After reading this first book of The Consolation of Philosophy , perhaps two things strike the modern reader.

Why doesn't Boethius, a Christian, appeal to God or Jesus or the Virgin Mary for his consolation in his time of mortal peril, rather than Philosophy? Boethius was a Christian, and people often pray to God when they are in trouble or think they are going to die. Boethius wrote a consolation of Philosophy, not Theology, and we could assume that at least part of his motivation was coldly stylistic rather than personally applicable. Boethius carefully imitated the Platonic dialogues, and to have the Christian God intrude into what was a pagan form would have offended his sensibilities. It is more likely, however, that Boethius, while a Christian, may not have been particularly religious. But even if Boethius was devout, it also bears considering that his culture was still pagan in many ways. He may have had an overlay of Christianity, and truly believed in it, but as a Neo-Platonist and Roman his appeal to reason and philosophy was perhaps closer to his heart. He does, however, refer to a personal God, and reminds us to pray humbly to God at the end of this book

The second oddity is the inclusion of verse in a philosophical text. Boethius was not exactly writing a dry philosophical treatise - this is a consolation (the Latin literary formconsolatio) and meant to be a balm or medicine for a troubled soul. This book, though definitely philosophical in nature, was meant to be a sort of instructional self-help book for the late Roman Empire. Such consolations of philosophical thoughts were written by other writers and widely read.