Page:King Alfred's Version of the Consolations of Boethius.djvu/242

Two tribes triumphant⁠trumped to the south.
The Goths in greatness⁠grew year by year;
Akin to the clansmen⁠kings were there twain,
Raedgod and Aleric;⁠they ruled in power.
O'er Jove's mountain⁠came many a Goth
Gorged with glory,⁠greedy to wrestle
In light with foemen.⁠The banner flashing
Fluttered on the staff.⁠Freely the hemes
All Italy over⁠were eager to roam,
The wielders of hidden,⁠bearing onward
E'en from Jove's mount⁠on to ocean,
Where in sea-streams⁠Sicily lieth,
That mighty island,⁠most famous of lands.
Rudely the Roman rule⁠was shattered;
The shieldmen sacked⁠the glorious city;
Rome was ravaged;⁠Raedgod and Aleric
Carried the fortress.⁠Away fled the Caesar,
Aye, and his princes,⁠off to the Greeks.
The luckless left ones,⁠losing the combat,
To the Gothic foemen⁠gave up all,
Unwilling forfeited⁠their fathers' treasures,
Their holy allegiance;⁠hard was the loss!
The hearts of the heroes⁠held with the Greeks,
If they durst follow⁠the folk's foemen.
Thus things stood;⁠the folk was stressed
Many I winter,⁠till Weird appointed
That Theodoric⁠the thanes and nobles
Should lord it over.⁠This leader of them
Was claimed by Christ,⁠the king himself
Brought to babptism;⁠a blessed day

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