In this issue of Credo Magazine we give you a taste for the poetry of Boethius which is sprinkled throughout his masterpiece, The Consolation of Philosophy.
Why do we desire fame? For some, it is to gain the recognition we have always craved, or never received. For others, we want to leave a legacy and be praised for great deeds. Whatever reason tempts us towards it, Boethius reminds us here that it never satisfies. However wide we believe our fame to reach, it is never as far as we would like it to be. Further, we seek fame as an escape from our mortality, but of course, this is impossible and foolish. Death inevitably comes, and with it comes the death of our fame. At most, we are famous to those who know us, and even then, the memory of our deeds, or even our names, fades. After all, how many of us can name our great-great-grandparents? In this poem, Boethius’ last words should cause all to pause who are tempted to preserve their life or reputation by pursuing fame: it will not last, and upon realizing that, the pain will be worse than having not achieved what you set out to do. In our arrogance to pursue fame, which will fail, we inevitably die twice.
Book II. Met. VII, The Consolation of Philosophy
The mind that rushes headlong in its search for fame, thinking that is its highest good,
Should look upon the spreading regions of the air, and then upon the bounded tracts
that are this world: Then will shame enter it; that, though fame grow,
yet can it never fill so small a circle. Proud men! why will ye try in vain to free your necks
from the yoke mortality has set thereon? Though fame may be wide scattered and find its way
through distant lands, and set the tongues there talking; though a splendid house may draw brilliance
from famous names and tales; yet death regards not any glory, howsoever great.
Alike he overwhelms the lowly and the lofty head, and levels high with low.
‘Where are Fabricius’s bones, that honourable man? What now is Brutus? or unbending Cato?
Their fame survives in this: it has no more than a few slight letters shewing forth an empty name.
We see their noble names engraved, and only know thereby that they are brought to naught.
Ye lie then all unknown, and fame can give no knowledge of you.
But if you think that life can be prolonged by the breath of mortal fame,
yet when the slow time robs you of this too, then there awaits you but a second death.
Photo credit: byronv2
Connor Shackelford
Connor Shackelford is the executive editor at Credo Magazine. He is also a PhD candidate in Systematic Theology at Columbia Seminary and teaches Bible at Hartfield Academy in Flowood, MS. He is married to his wife Caroline, and they have one son, Teddy.
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