Page:King Alfred's Version of the Consolations of Boethius.djvu/260

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

Will grant unto them His reins of guidance.

He has with His bridle bound earth and heaven,

And the whole circle of deep sea-waters.

Thus has He curbed, the King of heaven,

With His control, all of His creatures,

So that the one strives with other,

And loath to his fellow fast does cleave,

Firm upholds, fast enclasps,

Lest they dash asunder. For ever their duty

Again to circle on the self-same journey

That at the first the Father appointed,

And ever renewed again to revive.

So is it fashioned, the framework ancient,

That warring in hate the hostile creatures

Fast and for ever firm peace maintain.

Thus fire and water, firm land and ocean,

And things many more, in just the same manner

Over the wide world are warring together;

Yet can they keep their course of service,

Fellowship holding firm and abiding.

Nor is it merely matter of wonder

That things full of hate fare together,

Remaining fellows; more fit for marvel

That none of them ever can live without other,

But every thing made his opposite meets

Under the heavens, that humbles his pride

Before that it grow too great to be borne.

He has, the Almighty, to every creature

Appointed its course that it must keep

Growth for plants, green for leaves