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The Meters of Boethius: Meter 31

Old English · Anglo-Saxon Poetic Records · 23 sections

1. 0

   Hwæt, ðu meaht ongitan, gif his ðe geman lyst,

2. 1

   þætte mislice manega wuhta

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   geond eorðan farað ungelice;

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   habbað blioh and fær, bu ungelice,

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   and mægwlitas manegra cynna

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   cuð and uncuð. Creopað and snicað,

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   eall lichoma eorðan getenge,

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   nabbað hi æt fiðrum fultum, ne magon hi mid fotum gangan,

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   eorðan brucan, swa him eaden wæs.

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    Sume fotum twam foldan peððað,

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    sume fierfete, sume fleogende

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    windað under wolcnum. Bið ðeah wuhta gehwylc

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    onhnigen to hrusan, hnipað of dune,

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    on weoruld wliteð, wilnað to eorðan,

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    sume nedþearfe, sume neodfræce.

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    Man ana gæð metodes gesceafta

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    mid his andwlitan up on gerihte.

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    Mid ðy is getacnod þæt his treowa sceal

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    and his modgeþonc ma up þonne niðer

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    habban to heofonum, þy læs he his hige wende

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    niðer swa ðær nyten. Nis þæt gedafenlic,

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    þæt se modsefa monna æniges

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    niðerheald wese and þæt neb upweard!

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