friends, the most precious treasure in the world. [120] Literally, "pulleth them back with a hook." VIII. Quod mundus stabili fide Concordes uariat uices, Quod pugnantia semina Foedus perpetuum tenent, Quod Phoebus roseum diem 5 Curru prouehit aureo, Vt quas duxerit Hesperos Phoebe noctibus imperet, Vt fluctus auidum mare Certo fine coerceat, 10 Ne terris liceat uagis Latos tendere terminos, Hanc rerum seriem ligat Terras ac pelagus regens Et caelo imperitans amor. 15 Hic si frena remiserit, Quidquid nunc amat inuicem Bellum continuo geret Et quam nunc socia fide Pulchris motibus incitant*, 20 Certent soluere machinam. Hic sancto populos quoque Iunctos foedere continet, Hic et coniugii sacrum Castis nectit amoribus, 25 Hic fidis etiam sua Dictat iura sodalibus. O felix hominum genus, Si uestros animos amor Quo caelum regitur regat." 30 VIII. That this fair world in settled course her several forms should vary, That a perpetual law should tame the fighting seeds of things, That Phoebus should the rosy day in his bright chariot carry, That Phoebe should govern the nights which Hesperus forth brings, That to the floods of greedy seas are certain bounds assigned, Which them, lest they usurp too much upon the earth, debar, Love ruling heaven, and earth, and seas, them in this course doth bind. And if it once let loose their reins, their friendship turns to war, Tearing the world whose ordered form their quiet motions bear. By it all holy laws are made and marriage rites are tied, By it is faithful friendship joined. How happy mortals were, If that pure love did guide their minds, which heavenly spheres doth guide!" ANICII MANLII SEVERINI BOETHII V.C. ET INL. EXCONS. ORD. PATRICII PHILOSOPHIAE CONSOLATIONIS LIBER SECVNDVS EXPLICIT INCIPIT LIBER III. I.