to cast the Holy Spirit as the anima mundi, Equally influential were the myths (e.g.,
Orpheus: 3.12) and legends (e.g., Ulysses: 4.3), the fragments of classical geography, and
the well-honed moral epigrams. The Consolation was always good value as a child’s
schoolbook, the next step after the Disticha Catonis.
By ca. 1300, the Dominican Nicholas Trivet had written the definitive commentary on
the Consolation, and translations were appearing in the European vernaculars (e.g., Jean
de Meun, Chaucer). Such a book might be lavishly illustrated, and it might also carry
extensive additional commentary. In broad terms, in the 14th and 15th centuries it was
the French who preferred the luxury “coffee-table” edition, while the Germans
(especially the Carthusians) provided extensive new and spiritual annotation. Even in the
16th century, Queen Elizabeth I filled her leisure hours by providing a new English
translation: the De consolatione Philosophiae was still considered an edifying work
suitable for an aristocratic young lady.
Margaret T.Gibson
[See also: BOECI; CHARTRES; JEAN DE MEUN; PHILOSOPHY;
TRANSLATION]
Courcelle, Pierre. La Consolation de Philosophie dans la tradition littéraire. Paris: Études
Augustiniennes, 1967.
Gibson, Margaret T., ed. Boethius: His Life, Thought and Influence. Oxford: Blackwell, 1981.
——, and Lesley J.Smith. Codices Boethiani, 6 vols. Forthcoming.
Kaylor, Noel Harold, Jr. The Medieval Consolation of Philosophy: An Annotated Bibliography.
New York: Garland, 1993.
BONAGUIL
. Located on a promontory of rocks that have broken from a plateau, the castle of
Bonaguil (Agenais) is encircled by the valley of the Thèze and Lémance. The promontory
offers protection for the castle except on the north side, where it is still attached to the
plateau. Bonaguil’s history dates back to the 13th century, to a frontier post that probably
became the north section of the existing pentagonal keep. The castle came into the
possession of the powerful Roquefeuil family in the 15th century and was remodeled ca.
1480 to resist cannon. To the north, its walls are more than 13 feet thick. Its
transformation manifested the family’s “will to power.” Between 1445 and 1482 and
under the direction of Jean de Roquefeuil, the keep became a structure with a ground
floor and two stories, illuminated by immense windows and furnished with fireplaces. A
crenellated parapet bordered the roof. Stairs cut into the stone provided access to the
fortress. Thereafter, Jean’s sons Berengier and Brigon continued adding buildings, towers
(most notably a 30-foot square tower), and levered bridges. The principal entrance was
changed from the west to the north side of the castle.
E.Kay Harris
Lauzin, P. Le château de Bonaguil en Agenais: description et histoire. 2nd ed. Paris: Champion,
1884.
Marboutin,C. “Bonaguil.” Congrès archéologique (Figeac, Cahors, Rodez) (1937).
The Encyclopedia 253