his meete fo together, is that o f der pro- ceeding with ineuitable connexi* on, which defending from the fcuntaineof prcuidence, difpofeth all things in their places and times. Th e L Ve rse HoTP cafttall events are guided byprouidence. IN tti Achtmeniin r§ ^es y where Parthians With their darts In their dr\fembtedflight doe.MQmd their enemies Tigris from the fame head doth with Euphrates rife An I forthwith they themfelues deuideih fenral/parts: But if the j toyne agame ^andthsm one dunn ell bound, Bringing together all that both their wands doe beare; The /hips andirees y whoferootes theyfromthe bahkesdoe teare 9 IVillmeete^and they their fiouds mil mingle and confound Yet runnes this wandnngcour Jew places which are low. Andin ihzfefliding flreames ajettled law remaines. So fortune though itfeemts to runne wtth carelejferaiflef} Tet hat k it cert awe rule^and doth in wderflow. The Tkilofopbicall Com for t. The II. Prose. OffieeHfilL * O blerue it (quoth I )and I |pj3X| acknowledge it to bec as 'mimMi thou fayeft. But in this ratike ofcohercnt caufes, haue wee any free will, or doth the fatall chaine fallen alfo the motions of m ens minds? We haue (quoth me) for there can be no refonable nature, vnlelTe itbeendewed with freewill. For that which naturally hath the v(eofrealon,hath alio iudgement, by which he can difcerne of euery thing by it felle,wherfore he putteth a difference betwixt thole things, which are to bee auoided,and thole which are to bee delired. Now euery one leeketh for that, which hethinkethis tobe.defired, andeC chueth that which in his iudgement i •.is x Boetimbis ? ThYts ;fpo!«n ac- cording to the opinio orihePla romfts. b B< fore they en; lornietlict; I h to be auoyded. Where/ore they which haue reafon , haue fi eedome to will and nill. But yet 1 make not this equal in aJ.For the fupreme and diuine fabftanceshaueboth a perfpi cuous iudgment, & an incorrupted wil,& an effectual power to obraine their defires. Bqr T the rninds of men mujft needed be more free,when they confetuethcmlelues in thecontem- plation of Gcd , 8c leffe, when they come b to their bodies, and yet lefTe whenthey are bound with earthly ferters. But their greateft bond -we Is, when sitting themfclues to vices, they loofe the poflefsion of their owne region For hauing caft their eyes from the lightiof the ioueraigne truth', cq infenour oLleurities/orth- vvith they are blinded with th$ cloud of ignorance, molefted with hurtlull affections., by yeelding and confcn- ThihfofhicaU Qomfort. ) I2 4- c onfenting to which t they increafc the bondage,which they layd vppon themfelues. and are afteracertaine manner captiues by their own free- dome. Which notwithstanding that forefightof prouidence, which be- holdeth all things from eternity, foreteeth, and by predefl ination dip poieth of euery thing by their mer- ri tS . v&vt tfofcZ £ "xttiir vxtuxu The IF. Verse. Hon Godkno^etb all things, SWeete Homer fings thepraifi OfPhtbus cleare and bright 7 And yet his slrangeft rajes Cannot with feeble light Cafl through thefecret waits Of earth mdfeas his fight : g*t he y that tkdthe world dtuife, y (pkethfrom high ruth clearer eygs % The earths vafi depths vxfeene From his fight are not f res , No chads canfiand betweetet* He at we ttrxe doth fee _____ R 4 What Omnia^idet audit. c Boeiius bis fpa What are^and what heme beenc t And what /ha/, after bee. tyhom((incthecHel]vitrvethall ) Ton rightly the true Su Hue may call. The ILL Pros e. Boetius propofeth the difficulty of con* cording Gods prouidence "frith mens free-^ilL Igfj Henlc6nmplayned,that I was now in a greater confu- sion^ more doubtful dif ficulrie then before. Whatis that: f quoth fhe) for I already coniedhire what it is that troubleth thee. It feemeth (quoth 1 ) to bee altogether impolsible and repugnant,thatGod fcrefecth all things, and that there fhould be any free-will. Forif God beholdeth all things, and cannot be decerned, that mull of necefsity fol- low,which his prouidence foreteeth to be to come. Wherefore if from eternity he doth not