The history of the Anglo-Saxons

Rests on every one,
Likest of any thing
To a fierce hound.
He is exalted
Within in his mind

For that power

That to him every one
Of his dear princes
Gives and supports.

If men then would
Wind off from him
These kingly ornaments,
Each of his garments,

And him then divest
Of that retinue

And that power

That he before had,

Then thou shouldest see
That he would be very like
Some of those men

That most diligently
Now, with their services,

Press round about him.

If he be not worse

I think he will be no better.
If to him then ever,

Unexpectedly, chance should happen
That he should be deprived
Of that glory, and garments,
And retinue, and that power
That we have spoken about;
If from him any of these things
Were taken away,

I know that he would think
Then he was crawling in a prison,
Or indeed bound with ropes.

I can assert

That from this excess of every thing
Of food and clothes, wine, drinks,
And sweetmeats,

Most strongly would increase

Of that luxuriousness

The great furious course.

Much disturbed would be

His intellectual mind.

To every man

Thence must come
Extraordinary evils,

And useless quarrels ;

Then they become angry.

To them it happens in their hearts

That within are afflicted,

Their thoughts in their minds

With this strong fire

Of hot-heartedness,

And afterwards fierce sorrow

Also bindeth them

Hard emprisoned.

Then afterwards beginneth

Hope to some

Greatly to lie

About that revenge of battle

Which the anger desireth
Of one and of the other,

If from these proud ones any one should draw aside the covering of their gaudy apparel, he will see that the lords are bound with chains within.

For here greedy lust pours venom on their hearts here turbid anger, raising its waves, lashes the mind; or sorrow wearies her captives; or deceitful hope torments them.

What will the rich man be,
The worldly, covetous one,
In his mind the better,
Though he should much possess
Of gold and gems
And of every good :
Possessions innumerable;
And for him men
Should plough every day
A thousand acres?

Though this world

And this race of men
Should be under the sun
South, west, and east,
To his power
All subjected,

He could not

Of these acquisitions
Hence lead away

From this world

Any thing more

Of his treasured property

Than he hither brought. P. 169.

Though the rich miser should be in a flowing whirlpool of gold, he could not satisfy his appetite for wealth. Let him adorn his neck with the berries of the Red Sea, and cleave his rich soils with a hundred oxen.

Biting cares will not quit him while he lives, nor can his trivial riches accompany him when dead. Lib. iii. met. 3.

ON SELF-GOVERNMENT.

He that would

Possess power,

Then let him first toil

That he of his self

In his mind have

Power within;

Unless he ever

Would be to his vices

Entirely subjected:

Let him expel from his mind

Many of those

Various anxieties

That to him are useless :

Let him dismiss some

Of his complaints and miseries.

He that would be powerful, let him tame his fierce mind, nor submit to foul reins his neck bowed down by lust.

Alfred.

Though to him should
All this world,

So as the great streams
Surround it without,

Be given to his possession,
Even so wide

As now westmost is,
Where an island lieth
Out on the ocean;
In which is no
Night in summer,
Nor more in winter
Of any day

Distinguished by time;
Which is called Tile.
Though now any alone
Governed all

To this island;

And also thence

To India eastward;

Though he now all that
Might possess,

Why should his power be
Ought the greater

If he afterwards hath not
Power over himself
In his thoughts,

And does not earnestly
Guard himself well

In words and deeds

Against the vices

Boetius.

For though the remote Indian earth should tremble at thy command, and farthest Thule serve thee, yet it is not in their power to expel gloomy care, nor to drive away your miserable complaints. Lib. iii. met. 5.

This is the Wise King,
This is he that governs

Over the nations of men,
And all the other
Kings of the earth.
He with his bridle

Hath restrained around

All the revolutions

Of earth and heaven.

He his governing reins

Well coerces.

He governs ever

Through his strong might

All the swift cars

Of heaven and earth.

He the only judge is steadfast, Unchangeable,

Beauteous and great.

If thou turnest right in thy way

Up to that country,

Thou wilt find it

A noble place :

Though thou now yet
Hast not obtained it.
If thou ever again
There canst come,
Then wilt thou say,
And soon declare :-

Here the Lord of Kings holds the sceptre

and governs the reins of the world, and, stable himself, rules the swift car, the splendid arbiter of things.

If that road should meet thee returning, which now forgetful you inquire for, you may say :

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The history of the Anglo-Saxons, 2. köide