Maxims II

A king shall rule. Cities are to be seen afar off, cunning work of giants, which are on this earth, wondrous work of wall-stones. Wind is swiftest in the sky; thunder is loudest at seasons. The glories of Christ are great. Fate is strongest. Winter is coldest; spring most frosty; it is longest cold; summer most fair with sunshine; the sun is hottest; autumn most glorious; it brings to men the fruits of the year which God sends them. Truth is plainest; treasure is most precious, gold for all men, and the aged man the wisest, old in years gone by, who before endured many things. Woe is wondrous clinging. The clouds go on their way. Good comrades shall urge a young noble to battle and the bestowal of rings. Courage shall be in a man. The sword shall endure battle against the helm. The hawk, though wild, shall abide on the glove. The wolf shall dwell in the grove, a wretched recluse; the boar shall dwell in the wood, strong in the might of his tusks. The good man shall gain glory in his land. The dart shall be in the hand, the spear bright with gold. The gem shall stand in the ring, high and broad. The stream shall mingle in waves with the ocean. The mast, the sail-yard, shall be at rest in the boat. The sword shall lie in the bosom, excellent iron. The dragon shall dwell in the cave, old, splendid in ornaments. The fish shall bring forth its kind in the water. The king shall give out rings in hall. The bear shall dwell on the heath, aged and terrible. Water shall flow from the hill, earth-grey. The army shall be gathered together, a band of glorious men. Faith shall be in an earl, wisdom in a man. The wood shall bloom with blossoms on earth. The hill shall stand green on the earth. God shall dwell in the heavens, the Judge of deeds. The door shall be in the hall, wide mouth of the building. The boss shall be on the shield, firm guard of the fingers. The bird shall sport in the air. The salmon shall go darting in the pool. The shower in the skies shall come into this world mingled with wind. The thief shall go in dark weather. The demon shall dwell in the fen, alone in the land. The woman, the virgin, shall by secret craft seek her friend, if she does not wish to prosper among the people so as to be bought with rings. The ocean shall surge with salt; cloud and flood, mountain-streams, shall flow about every land. Cattle on the earth shall bring forth and teem. The luminary shall shine brightly in the heavens as the Lord commanded it. Good against evil, youth against age, life against death, light against darkness, army against army, one foe against another, injury against injury, shall strive round about the land, avenge hostility. Ever shall the wise man ponder on the struggle round about this world. The felon shall be hanged, shall fairly pay for committing crime before against mankind. The Lord alone knows whither the soul shall afterwards pass and all the spirits who turn to God after the day of death. They await judgment in the Father's embrace. The future state is secret and hidden; the Lord alone knows, the Father who saves. No one returns hither under our roofs who may truly tell men here what is the Lord's decree, the abodes of those who have triumphed, where He Himself dwells.