Page:King Alfred's Version of the Consolations of Boethius.djvu/291



This same matter    whereof we speak.

In times long past    once it betided

That prince Aulixes    had possession

Under the Caesar    of kingdoms twain.

He was the ruler    of the realm of Thracia,

And Retia also    ruled as chieftain;

And his liege lord's name,    known to the nations

Was Agamemnon,    ruler of all

The Greekish kingdom. It was common rumour

That in those times    the Trojan war

Was fought under heaven. That hard fighter,

The Greekish monarch,    marched to the field;

Aulixes likewise    led five-score ships

Across the sea-stream,    and there sat down

Full ten winters. Then the time came

When they had won    the realm by war,

And the Greekish prince    had dearly purchased

The town of Troy    with his true comrades.

Then when to Aulixes    leave was given,

The Thracian chieftain,    thence to journey,

He left behind him    of his horned barks

Nine and ninety;    none of them thence,

Of these sea-horses,    save only one,

He ferried over ocean,    a foam-washed galley

With threefold oar-bank. Then came cold weather,

Raging storm-wind;    the dun waves roaring

Dashed together,    far out driving

Into the Wendelsea    the warrior crew,

Upon the island    where Apollo's daughter

Had been dwelling    for many a day.