Page:King Alfred's Version of the Consolations of Boethius.djvu/92

 Surely, I know it does. Now this quality of beauty in them is theirs, and not yours. Therefore I am greatly astonished how ye men think the beautiful substance of such senseless things better than your own good qualities, and how ye can admire gems or any other perishable thing that hath not sense; for on no grounds can they deserve your admiration. Though they are God's creatures, yet they not to be compared with you, for a thing is either not good compared with you, or at any rate of small excellence. We debase ourselves too much when we love what is subject to us more than we love ourselves, or the Lord who created us and gave us all good things. Now, does it please thee to behold a fair country-side?'

Then the Mind answered Philosophy and said, 'Why should I not be pleased to behold a fair country-side? Is it not the fairest part of God's creation? Ofttimes we admire the calm ocean and marvel at the beauty of sun and moon and all the stars.'

Thereupon Philosophy, that is Reason, answered Mind: 'But what hast thou to do with their beauty? Darest thou boast it to be from thee? Nay, not at all. Thou knowest that none of these things is thy handiwork; but, if thou must glory, glory in God. Dost thou take pleasure in fair flowers in the spring, as if thou