As the "last of the Romans and first of the Scholastics," Anicius Manlius Severinus Boethius straddles two worlds. More than anyone else he both epitomizes the achievements of classical civilization and provides a bridge between Antiquity and the Middle Ages. No matter whether one focuses on Boehius's thought or his expression, one can hardly help but recognize both his innate worth and his value to the developing modern world. But because what he offers is so rich and varied, one can scarcely hope to make an accurate assessment of his impact on Western Culture.