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.