Page:King Alfred's Version of the Consolations of Boethius.djvu/290



Hope deceitful    with hateful lying

Crying vengeance,    for anger craves

More and more;    then makes promise

The heart so reckless,    of all right heedless.

I told you before    in this same book

That somewhat of good    by each single member

Of the wide creation    is ever craved,

By the natural power    that it possesses.

The unrighteous Kings    that rule the earth

To no good ever    can give an issue,

By reason of the sin    whereof I have spoken

Nor is that a marvel,    for they ever are minded

Themselves to abase,    and bow to the power

Of each of the evils    named already.

Needs then straitly    they must submit

Unto the bondage    of those masters,

The chieftains by them    already chosen.

Yet is this worse,    that a man will not

Resist this mastery    even for a moment.

If he were ready    to begin to wrestle

And the war thereafter    to wage for ever,

Then were he never    worthy of blame

Even if beaten,    bested at last.

XXVI
I can from fables    feigned of yore

Tell you a story    touching nearly