Page:King Alfred's Version of the Consolations of Boethius.djvu/275



That to every creature    with clear distinction

You have fixed its marches,    yet have not mixed them!

Lo! for the water    wet and cold

The land as a floor    firm have You laid;

For never quiet,    to every quarter

Far would it flow,    feeble and yielding;

It would never be able,    for a truth do I know,

To stand by itself,    but the earth it supports,

And some of it also    sucks adown,

So that thereafter    it may for the soaking

Be washed with showers. Wherefore leaf and grass

Broad over Britain    are blooming and growing,

A boon to mortals. The cold earth brings

Countless fruits    of marvellous kinds

For with the water    wet it becomes.

But if this were not so,    then would it certainly

Dry up to dust,    and then be driven

By the wind afar,    as often it befalls

That over the land    ashes are blown.

On earth nothing    were able to live,

Nor would it any more    enjoy the water,

Nor dwell in it ever    by any device,

For mere coldness,    if You, King of angels,

Somewhat with fire    the land and sea-stream

Had not mingled,    and properly measured

Cold with heat    by Your cunning power,

So that fire cannot    lurid consume

Earth and sea,    though it be seated

Firmly in either,    the Father's old work.

None the less marvel    to me it seems