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?