Page:King Alfred's Version of the Consolations of Boethius.djvu/294

 save only reason.

Each of them kept    his own mind,

But this with sorrow    was sorely beset

For the sad troubles    that had assailed it.

Now the foolish ones    that in this witchcraft

So long believed,    in lying stories,

Notwithstanding    knew that no one

The wit of man    nor his mind can change

With magic art,    though this be able

Mortal bodies    for many a day

In form to worsen. Wonderful is it

And mighty, the power    that every mind

Has over the slight    and sluggish body!

You may by such examples    see most clearly

That every cunning    and craft of the body

Come from the mind    in every man,

Each single power. It is easy to see

That to every man    more harm brings

Wickedness of mind    than weakness of body,

Of the frail flesh. Let none of the folk

Deem it possible    that this poor flesh

May ever the mind    of any mortal

Utterly change    to its own estate.

Nay, 'tis the faults,    each mind's failings,

And the inward purpose    prompting each man,

That bend the body    to their bidding.