The Meters of Boethius: Meter 16

Verse Indeterminate Saxon

Se þe wille anwald agon,         ðonne sceal he ærest tilian
þæt he his selfes         on sefan age
anwald innan,         þy læs he æfre sie
his unþeawum         eall underðyded,

5

ado of his mode         mislicra fela
þara ymbhogona         þe him unnet sie,
læte sume hwile         siofunga ana
ermða sinra.         þeah him eall sie
þes middangeard,         swa swa merestreamas

10

utan belicgað,         on æht gifen,
efne swa wide         swa swa westmest nu
an iglond ligð         ut on garsecg,
þær nængu bið         niht on sumera
ne wuhte þon ma         on wintra dæg

15

toteled tidum,         þæt is Tile haten;
þeah nu anra hwa         ealles wealde
þæs iglandes,         and eac þonan
oð Indeas         eastewearde;
þeah he nu þæt eall         agan mote,

20

hwy bið his anwald         auhte ðy mara,
gif he siððan nah         his selfes geweald
ingeðances,         and hine eorneste
wel ne bewarenað         wordum and dædum
wið ða unþeawas         þe we ymb sprecað?