onlv/oreknov TbilofophicallComfert. \ 1*5 the deeds of men,but alio their coun fels&wils,there can be no freewill; forthcre is not any other deedcor wil,buttholV,whichthediuinepro- uidence that cannot bee decuued, hath forcfeene. Forifthingscan be drawnto any other courfe,then was foreknowne,therewillnotbe any firm k now kdg of that, which is to. come,but rather an vncertaine opi- nion, which in my opinion were impious to beleeue of God. Neichtr do I allow ofthatreaio,with which fbme iuppofe that they can diffolue thedifficulty of thisqueftion. For they fay, that nothing is therfoie to come to paiTe 3 becaufe proui- dence did forelee it , but rather contrary wife , becaufe it fbali bee, it could notbevnknown toproui- dence,and in like maneritis necefta- Ty,that the other mould be true. For 'Boetim hk For it is not neceflarie that thofe things fhould happen, which arc forefeene, but it is necelTarie that thofe things fhoul be foref eene,that are'tocomc. As though ourcjuefti- on were, which of them is the o» therscaufe, the foreknowledge of the necefsitie of things to come, or the necefsitie of ihings tocomeof the foreknowledge. But let vs ende- uour to proue, that hovvloeuer the(e qaufes be ordered, the event of the things/ which arc foreknowne, is necefTary, although the foreknow- ledge feerneth not to inferre necefsi- tie of being vpon the things them- felues . For if any man ficteth, the Opinion which thinketh fo, muft needes be true, and againe on the o- therflde,if the opinion that one fit- teth be true, hee muft needes fitte. Wherefore there is necefsitie in both in Thilofophicall Comfort. intheoneoffitting,andintheother of truth, But one iitteth not, be- caufe the opinion is true , but rather this is true, becaule one fitteth. So that though thecaufe of truth pro- ceeded! from onep*rt,yet thfereisa common necefsit) in both. And the like is to be infe? rtd of prouidence, & futureihinss.Foralthoeh they be forefeene,becai!fe they fhall Demand they doe not come co pafle, becaufe they arc forcl cene: notwithstanding it is ncceiTary, that things to come be forefeene,or that things foreieen dee fall out j which alone is fuffici- entto ouerth row freewill. Befides how prepofterous is it, that the e- uent of temporal! things mould be laid to be the caufeot the ei;erlaft- ina foreknowledge: And what els is it to thinke , that God doth there- fore forelee future things , becaufe I they P*M 'Boetiw his i they are to happen , then to affirme that thofe things which happened longfince,are the caule of that fbue- raigne prouidcnee ? Furthermore,as whe I know any thi rig to be,it muft needs be : fo when I know, that any thing Hi all be, it muft necdes be to come. AndfoitfolIoweth,thatthe euent of a thing foreknowen can» not bee auoyded. Finally if any manthinketh otherwife, then the thingis,that is not otiely no know- ledge, buck is a decettfull opinion, farre from the truth of knowledge ; wherefore if any thing is to bee in fuch fort, that rhe euenc of it is not certaine or nece(Tary,how can that beforeknowen that it fliai happen? for as the knowledge is withouc mixture of feifity , (o that , which is concerned by it,cannoc be otherwife then icis concerned* For this is the caule < Pbilofophicatt Comfort. caufe,why knowledges without de- ceit,becauiecuery thing muft needs be Co , as the k no vvledge apprehend- eth it to be. What then ? How doth God , foreknow , that thefe vncer- taine things flia.ll bee ? For if hee iudgcth that thofe things fhall hap- pen incuitablv , whichit is pofsiblc fhallnot happen , hee is decerned, which is not onely impious to thinke, butalfo to fpeake. But if he fuppofeth ,that they fhall happen in fuch fort as they arc, fo that hee knowcth, that they may equally be donc^and not be done , what fore- knowledge is this , w h:'ch compre- hended! no certnine ©r liable tling; Or in what is this better then thatri* diculous' ( prophecyofT/re/M?What- focuer 1 fay ,{hal either be,or not be. orin whatifhall the ditiin'e proui dence exceedc humane opinion, if, ..