Boethius in Roman Biography

Bo-e'thl-us, [It. Boecio, bo-a'cho, or Boezio, bo-at'- se-o; in French, Boece, bo'4ss',] (Anicius Manlius INI s,) a celebrated Roman philosopher and statesman, born about 475 A.D. He was liberally educated, and well instructed in Greek philosophy. When about thirty-three, he was elected consul. His administration was beneficent and favourable to the oppressed. He translated the works of Plato and other Greek writers into Latin, wrote commentaries on Aristotle, and acquired a great reputation as an author. He held several high omces under Theodoric the Goth, but, having been accused by some envious courtiers of conspiring against the government, he was unjustly condemned by that king and executed about 525 A.D. His principal work is "On the Consolation of Philosophy," ("De Consolatione Philosophise,") which was written in prison, where he was confined just before his death. It is com- Eosed of alternate portions of verse and prose. "Few ooks," says Hallam, "are more striking from the circumstances of their production. Last of the classic writers, in style not impure, ... in elevation of sentiment equal to any of the philosophers, and mingling a Christian sanctity with their lessons, he speaks from his prison in the swanlike tones ofdying eloquence. Quenched in his blood, the lamp he had trimmed with a skilful hand, gave no more light; the language of Tully and Virgil soon ceased to be spoken." (" Introduction to the Literature of Europe.") His great work was very popular in the middle ages, and was translated into various languages. It was translated into Anglo-Saxon by Alfred the Great, and imitated by Chaucer. English versions of it have been produced by W. Causton, Rev. Philip Ridpath, R. Duncan, and others. See Procopius, "History;" Barberini, " Exposizione della Vita de Boezio," z783;DoMGERVAisE,"HistoiredeBoecet "i7i5; Heyne, "Censiua ingenii Boethii," 1806; "Life of Boethius, prefixed to Ridpath's translation, 1785; Gibbon, "Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire," chap, xxxix. ; Ersch und Gruber, " Allgemeine EncykJopaedie;" Fabricius, " bibliotheca Latina;" Siro Comi, " Memoria storico-critica sopra S. Boecio."