Page:King Alfred's Version of the Consolations of Boethius.djvu/290

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Hope deceitful with hateful lying

Crying vengeance, for anger craves

More and more; then makes promise

The heart so reckless, of all right heedless.

I told you before in this same book

That somewhat of good by each single member

Of the wide creation is ever craved,

By the natural power that it possesses.

The unrighteous Kings that rule the earth

To no good ever can give an issue,

By reason of the sin whereof I have spoken

Nor is that a marvel, for they ever are minded

Themselves to abase, and bow to the power

Of each of the evils named already.

Needs then straitly they must submit

Unto the bondage of those masters,

The chieftains by them already chosen.

Yet is this worse, that a man will not

Resist this mastery even for a moment.

If he were ready to begin to wrestle

And the war thereafter to wage for ever,

Then were he never worthy of blame

Even if beaten, bested at last.

XXVI

I can from fables feigned of yore

Tell you a story touching nearly