-- . ■» ■■•■■ f ^w.. T&oetius his if^as men,God iudgeth thoie things to be vncertaine,the euent of which is doubtfull J But if nothing can bee vn^crmne to that moft certaine fountaine of all things, the euent of thofej things is certaine, which he doth certainely know Oiall be. Wherefore there is no freedomein humane cbuhfcls &. actions, which thediuinemindforefeeingal things without errour or falfhood , ryeth and bindethto one euent. Which once admitted , it is euident , what mine of humane affayres vvil enfue 4 ; For in vain are rewards and punifh- roents proposed to good and euill., which no iree and voluntary moti* on of their minds hath dcierued. And that will feeme moft vniuft, which is now iudgei mo ft iuft,that either the wicked fli ould be puriifh* ed^or the good rewarded, fince their owne Thilofopbicdll Comfort. J i z$ *- ■ m ll * wmmm+mm ownc will leadcth them to neither but they arc compelled by the cer- tainenecefsityofthat, which is to come. By which meanes venues and vices (hall be nothing, but ra- ther there will follow a mixt confu- fion of all deferts. And 3 then which there can be nothing inuented more impious,fincethatal order of things procecdeth from prouidence, and humane counfels can do nothing, it followeth,rhat our vices alfo fhal be referred to the author of good- nefle. Vtfherfbre there is no meanes left to hope or pray for any thing* For what can any man either hope or pray for , fince an vnflexible courfe conneclcth all things that can bee deiired I Wherefore that onely trafficke betwixt God and^ men of hope and prayer fhall bee taken away. For by theprice of iuft humili* 'Boetius his humility, we deferuethe vneflima- blebenefiteof Godsgrace^which is the onely manner,by which it ieem- eth that men may talkewith God, and by the very; manner of fupplica* tion beioynedto thatinaccefsible light^before they obtain any thing : which ifby.the admitting the ne- Gefsity of future things , they bee thought to haueno force; by what fhaij we be vnited and cleaue to that foueraigne Prince of all things ? V v Vherefot£ mankind muft needes, (^sthoufaydeftinthy verfe a little before} being leparated and feuered from his fountain,, faile & fall away. TheIII. Verse. Hoio K>e come to know the truth. w h*t C atofe of difcord break** thebandetofloHci What'Cjodbetweenetwo truths fuch wars doth mouei That thwgswhtcb [en rail] wcjl fettled be, Tet Thilofopbicall Com for t. \ ll 9 Yet hy* din on? will ne tier f r tend! j prone i Or in true things can we no difcordfee, Becaufe all certainties doe flill agree} But our dullfoule^ cone** d with members blind \ Knaves not tkefecret lawes y whtch things doe bmd^ By the drown d light of her op pre jfed fire. Why tbenjhe buidennotes cfi things to fiind^ Doth [hee with finch a lone of truth defirei Iffkeeknowes that y whtch [he doth (o require. PVhy vttjocth free known e thtnos to know avaine? if foe k^owes not whyftriucs foe with b/mdpaine ? Wko after things pnknowne will fir me to goc ? Or will fitch ignorant fur fute maintains? How fhallfhefindthem ouP.or hauingfo, How (hall foe then their formes and natures knon J Becanfe thtsfoule the highefi mind dtd veiw , t^JMpifi we? ncedes fayjkatit all natures kvewi Now (he ^though c loudes officfb doe her detarr? 7 Forgets not all y that was her ancient due. But in her mind fome gen rail mottons are^ Though not the skill of things particular* He thatfeekes truth jn neither courfis doth fail \ Not knowing all nor ignorant of ail. He mark?* h gen rail things which he retctines y And matters feene en high doth backe recall. Andthmg* forgotten to his mindrt games y Andiojnes them to that pm y which there remaines* HF 'Boetius hh The II1I. Prose. Vbylofophy begmneth to folue the diffi* cultiesy which < Boetlmpropofed t His (quoth fhee) is an anci- ent complaint of proui- dence, vehemently putfued by MarcusTuUius , in his distributi- on of diuination^and a thing which thou thy felfe haft made great and longfearchafter;Buthetherto none of you haue vfed fufficient diligence and vigour in theexplication there- of. The cauie of which obfeuritv is,forthat the motion of humane dilcourle cannot attaineto the fim plicity of the diuine knowledge, which if by any meanes wee could conceiue there would not remain a ny doubt at all, which I will endc- uour TMo/opbtcaU Comfort. 