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

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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 For