Page:King Alfred's Version of the Consolations of Boethius.djvu/263



To every mortal    more welcome by far

Is gentle weather,    when just before

Storms have assailed him,    and the stiff wind

Out of the north-east. No man would reckon

Daylight a blessing    if the dark night

Had not for mortals    mustered terrors.

So of earth-dwellers    to each it seems

That blessedness true    is ever the better,

More pleasant by far,    the more he of woe,

Of cruel hardships,    here endures.

So you the sooner    may in your soul

The truest of blessings    trace more clearly,

And to their source    soonest arrive,

If first and foremost    forth from your breast,

Root and branch,    you upwrench

Happiness false,    even as the farmer

From his field plucks    ill weeds a plenty.

Then, I warrant you,    you will clearly

Forthwith recognize    real blessings,

And you will never have    heed for anything else,

When all plainly    you do perceive them.

XIII
In song will I again    send forth the tidings,

How the Almighty,    all things' Ruler,

With bridle urges,    bends at will

His creatures with might    and due measure,

Marvellous well    makes them hold.

The Wielder of heaven    has welded