Boecius de consolacione philosophie

THus endeth this boke whiche is named the boke of Consolacion of philosophie. whiche that boecius ma∣de for his comforte and consolacion he beyng in exile for the comyn̄ and publick wele hauyng grete heuynes & though∣tes and in maner of despayr / rehercing in the sayde boke howe Philosophie appiered to him shewyng the mutabilite of this transitorie lyfe / and also enformyng howe fortu∣ne and happe shold bee vnderstonden / with the predestyna∣cion and prescience of God as moche as maye and ys possible to bee knowen naturelly / as a fore ys sayd in this sayd boke / Whiche Boecius was an excellente auctour of dyuerce bookes craftely and curiously maad in prose and metre / And also had translated dyuerce bookes oute of Greke into latyn̄ / and had ben senatour of that noble & famous cite rome. And also his two sones Se∣natours for their prudence & wisedom. And for as moche as he withstode to his power the tyran̄ye of theod••rik then̄e Emperour / & wold haue defended the sayde cite & Senate from his wicked hondes / wherupon he was conuict & putte in prison / in whiche prison̄ he made this forsaide boke of cōso¦lacion for his singuler cōfort. and for as moche as the stile of it / is harde & difficile to be vnderstonde of simple {per}sones

Therfore the worshipful fader & first foūdeur & enbelissher of ornate eloquence in our englissh. I mene / Maister Geffrey Chaucer hath translated this sayd werke oute of latyn in to oure vsual and moder tonge. Folowyng the latyn as neygh as is possible to be vnderstande. wherein in m••ne oppynyon he hath deseruid a perpetuell lawde and thanke of al this noble royame of Englond / And in especiall of them that shall rede & vnderstande it. For in the sayd boke they may see what this transitorie & mutable worlde is And wherto euery man̄ liuyng in hit / ought to entende. Thenne for as moche as this sayd boke so translated is ra••e & not spred ne knowen as it is digne and worthy. For the ••rudicion and lernyng of suche as ben Ignoran̄t & not knowyng of it / Acte requeste of a singuler frende & gossib of myne. I william Caxton haue done my debuoir & payne tenprynte it in fourme as is here afore made / In ho∣pyng that it shal prou••fite moche peple to the wele & helth of theire soules / & for to lerne to haue and kepe the better pacience in aduersitees •• And furthermore I des••re & requi∣re you that of your charite ye wold praye for the soule of the sayd worshipful man̄ Geffrey Chaucer / first transla∣tour of this sayde boke into englissh & enbelissher in making the sayd langage ornate & fayr. whiche shal endure perpe∣tuelly. and therfore he ought eternelly to be remēbrid. of whom the body and corp•• lieth buried in thabbay of west∣mestre beside london to fore the chapele of seynte benet. by wh•••• sepulture is wreton on a table hongyng on a pylere hi•• Epitap••ye maad by a Poete laureat. whereof the co∣pye foloweth &c