Alfred An Heroic Poem, in Twenty-Four Books. By Joseph Cottle: 4th ed. |
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| IV. |
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| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
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| XIII. |
| XIV. |
| XV. |
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| XVIII. |
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| XX. |
| XXI. |
| XXII. |
| XXIII. |
| XXIV. |
 | Alfred |  |
‘This isle is ours
‘By long inheritance! We never roam
‘From shore to shore, from distant clime to clime,
‘To rob our fellows. Have we warr'd on you?
‘Have we alarm'd your coasts? disturb'd your homes?
‘Destroy'd your people? never, as ye know!
‘Scourgers of this our isle, I bid you heed!
‘Our voice is peace, but if you pant for war,
‘Relentless, greedy of all violence—
‘Saxons shall meet you! Vengeance shall arise,
‘Dress'd in new terrors! seize her flaming brand,
‘And join the fury of this fight, with eyes
‘More fearful bright, than man hath yet beheld,
‘Or Frenzy started at, gazing at Heaven.
‘Prepare for combat! On the coming morn,
‘Our swords shall meet you! God, the living God!
‘Saxons confide in! Now I leave your tent.’
‘By long inheritance! We never roam
‘From shore to shore, from distant clime to clime,
‘To rob our fellows. Have we warr'd on you?
‘Have we alarm'd your coasts? disturb'd your homes?
‘Destroy'd your people? never, as ye know!
‘Scourgers of this our isle, I bid you heed!
‘Our voice is peace, but if you pant for war,
‘Relentless, greedy of all violence—
‘Saxons shall meet you! Vengeance shall arise,
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‘And join the fury of this fight, with eyes
‘More fearful bright, than man hath yet beheld,
‘Or Frenzy started at, gazing at Heaven.
‘Prepare for combat! On the coming morn,
‘Our swords shall meet you! God, the living God!
‘Saxons confide in! Now I leave your tent.’
| Alfred | |