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



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