Page:King Alfred's Version of the Consolations of Boethius.djvu/277



The poor of wit    have pains to see it,

But to the wise    well it is known.

So too is fire fixed    fast in water,

And in the stones    still it lurks

'Tis hard to see,    'tis there, however.

The Father of angels    has bound the fire

So fast and firmly    that it cannot fly

Again to the region    where the rest of the fire

High over this world    in its home dwells.

Soon it forsakes    this frail creation,

Overcome by cold,    if it seeks its country

Yet every creature    craves to go

Where its kin it finds    most crowded together.

You have established    through Your strong might,

King of war-hosts,    in wondrous wise

The earth so firmly    that she inclines

Nought to one side,    nor may she sink

This way nor that way    more than she was wont,

By nought upheld    of earthly nature.

It is equally easy    upward or downward

For this earth of men    to move at will;

This is most like    to an egg, where lies

The yolk in the middle,    yet the shell moves

Around outside;    so stands the world

Still in its station    with the streams round it,

The stirring floods,    the air and stars,

While the gleaming shell    round all glides

Every day,    and long has done so.

O God of the nations! of threefold nature

A soul You have given us,    that You since