The Meters of Boethius · late 9th or early 10th century
Meter 23
Translated by Walter John Sedgefield, King Alfred's Version of the Consolations of Boethius (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1900)
Oh! truly blessed a man would be
Here in all things, had he the power to see
The bright and spotless heavenly stream,
That grand fountain of every good ;
And if from himself he might hurl away
The swart mist, his spirit’s darkness.
Yet now it behoveth, God us helping,
With tales of fancy, fables ancient,
To amend thy mind, that thou more surely .
May by straight course come to heaven,
To that spot eternal where our souls have rest.
Cite this text
MLA
Alfred, King. The Meters of Boethius, Meter 23. Translated by Walter John Sedgefield, King Alfred's Version of the Consolations of Boethius. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/work/meters-of-boethius/23/.
Chicago
Alfred, King. The Meters of Boethius, Meter 23. Translated by Walter John Sedgefield, King Alfred's Version of the Consolations of Boethius. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/work/meters-of-boethius/23/.