150 our to make manifeft. and plainc , when I hauc &$ explicated that, which moucth thee. Forldemand, why thou thinkeft their folution vniufficienr, who thinke that free- will is not hindered by foreknow- ledge,becaufe they luppole that fore knowledge is not thecaufe of any necc/sity in things to come. For fetcheft thou any proofe for the nc- cefsity of future things from any o- ther principle, but onely from this, that thofe things which are forc- knowne,cmnot chute but happen? wherefore if foreknowledge impo- feth no necefsitie vpon future t- uents,which thou diddeft grant no: long before, why fliould voluntary a&ions bctyedtoany certaincfuc- ceflc? For examples fake, that thou maieft lee what will follow, let vsiuppofe that there were noproui- S 2 dence \Boetitts bis dence or forefight at all. Would thole things which proceedc from freewilljbs compelled to any necrf- fity by this meanes ? No* Againe let vs grant it to bc,bnt thar it'impofeth no necelsity vpon any thing, no doubt the fame freedome of will, will remaine whole and abfolutei But thou wilt fay, though foreknow- ledge be not a necelsity for things to happen,yetitis a fi gne, that they fhal , necelTarily come to pafie. Where- fore no w^thowgh there had bin no foreknowledge,theeuents of future things would hane beene neceflary. For all fignes only fhew fomthing, that is,but caule not that which they deilgne. f\nd confequently itmuft firft beproued,that all things fal out bynecefsity,thatitmayappearethar foreknowledge is afigneof this ne- cefsity. For otherwife if there be no' necelsity, — . __ } ThtlofophicallComfert. \ l l\ neceilitie , neither can foreknow- ledge be the figne or that, which is not. Beiidesit ismanifeftthateue- ry firme proofe mud bee drawne from intrinfecali and neceflary caufes, and not from fignes and o- thcr farrefetched arguments. But how is it pofsible, thofe things fhould nothappen, which arefore- leenetobetocome? As though we did beleeuetliat thofe things will not be,whichprouidence hath fore- knqwne, and doe not rather iuclge, that although they happen, yet by their owne nature they had no ne- "ceftity of being, which thou maicft eafily gather hence. Forw,e fee ma- ny things with our eyes, while they are in doin^ as thofe things which O 7 O die Coach-men do while they driue and turne their Coaches , and in like manner other things. ■>n~, "" Sj Now Hoetius his Now doth necefsity compell any of thefe things to be done in 'this fort ? No. For in vain fhould Art labour, if all things were moued by com- pulfion. Wherefore as rhefe things are without neccfsity , when they arc in doing, folikewife they are to ccme without necefsity, before they beejdone. And confequently there are fome things to come, whofeeoentis free from all necefsi- ty. For I fuppofe no man will fay, that thofe things, which are done now,were not to come, before they were done. Wherefore thefe things being forefeene, come freely to effect. For as the knowledge of things ptefent caufcth no necefsity in things which arc in doing, (b neither the foreknov*ledg in things tocome. Butthou wilt Jay, Thisis th c quefti on, w hethcr thei e k can bee any TFW- < Pbilofopbicall Comfort. I l P any foreknowledg of thofe things, whole clients are not nectflary. For thefc things feeme oppofite, and thou thinkefl , that if future things beforefeene, there folio weth necef- (Ity , if there bee no necefsity , that they arc not fbreknowen , and that nothing can be perfectly knowne, vnleffeitbcccrtaine- Andifvncer- tainecuents beforefeeneas certain, itismanifeft that thjs is the obfeu- rity of opinion and not the truth of knowledge. For thou chinkeft it to befarre from the integrity of know- ledge, toiudge otherwile then the thing is. The caufc of which errour is.becaufe.thou thinkeft