The Meters of Boethius: Meter 27

Verse Indeterminate Saxon

Hwy ge æfre scylen unrihtfioungum
eower mod drefan, swa swa mereflodes
yþa hrerað iscalde sæ,
wecggað for winde? Hwy oðwite ge

5

wyrde eowre þæt hio geweald nafað?
Hwy ge þæs deaðes þe eow drihten gesceop
gebidan ne magon bitres gecyndes,
nu he eow ælce dæg onet toweard?
Ne magon ge gesion þæt he symle spyreð

10

æfter æghwelcum eorðan tudre,
diorum and fuglum? Deað eac swa same
æfter moncynne geond ðisne middangeard,
egeslic hunta, a bið on waðe;
nyle he ænig swæð æfre forlætan

15

ær he gehede þæt he hwile ær
æfter spyrede. Is þæt earmlic þing
þæt his gebidan ne magon burgsittende,
ungesælige men; hine ær willað
foran to sciotan, swa swa fugla cyn

20

oððe wildu dior; þa winnað betwuh,
æghwylc wolde oðer acwellan.
Ac þæt is unriht æghwelcum men
þæt he oðerne inwitþoncum
fioge on færðe, swa swa fugl oððe dior,

25

ac þæt wære rihtost, þætte rinca gehwylc
oðrum gulde edlean on riht,
weorc be geweorhtum weoruldbuendum
þinga gehwilces, þæt is, þæt he lufige
godra gehwilcne swa he geornost mæge,

30

mildsige yflum, swa we ær spræcon.
He sceal þone monnan mode lufian,
and his unþeawas ealle hatian
and ofsniðan, swa he swiðost mæge.