Page:King Alfred's Version of the Consolations of Boethius.djvu/262



But the same God    that governs all things,

Brings together,    many folk binds,

And firmly unites    in friendship's bonds;

He links in wedlock    the love that is pure

In peaceful mateship. So too the Mighty One

Fellow to fellow    firmly joins,

So that their friendship    forth and for ever

They hold, and their faith    fast undoubting,

Their peace unvarying. O God of victory,

Most happy indeed    were mankind's lot,

If but their hearts    could hold their course

Steadily steered    by Your strong might,

And evenly ordered    as the others are also,

The world's creatures! Yes, it were truly

Right merry for men,    might it so be!

XII
Whoso fertile land    fain would till,

Let him promptly    pluck from the field

Fern and thorn,    and farze-bush also,

The weeds, in all places    eager to injure

The wheat clean-sprinkled,    lest it sproutless

Should lie on the land. To all folk likewise

This next example    no less suits:

The comb of the honey    cannot but seem

To each son of men    sweeter by half,

If he have tasted    before the honey

Anything that is bitter. Even thus also