Page:King Alfred's Version of the Consolations of Boethius.djvu/137

 had been poor; these also abide with him. What is worse plague and greater hurt to any man than to have in his company and neighbourhood a foe in the likeness of a friend?'

When Philosophy had spoken this speech she began to sing again, and these were her words:

'He who would have full power must first strive to get power over his own mind, and not be unduly subject to his vice, and he must put away from him undue cares, and cease to bewail his misery. Though he rule the earth from east to west, that is, from India to the south-east of the earth, even to the island we call Thule (that is to the north-west of this earth, where in summer there is no night, and in winter no day), yet hath he none the more power if he have no power over his own thoughts, and be not on his guard against those vices we have before spoken of.'

When Philosophy had sung this stave she began again to make a discourse, and said: 'Very unseemly and very false is the glory of this world;  and of this a poet once sang, and in his contempt for this present life said, "O worldly glory, why do foolish men falsely call thee glory, when such thou art not?" For men's great fame and glory and honour are owing more to the belief of the foolish crowd than to their own deserving.