To the Reader.

having such a reasonable excuse, the fear of too great a severity in my Reader would not be justified, and if I cannot merit his approval, I should not fear his censure much. I even wish to think fairly of those who will see this translation, and believe that there will be a good number who will approve that a person who is in the service of Philosophy acts as her interpreter at least once. If the great Saint Thomas Saint Thomas Aquinas, a 13th-century theologian whose commentaries on Boethius were standard for students of the era is praiseworthy for having left us a judicious Commentary on this Consolation, who could find it wrong that, to console everyone, I strive to make wisdom intelligible?

The entire piece is divided into five books: The first is only a complaint that the Author addresses to wisdom, regarding the evils that he has unjustly suffered. It is this great Lady whom he depicts in his first Prose, whose head touches the Heavens, inasmuch as she carries her knowledge there, and who afterwards adjusts herself to a reasonable height, because she lowers her thoughts to the consideration of inferior things. The Theta original: "Thita"; referring to the Greek letter Θ, representing "Theoretike" or contemplative philosophy and the Pi The Greek letter Π, representing "Praktike" or practical philosophy, which occupy the edges of her robe, signify that she encompasses Theory and Practice. The various bands of this gar-