Page:King Alfred's Version of the Consolations of Boethius.djvu/51

Rh How many raines of Causis gideth nature powerful, by wiche the great World with Lawes provident kepes and tijnge, Strains with vnlousing Knot eche thing, wel pleases with shirllest note expres with drawing strings. Thogh Aøricke Lionnes faire giues beare[s] and takes giuen food with paw And [of] Cruel kipar feares the wonted stripes that bare: If bloud haue ons dyed ther Looke, Ther courage retournes to formar state And with rorings lowde them selues remembring, Slacks from tied knotz ther necks; And furius first with Cruel tothe On kipar ragin wrathe bestowes. The Chatting bird that sings on hiest bow, In holow den Shut is she: to this thogh Cups with hony lined And largest food with tendar loue begiling Care of man bestowes, If yet skipping on the Eues Spies pleasing shady wood, With fote she treds her skatterd meat, in Sorowing seakes the woodz alone, And with swit vois the trees resountz. the twig drawen ons with mighty fors Bowing plies her top: the same if bending hand do slack, The top vpright doth turne. The Son to Hesperius waters falz, But by Secret pathe againe His Cart turnes to Est. Eache thing Sekes owt his propre Cours and do reiois at retourne ther owen: Nor ordar giuen to any remains, onles he Joinge to end his first And so stedyes his holie round. Book iv,