The Consolation of Philosophy

comes r happens. and runs together. It is therefore permissible to define chance as an unexpected event from confluent causes in those things which are done for some purpose. But that order, proceeding with inevitable connection, which descends from the fountain of Providence and disposes all things in their own places and times, makes causes run together and flow together.

[The right column continues the commentary on the definition of chance, noting that inanimate objects cannot experience "chance" because they lack agency.]

METRE I.

FROM the crags of the Achaemenian e

rock, where the fleeing battle fixes its reversed arrows

in the breasts of those who follow,

Just as the Tigris and Euphrates flow, as if from the same origin, from the rocks of a Persian mountain, where the Parthian, fighting while fleeing, fixes his arrows, turned back, into the hearts of the pursuers.

e From the crags of the Achaemenian rock] From a Persian mountain. For Achaemenia is Persia, or at least a part of Persia, so named from Achaemenes, who, according to Herodotus (Book IV of his Histories), was the first King of the Persians, from whom all kings down to Darius descended. Hence Horace (Book II, Ode 12): "Do you possess what wealthy Achaemenes held," that is, the King of the Persians, and (Book III, Ode 1): "Achaemenian costus," which is a Persian ointment. However, some here take Achaemenia to be Armenia, and the mountain itself to be Mount Taurus: which Sallust, a most certain author (as read in the Fragments of the history of the same Sallust), asserts: "The Tigris and Euphrates flow from one source in Armenia, and, going through different ways, they are divided for a long distance, leaving an intervening space of many thousands [of paces]; yet the land which is encompassed by them is called Mesopotamia."

Where the reversed [arrows] of those who follow, etc.] This concerns the Parthians, namely those peoples who, originating from the Scythians, extended their empire to those regions of Asia which are washed by the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. These peoples were fearsome, especially for their arrows, which they would shoot back while fleeing at those following them, so that they would pierce the reversed breasts of their enemies; then, suddenly turning their horses, they would renew the battle. Hence Virgil (Georgics III, v. 31): "The Parthian trusting in flight and reversed arrows."