that all that isknowen, isknowen onely by the force and nature of the things thcmfelues, which is altogethero- therwifc. For all that is knownc,is not comprehended according to S 4 the 'Boetius'hir the force which it hath in it felfe, but rather according to. the fa- cial tie of them wb ich k n ow it . For to explicated with a briefe exam* pie: the fight, ancl the feeling coc diuerfly dficerne the roundneiTe or a dye. The light Handing a- loofe, be'hokkth it altogether by hii beanies 5 but the feeling vni= ted and ioyned to the orbe,being mo ifed about thecompafiTeofit, com- prehendeth tne roundnes by parts Likewiie fenleJmadnarion. reairio aid vnderftah'ding doc diuerily Behold a man. For fenfe looktth vpon his forme as it is'pbced in matter or fubiecl, 'the imag inac- tion difcerneth it alone without Reafon pafleth beyond andconfidereth vniuerfal- matter tins ilL ly the fpecies or kind, which is in particulars . The eye of the vri: der* < Philofopbicall Comfort. defending is higher yec. For far* pacing the compaffc of the whole world, it beholdeth with the ceare fight of the mind, thatfimple forme in it lei re. In which that is chiefely to bee confidered, that the iuperiour force of comprehending embra- ced! the inferiour 5 but the infe^ riotir can by no meanes attains to the fuperiour: for the fenfe hath no force out of matter, nei- ther doth the imacinauon com ceiue vniueifall Species , nor rea- fon is capable of the fimple foime, but the vndeift.mding, as it were, looking downeward, hsuing conceyued that forme , diicerneth of ail thingcs which arevnder ir, but in that forte, in which it apprehendeth that forme, which can bee knowne by none of T 'Boetim his of the other. For it knoweth thev- niuerfality of reafon, and the figure of imagination, and the materiali- ty of fenfe^neithcrvfingreafon, nor imagination., nor fenfes, but as it were formally beholding all things, with that one twinckling of the mind. Like wife reafon , when it confiderethanyvniuerfallity,com- prehenderh both imaginable and lenfible things without the vfeof either imagination or fenfes. For fhedefineththeAniuerfallity of her conceit thus ; man is areafbnable two-footed liuing creature, Which being an vniucrfall knowledge , no man is ignorant that it is an imagi- nable and lenfible thing,which me confidereth by a reafonableconcei- uing, and not by imagination or fenfe. Imagination alio , although it began by the fenfes of feeing and forming Tbilofophicall Qomfort. forming figures , yet when fenfe is abfent,itbeholdethfenfible things, not after a fenfible^but after an ima- ginary manner of knowledge. Seeft thou now how al thefe in knowing, doe rather vie their owne force and faculty, then the force of thofe things, which are knowen ? Nor vndeferuedly , for fin ce all Judge- ment is the aft of him , who iudg- eth , it is ncccflary that euery one fhould perfect his operation by his owne power, and not by the force of any other. The IIILVerse. That our knowledge is not Teholy taken from the out7?drdohiec~l, ANcients infchooles tmte too ehfcnrelj taught, That fenfe and (hapepreferUedttthe thongkt, From cuftrardobietls their tmfrefsten take* As 'Boetim his i A* when vpon a paper fmooth andplatne % Onwht h as jet t;u marines of tnke haueUyne, We with a tumble pen doe letters make. "But tf our minds t o nothing c*n apply Their proper motions jbnt doe patient Jie Sublet to formes ,which doe from bodies flow. Like to aglaj[e y rendring the (hapes*fthingt y Who then can /hew, from whence that motion fprings y By force of which the mind all things dofh k$ow ? Or by what skill are feu rail things efpide ? And being known* >what power doth them deuide 2 And thus deuide d^doth agame vmte 2 And with a various tourney ^oft afpires To btghiji things ,and oft againe retires To bafeftjwthi'ig being out of fight 2 And when (he back* vnto her Jelfe doth moUe % Doth alLlhefalfhcodsby the trutkreproue , 1 his vigour nee desmufl be anaUiue caufe> And with' more powerful I force smufl be deckle Then that ywhich from th of e