Page:King Alfred's Version of the Consolations of Boethius.djvu/289



For the dominion    that each of his darlings,

His friends so trusty,    aids to found.

If a man, however,    might pluck from the tyrant

Each several garments    of the royal garb,

And from him sever    the various servants,

And likewise the power    that once he possessed,

Then might you see    that he is most like

To one of the men    that now most busily

Press about him    in painful service;

He might well be worse,    but I think no better.

If such an one ever,    all unwitting,

Happened to lose    by lack of fortune

State and raiment    and ready service,

And the power also    which we have pictured:

If any of such things    he sees no longer,

I know he will fancy    that he has fallen

Deep in a dungeon,    or himself he deems

In shackles fastened. This I may show,

That from over-measure    in any matter,

In food or in dress,    or in wine-drinking,

Or in sweetmeats,    sorest waxes

The mighty frenzy    of fierce desire

That clouds sore    the inmost spirit

Of every mortal. Thence come most often

Evil pride of heart    and profitless strife.

When rage is burning,    within their bosoms

Their hearts are whelmed    with waves enormous

Of seething passion,    and soon thereafter

Are gripped in turn    with grievous gloom,

Firmly caught. Anon there comes