and fyr is kridde. and feopende lyft. þær r eall peoɲuld. eft togædere. Dabbað þeah þa feopeɲ. Fɲum-rtol hiopa. ægbpilc hoɲa. azenne stede. pið open rie. softe tozædere. pærer corde. And the third is fire, And the fourth air; That is all the world Again together. 125 Yet have the four Their original station; Each one of them Its own place: Though each of them 130 Be with other Much mixed; And also by the power And suitably together, O merciful Father! fæste So that any of them 140 Durst not the others Boundary overpass, For dread of the Creator; But they are consenting Servants together, 145 Soldiers of the king. Cold with heat, However strive. Water and earth pærτmar brengað. þa fint on zecýnde. cealda ba pa. pærer par ceald. pangar ymbe-liczað. conde æl greno. eac hрæppe ceald lyft. is gemenged. 150 Bring fruits; These are by nature Water wet and cold, Lieth round the fields. 155 With the earth all green The cold air nevertheless forþæm hio on middum punað For it in the middle dwells. nis nan pundoɲ. It is no wonder þær hio rie pearm ceald. 160 That it is warm and cold,— pæt polcnes tier. pinde geblonden. Foɲþæm hio ir on midle. mine gefræge. Fela monna pat. pinum pyncert. The wet expanse of clouds Mingled by the wind; For it is in the middle, 165 Between fire and earth. Many men know That fire is the uppermost Over the earth, 170 And the ground the lowest. Wonderful is that, O Lord of Hosts! Which thou with thine Own counsel workest; þær þu þæm zeɣceaftum. 175 That thou to thy creatures ne meahte hit on him relfum. Nor could it of itself, Foppam hio mid þæm pærene. Because it with the water peopþað geþapened. Is moistened. k This passage, among others, shews that Alfred applied the reasonings and language of Boethius to himself and his own country. Faste gif nære. þonne hio pæɲe. fordrugod to duste. and todrifen siðþan. pide mid pinde. гpa nu peopþað oft. 205 If it were not, Then would it be And afterwards driven Wide by the wind; 210 As now often are axe giond eoɲpan. eall toblapen. Ashes over the earth All blown. Ne meahte on pæne eoppan. Nor could on the earth þeah hit pið ba tpa ɲie. 230 Though it with both be færte zefezed. fæder eald gepeoɲc. ne pince me pundur. Fast joined; The ancient work of the Father. Nor seems to me that wonder |