forme s , that do reflet From outward matter y all her vertue drawes. lAndyerin lining todies fa/sions might Dothgoe before \whofe office isiencite^ And the fir ?l motion? in th*"mind to wake* As when the light vnto our ejesjppcarcs^ Orfomehudvojce is'fojindedinoureares. Then doth the fir engih of the dull mind *wake Thofe phantafeSj which [he retayt.es within, Sheflirrcth vp fuch mot tons t o begin, WhofeobieR s with their natures bc$~l agree. And thsts applying them to out ward things , She Thilofopbicall Comfort. *tf She iojncs tl> external! fiapesjvhicb thence/he brmgt Wtthfvrmeiyehulo in ht rj'elje included bee. The V. Prose. That reafcn mufl yeeldto the jimpli- city of Gods knowledge. Ndifin the dilcerning of bodies by fen fe, although the qualities which are ob* ie&ed do moue the organs oi fenfe, and the pafsion of the body goeth before the vigor of the actiue mind , prouoking her action to it i'elfe, and exciting the inward formes, which before lay quiet; if(Ifay)inpercei- uitigthefecorporalobiecls^themind taketh not her imprefsion from paf- ilon,but by her own force iudgeth of the pafsio it felf,which is obie&ed to the body; how much more do thole powers exerciie the action of their mind, TSoetius his minde, and not onely follow the outward obiects in their Judge- ment, which are free from all affec- tions of the body ? Wherefore in this fort hauc diucrs and different fubftances, knowledges of many kinds. For onely fenfe deftitute of all other, is in thole iiuing creatures, which are vnmoueable, as fome fhell-fifh, and other which fticke to ftones and fo are nourifhed. And imagination in moueable beads, whofeeme tohaue fome power to couet, and flie. Reafon belongeth onely to mankind,as vnderftanding to things DiuinqSo that,that know- ledge is moft exellent, which of it felfedoth not onely know her owne obiecl:,butalfothofe which belong toothers. Whatthea, if fenfeand imagination repugne to difcourfe and reafon^ affirming that vniuer- u fallityl m ^. for whatfoeuer liueth in rime,that being pre'ent proceedech from times p ft, to times to come and there is nothing placed in time . which can embrace all the fpace of his life at once. But he^ hiath nor yet attained to morrow, and hath loft yefterday. And you liue no moreinthisda : es life, then in that moueabieand tranfitory moment, wherefore whatloeuer iuifereth the T 2 con- 3 Eternity wliaritis. 'Boetius his j dition of time, alth : ugh as AriJlotl e thought of the world) it nener be gan, nor were euer to end, and his life did endure with infinite time, y ct it is nor fuch/hat it ought to be called euerlaft ncr. For it dorh not comprehend and embrace all the fpaceof his life together, though it beinfinite, but it hath not the fu- ture time which is yet to come. That then which comprehendcth and polTefTeth ithe whole fullneiTe of an endlefle life together,to which neither any part to come is ab(ent, nor ofth at which ispaft, hathe'ea- ped,isworthely to bee accounted e- ucrlafting,and this is necciTary,that being nopofTeision in itfelfe,it may alway beprefent to itiilfe, and haue an infinity of moueable time pre. fent to it. Wherefore they are decci- ued,who hearing that Tlato thoght , that TbilofophicaUComfoJt. ' \ »3? tha; this world had neither begin- um; of time, nor fhould euer haue any end, thinkethat by thismeanes the created woildfhonld be coetcr- nall with the creator. For it is one thing.ro bee carried through an end* lefie life, which Tlato attributed to the world,anothcr th : ng to embrace the whole pretence of an endleile lfe together,' which is manifeftly proper to the Diuinemind. Nei- ther ought God toiecmemoreanci- erit then things created by the quan« city of time, but rather by thefim- plicity of his Diuine nature. Fo r that infinite motioofteporal.'thing* imitateththeprefentftateofthevn- moueable hfe,and fince it cannot at * taine nor equal it,itfalleth from im- mobilii;ie to motion,& fro the fim* plicity of prefence , itdecreafeth to an infinite quitity offuture &paft tj and 'Bcetim his and fificc u cannot