He sent in secret,summoning them by God,
By their former faith,forthwith to him
To speed Romewards;Greek senators
Should rule the Romans, their rights render
Free to the folk.When he found this out,
Theodoric the Amuling,the thane he had seized,
Charging the bravesthat did his bidding
To hold fast the hero;fierce was his heart.
The chieftain dreading.Deep in a dungeon
Bolted and barredhe bade them cast him.
Then was the man's moodmightily troubled,
The mind of Boethius.Long had he borne
High state worldly;the harder it was
Bravely to bearthis bitter fortune.
Sad was the hero;he hoped for no mercy,
Locked in prison;past all comfort
On the floor he fellwith his face downwards,
Wofully spread,his sorrow speaking.
Hopeless utterly,ever weening
He should linger in fetters.He called on the Lord
Willti cheerless voice,and thus he chaunted.
II
Boeth. i. metr. 1. Cf. p. 2.
Ah! many a layonce so merrily
I sang in my joy.Now must I sighing,
Worn with weeping,a woful outcast.
Sing words of sorrow.Me hath this sobbing
And this wailing dazed,so that no more ditties
