....Wella, wisan men, wel; gað ealle on þone weg ðe eow lærað þa foremæran bisna þara godena gumena 7 þara weorðgeornena wera þe ær eow wæron. Eala, eargan 7 idelgeornan; hwy ge swa unnytte sien 7 swa aswundne? Hwy ge nyllen ascian æfter þæm wisum monnum 7 æfter þæm weorðgeornum, hwylce hi wæron þa þe ær eow wæron? 7 hwy ge þonne nyllen, siððan ge hiora þeawas geascod hæbban, him onhirian, swa ge swiðost mægen? forðæm hi wunnon æfter weorðscipe on þisse worulde, 7 tiolodon goodes hlisan mid goodum weorcum, 7 worhton goode bisne þæm þe æfter him wæron. Forðæm hi wuniað nu ofer ðæm tunglum on ecre eadignesse for hiora godum weorcum....
(from King Ælfred's Consolations of Boethius )