pbliciTe together all the (nine fle of Lislifc^, by ncuer leaning tobe in feme f crt,n icemeth formulate in paruhat,-\vhich ic can- not ful ! y ob aine & exprtire,rying it leite to this fmsll presence of this fhort &fwift moment/ which be- caufe icarrieth a certair.eimrgeoi that abiding p:cfcnce, whofomer hath it/eemeth tobe, putbecufcit coi!id.notilrty,itvri(fertookeanin= finite ioumeyof t mejandio itcarr.e to paiTcj that it continued that life by goingjwheit plenitncieit could no: comprehend by flaying. Whe t* fore if wee will gioe things thtir right names,following flats , let vs fay that God is euerl ailing, and the world perpetuall. Wherefore ii nee euery Judgement comprehended! thole things which are fubie&vnto it according to his owne nature, and T^hilofophicaU (omfort. and God hath al way an euerlaffng and prefent itate,his knowledge at fo furpalsing all motion of time,re- maynethinthefimplicityorhispre- lence, and comprehend ing the infi- nite fpaces ofthat, which is paft and to come,confide; erh al things in his fimple knowledge, as though they were now in doing* So that,ifthou wilt weioh his foreknowledge,with which hedifcetneth all things-, thou wilt more rightly efteeme it to bee the knowledge of a neuer fading infhnt, then a foreknowledge as oi a thing to come. For which canfe it is not called pr^euidence or tore* (ight,but rather prouidence,becaufe placed farre from infer i our things, it beholdech all things as it were from the higheft toppe of things. Why therefore wile thou haue thofe chings neceffary , which are ill-ftra- T 4 ted Toetius bis f ed by the Diuine light ^ fincc that men make not thole things neceHa- iy,which they lee.For doth thy fight impoie any necefiry vpon thofe things, which thou fetft prefent? No. Buttheprefcntitiftjntofmen I may well bee compared to that of I God in this , that as you fee fome things in ycur tcmporall inftant, lo he beholdeth all things in his eter- nali prefence. Wherefore this di- uine foreknowledge doeth not change the nature and propriety of things, and icbehoh eththem (uch in his prefence } as they will a£er come to bee , neyther doth hee con- found the Judgement of things, and with one fight of his mind hedifcer* neth as welt thofe things which fli&l happen neceflarily, as otherwife. As you when at one time you fee a man walking vpon earth > and the Sun ii fins Thtlofophicall Comfort. \ ifo finginheauen,although they be both fee neat once, yet you difcerne, and iuc'ge that the one is voluntary , and the other neceffary. So HLewife the Diuine light beholding all things, difturbeth not the quality of things, which to him are preilnt, but in refpect of time are yet to come. \nd(o this is not an opinion } but rather a knowledge grounded vp on truth, whe he knovvcth that fuch a thing fhalbe, which hl.ewiie he is not ignorar, that it hath no necessi- ty of being.Here if thou fayed , that cannot chule but happe. whichGod feeth fhal happen, & that,\vhich can no!:chufebuthappen.,muflbeofne* ctfsity,and fo tytft me to this name of necefsity : I will graunt , that it is a moll: folide trueth , but vvhereof (carce any but a con- teirplator of Diuinity is capable. For ^Boetius his Fori will anflvere , that the lame thing is necefTary, when it is referred tothediuine knowledge^ but when it is weighed in his owne nature, that it feemeth altogether free and abfolute* For therebe twonecefi ties ; the one fimplc _, as that it is ne- cefTary for all men to be mortall. The other conditionally as if thou knowenY,that any man walkcth, he muft needes walke. For what a man knoweth , cannot bee other- wife j then it is knowne. But this conditionall draw'!th not with it that fimple or abfolute necefsity. For this is not caufed by the nature of the thing? but by the adding a condition. For no necefsity makeih him to goe,that goeth of his owne accord } al.hough it bee neccflary that He goeth , while he gocthV In like manner if prouidence Betha- ny 7 h'tlofopbicail Comfort. \ l ^ ny thing prefent,that mull needes be.akhoughithath nonecefsity of