Boethius, Consolation of Philosophy (12th c., Lombard script)

[Quinctus Fabius made these books so that Boethius might be seen and that you might recognize them.]

In the time of King Theodoric, the distinguished author Boethius flourished, who was a consul in his city (in Rome). But when King Theodoric wished to exercise tyranny in the city and desired to kill all the good men of the senate, Boethius, grieving at this, resisted him, for he was preparing misfortune for all good men, and he appeared distinguished for his learning in letters; whence it is said that he snatched [men] from the senate and from impious hands and defended them against ignominy. But after he had lived through many lands, by the king's order he went into exile (that is, was sent into exile to Ticinum); he seems to have imitated the books he had at hand, namely those of Martianus Felix Capella, who first wrote the books of Philology, in which he described him at that time with a polished art. But this man excels by far in subject matter and eloquence, for he flourished with neither the presence of Tully nor the sense of Virgil.

This Boethius was a consul of the Romans under the leader Theodoric. But in his time, the Goths were in Rome and took away their liberty. But this man would not suffer it, and so he was sent into exile. Whatever, therefore, he applied in this title, he introduced through prosopopoeia, namely Philosophy; but due to the grief and sadness by which he was then broken, he has these poems which are in this book, and they are very beautiful, varied, and easily metrical. Two, however, remained more on this account, written in red for you. Boethius, who at that very time was killed by mercenaries and foreign swords. He said: Now, in this time, the place, the cause, and the person. For at the time when King Theodoric killed Symmachus and Marcianus, he also held Boethius himself, and then Boethius wrote these books in exile. But Boethius, who died for the fatherland; Boethius the place, person, cause; he was setting himself to be consoled at this time.

A noble of the Romans and known for his wisdom and his own art, a son so that in these [books] he is to be recognized by us from himself, who he was.