The Consolation of Philosophy

...he deserved it all his life. Theodoric, King of the
Goths, recognizing his rare qualities, made him the
principal Minister of his State, and employed him
in such continuous affairs that it seemed he
had not enough leisure even to breathe. This
great employment, which was but a diversion
to his mind, did not prevent him from
devoting good hours to the composition
of many Writings, which earned him the
name of the "last of the learned" according to Lorenzo
Valla Lorenzo Valla (1407–1457) was a famous Italian humanist and critic who praised Boethius's Latinity.. There is hardly a subject in which
he has not shown his proficiency. The New
Academy The "New Academy" refers to the skeptical phase of the Platonic school, though Boethius is more often associated with Neoplatonism. nevertheless possessed his
best studies, although he had a perfect
understanding of the other Sects, particularly
that of Plato, whom he promised
to reconcile with Aristotle, if death had not
prevented his design. This great man,
having too much brilliance not to cause pain
to the eyes of envy, found many enemies
to his virtue. Trigilla, Conigastus, and Cyprian,
who held the greatest share in the
affairs of Theodoric, judged well that,
not being able to have him as an accomplice in their designs,
they ought to fear him as a censor
of their conduct. The liberty he took to
constrain them in the Council, and even to convict
their intentions of malice, made them foresee...