THE LAYS OF BOETHIUS
❦
PRELUDE
(Not in Boethius.)
Thus the old taleAlfred told us,
West Saxons' king.He shewed the canning,
The craft of songmen.Keenly he longed
Unto the peopleto put forth songs
Men to make merry,manifold stories,
Lest a wearinessshould ward away
The man self-filled,that small heed taketh
Of such in his pride.Again I must speak,
Take up my singing,the tale far known
Weave for mortals;let who will listen.
LAYS
I
(Not in Boethius.) Cf. p. 1.
'Twas long agowhen the eastern Goths
Sent from Scythiatheir swarms of shieldmen,
With multitudes harriedmany a nation.
N
Two
