Anicii Manlii Severini Boetii Consolationis Philosophiae Libri Quinque
by Boethis
| Anicii Manlii Severini Boetii Consolationis Philosophiae Libri Quinque. | |
 Title page from Anicii Manlii Severini Boetii Consolationis Philosophiae Libri Quinque., George Wythe Collection, Wolf Law Library, College of William & Mary. | |
| Author | Boethis |
| Published | Glasguae: In Aedibus Academicis excudebant Robertus et Andreas Foulis academiae typographi |
| Date | 1751 |
| Edition | First Foulis edition |
| Language | Latin |
| Volumes | 1 volume set |
| Pages | 157 |
Anicius Manlius Severinus Boethius, known as Boethius (ca. 480-ca.525), was a Christian Neoplatonist philosopher who served as consul. He later held the office of magister officiorum to the Gothic emperor Theoderic in Italy before his execution for alleged disloyalty.[1] Boethius’ knowledge of Greek, rare for his time, allowed him to translate and comment upon the works of Platonism. He translated the works of the Neoplatonist Porphyry and wrote treatises that heavily influenced medieval scholasticism.[2] His translations provided all the extant works of Aristotle before their recovery in the twelfth century.[3]
Boethius wrote Consolationis Philosophiae (the Consolation of Philosophy), “a favored book of world-weary readers from Alfred the Great to Elizabeth I,” while imprisoned awaiting his death.[4] Written as a Menippean satire, a prose narrative mixed with verse, the work presents Boethius in dialogue with philosophy personified as a woman. He moves from self-pity to consolation while contemplating divine providence throughout life’s “wheel of fortune,” a metaphor Boethius created.[5] First translated into English in 890 by King Alfred, the Consolation had great influence on subsequent literature, including medieval moral narrative and Chaucer.[6] Specifically, Chaucer translated the Consolation into Middle English, and drew heavily on Boethius’ concepts of patience and steadfastness in the face of wavering fortune.[7]
Evidence for Inclusion in Wythe's Library
Description of the Wolf Law Library's copy
Bound in contemporary full vellum.
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External Links
References
- ↑ Late Antiquity: A Guide to the Postclassical World, s.v. “Boethius,” accessed October 02, 2013, http://www.credoreference.com/entry/hupla/boethius.
- ↑ Encyclopedia of Medieval Literature, s.v. "BOETHIUS (c. 480-525)," accessed October 02, 2013, http://www.credoreference.com/entry/gwmedieval/boethius_c_480_525.
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Late Antiquity: A Guide to the Post Classical World.
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Encyclopedia of Medieval Literature.
- ↑ All Things Chaucer: An Encyclopedia of Chaucer's World, s.v. "Boethius," accessed October 02, 2013, http://www.credoreference.com/entry/abcchaucer/boethius.
