I recently finished Plato's Republic again (Waterfield's OWC trans.) and was reminded of Boethius during Socrates' 'proof' that it's better to be 'moral' even if everyone believes you're corrupt and your life and reputation are ruined. I'll have to go back and read Consolation of Philosophy again. It seems to be a bit of type of rational-poetic theurgy to achieve perfect tranquillity in the face of the worst possible circumstances. Joel Relihan takes a more classically cynical view that Boethius' 'Consolation' is a Menippean Satire.