s nature one and indivisible_.
Contentment, power, reverence, renown, and joy are essentially
bound up one with the other, and, if they are to be attained at
all, must be attained _together_. True happiness, if it can be
found, will include them all. But it cannot be found among the
perishable things hitherto considered.--CH. X. Such a happiness
necessarily exists. Its seat is in God. Nay, God is very happiness,
and in a manner, therefore, the happy man partakes also of the
Divine nature. All other ends are relative to this good, since they
are all pursued only for the sake of good; it is _good_ which is
the sole ultimate end. And since the sole end is also happiness, it
is plain that this good and happiness are in essence the same.--CH.
XI. Unity is another aspect of goodness. Now, all things subsist so
long only as they preserve the unity of their being; when they lose
this unity, they perish. But the bent of nature forces all things
(plants and inanimate things, as well as animals) to strive to
continue in life. Therefore, all things desire unity, for unity is
essential to life. But unity and goodness were shown to be the
same. Therefore, good is proved to be the end towards which the
whole universe tends.[E]--CH. XII. Boethius acknowledges that he is
but recollecting truths he once knew. Philosophy goes on to show
that it is goodness also by which the whole world is governed.[F]
Boethius professes compunction for his former folly. But the
paradox of evil is introduced, and he is once more perplexed.

FOOTNOTES:

[E] This solves the second of the points left in doubt at the end of bk.
i., ch. vi.

[F] This solves the third. No distinct account is given of the first,
but an answer may be gathered from the general argument of bks. ii.,
iii., and iv.

BOOK III.

I.

She ceased, but I stood fixed by the sweetness of the song in wonderment
and eager expectation, my ears still strained to listen. And then after
a little I said: 'Thou sovereign solace of the stricken soul, what
refreshment hast thou brought me, no less by the sweetness of thy
singing than by the weightiness of thy discourse! Verily, I think not
that I shall hereafter be unequal to the blows of Fortune. Wherefore, I
no longer dread the remedies which thou saidst were something too severe
for my strength; nay, rather, I am e