nature. But God bcholdeth thole future things, which proceed from freewill ,prclent.Thele things iher- fore beeing '.eferred to the Diuir.e fight arenecefiary by the condition oft he di uine k now ledg 3 and confi- dered by theroklues , they loo fe not the abfoiutefreedon.e of their own na:ure. Wherefore doubtlefle all thofe things come topafle, which Gcd foreknow eth fhail come , but fomeof them p:cceedefiom Itee- wiJl, which though theyecrhe to pa fie. by, being, yet they loofe not their oWne nature, becau/e before- they came to pafTe , they might alfo not haue happened. But whatim- porteth k,that they are not neccfia- ry,fince that by reafon of the condi- tion of the diuineknowledge, they ccme c Boetiush'n come to parte in all refpeets , as i* chey were neceflTary. It importcth this , that thofe things , which J pro- pofed a litlebefote^theSunne fifing, andtheman going, while they are in.doing, cannot chafe but bee in doing; yet one of them was ncceP farily to bee , before ic was , and the other not. Likewife thofe things, whkh God hath prelent , haue doubrlefTe a becing, but fome of them proceede from the necefsity of things j other from the power of the doers. And therefore wee faid not without caufe, that rhefe , ii they bee referred to Gods know- ledge, are necefTary; and if they bee confidcred by themfelues , they are free from the bonds of ne- cefsity. As whatfoeuer is manifeft to fenfes, if thou referreft it to rea- fon^s vniuerfallj if thou confidcreft c 1:1 T bilofoplncall Qomfort. I i ^ ittn it felf, lingular or particular.But :hou wilt fay, it is in my power to :hange mypurpofe , fhall i fruftrate ^rouidece ,ifl chance to alter thole chings,whch fheforeknoweth ?Ian- fwere , that thou mayeit indeede chaungethypurpofe, but beecaufe the trueth of providence beemg prefent feeth , that thou canft doe fo , and whether thou wilt doe Co or no , and what thou purpofeft a- new^thoucanrtnot aupyde the Di- uine foreknowledge; euen as thou canft not avoyde the fight of an eye , which is prefent , although thou turned thyfelfeto diuers acti- ons by thy freewill. But ytt thou wilt enquire , whether Gods knowledge fhaU bee chaunged by thy diipofiti- on,fo that when thou wile now one thing ? and now another, it (hould alfo c Boetius bis alio feemc to haue diuers know- ledges. No. 'For Gods fight preuen- tetlrall that is to come,and recalleth and draweth it to the prefence of his owne knowledge 3 neither doth he vary, as thou imagine ft, now knowing one thing and now an o- ther,but in one inftanc without mo- uing preuenteth and compfehend- eth thy mutations. Which prefence of comprehending , and feeing all things God hath not by the euent of| future things, but by his owne limpli.city. By which that doubt is alfo reiolued , which thou diddeft put a litle before, that it is an vnwor- thy thing , that -our future actions (Tiouldbe (aid to caufe the know- ledge of God. For this fierce of the diuine knowledge, comprehending all things with aprelent nocion ; ap- pointeth to euery thing his mea- fure, Tbilofophicall Qomfort. | H4 fure,and recciucth nothing fromcn- fuing accidents. All which being fo , thefreewillofmortall men re- may nethvnuiolated,neither are the lawes vniuft,which propoiepunifh- ments and rewards to our wils, which are free from all necefsity. There remayneth alfo a beholder of all things , which is God, who fore- teeth all things, and the eternity of his virion , which is alway prefent, concurreth with the future quality of our a&ions,difl:ributing rewards to the good , and punifhments to the euill. Neyther doe we in vaine put out hope in God, or pray to him, for ifwee doe this well and as we ought, wee fti all not loofe our labour, or bee without effect. Wherefore fly e vices, embrace ver- tues, pofTelTe your mindes with worthy hopes, offer vp humble prayers 'Boetim his prayers to ycur highefl: Prince. There is , if you will not dilTemble, a great necelsity of doing welimpo fed vpon you, flnceyou Hue in the fight of your iudge, who beholdeth all things. F 1 HIS. m m