Page:King Alfred's Version of the Consolations of Boethius.djvu/262

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But the same God that governs all things,

Brings together, many folk binds,

And firmly unites in friendship's bonds;

He links in wedlock the love that is pure

In peaceful mateship. So too the Mighty One

Fellow to fellow firmly joins,

So that their friendship forth and for ever

They hold, and their faith fast undoubting,

Their peace unvarying. O God of victory,

Most happy indeed were mankind's lot,

If but their hearts could hold their course

Steadily steered by Your strong might,

And evenly ordered as the others are also,

The world's creatures! Yes, it were truly

Right merry for men, might it so be!

XII

Whoso fertile land fain would till,

Let him promptly pluck from the field

Fern and thorn, and farze-bush also,

The weeds, in all places eager to injure

The wheat clean-sprinkled, lest it sproutless

Should lie on the land. To all folk likewise

This next example no less suits:

The comb of the honey cannot but seem

To each son of men sweeter by half,

If he have tasted before the honey

Anything that is bitter. Even thus also