Si quantas rapidis flatibus incitus
Pontus versat harenas
Aut quot stelliferis edita noctibus
Caelo sidera fulgent
Tantas fundat opes nec retrahat manum
Pleno copia cornu,
Humanum miseras haud ideo genus
Cesset flere querellas.
Se l’abundance, la deesse des richeces, donnoit aus hommes a plaine corne sans retraire sa main autant de richeces comme la mer tournoie poudres de graveles quant elle est esmeue par ravissable vent, ou autant comme il resplendist ou ciel des estoilles luisans par les cleres nuiz, ja pour ce ne laisseroit li lignages des hommes a pleurer ses chetives complaintes.
Though Plentee, that is goddesse of richesses, hielde adoun with ful horn, and withdraweth nat hir hand, as many richesses as the see torneth upward sandes whan it is moeved with ravisshinge blastes, or elles as many richesses as ther shynen brighte sterres on hevene on the sterry nightes ; yit, for al that, mankinde nolde not cese to wepe wrecchede pleyntes.
If sandz such store by raging flawes
as stured sea turnes up,
Or skies, bidect with mighty stars
the heuens al that lightz
And suche welthe bestowes,
Nor plenty with fullist horne withdrawes her hand,
Mankind yet ceaseth not
With wailing mones bewail him.
Complete text
Book I: THE SORROWS OF BOETHIUS