University of Virginia Library

SCENE III.

—The Country, interspersed with Wood.
Enter Oddune, Edgar, Chiefs, and Soldiers.—Edgar bearing the standard of the Rafen.
Od.
Halt, comrades! Here we'll take our noon's repast.
This velvet sward will be our pleasant couch,
To rest us from our toil. And lose not heart!
We'll find our Alfred yet! What, though our search
Has hitherto proved vain? When look'd for least,
Perchance we'll light upon him. Fortune's smiles,
Like fortune's frowns, when once they come, come thick!
Our expedition fairly has begun,
Fairly proceeded, and will fairly end!

Edg.
Know you these parts?

Od.
Right well. You stand in Mercia;
Where, as that agéd lonely man surmised,
A monarch's head beneath a peasant's roof
Contented shelters. [Shout.]
Hark! the cry of onset!
From thence it comes! Guard you the spoil! The rest,
That choose it, follow me!

[Oddune and Saxons go out—Edgar and Saxons remain.
Edg.
Hie after them,
And bring me word what's passing. If the Dane,
[Soldier goes out.
My life upon't, again he bites the dust!
[Shouts.
Another shout! The contest's close at hand!
I hear the clashing of their weapons,—Well?

[Soldier re-enters.
Soldier.
The Dane is overthrown! Our countrymen
Alone achieved the victory! He fled,
Ere full we came in sight. Some man of note
Is added to our band, for soon as met
Our mighty chief embraced him!

Enter Oddune, Alfred, Egbert, and Party, with Oddune's following.
Od.
Countrymen,
Behold your king!

Alf.
Rise! rise! my gallant friends.
We're brothers struggling in one common cause,
And by Heaven's high appointment haply met!

Od.
Haply indeed! Thus at your feet I lay
The standard of the Dane!

[Takes the Danish standard from Edgar and lays it at Alfred's feet.
Alf.
What! more success!
My faithful Earl! what chance has brought thee hither?
Whence comest thou?

Od.
From my castle, which the Danes
Beset, commanded by the brother chiefs
Hinguar and Hubba, by whose sister's skill
Was wrought that standard, call'd their fatal Rafen;
Whose ominous device, they idly feign'd,
Upon the eve of victory would flap
Its magic-woven wings. It seem'd, indeed,
As if death rode upon them, marking us,
His prey; for famine plied us worse within,
Than e'en the foe without. But 'twas a friend,
Severe, to do us good! Despairing succour,
And all munition gone, at night we made
A sally, all resolved to cut our way
Through the enemy, or perish sword in hand!
The Dane was unprepared—before our march
Startled his ear, our swords were at his breast!
My liege, you may believe, the weapons, which
Despair first drew, were wielded now by Hope;
Escape was certain; but would he escape
Whom danger woo'd with chance of victory?
We fought for it; and won it!

Alf.
Fair exploit!

Od.
Of fairer yet, the news of our success,
My liege, gives hope. Such numbers throng'd to us
Upon our march, the handful, that I thought
To greet you with, has swell'd into a host—
Brave volunteers, whose pay's the leave to serve!
My liege, your queen and son?

Alf.
Oddune, forbear!
The Dane has buried them—They sleep beneath
The ruins of thy master's castle, in
The flames of which they perish'd, Oddune! From
A dying follower I learn'd it! Learn'd,
That treason led the accursed assailants on!
If lips that speak for the last time, speak truth,
Edric has proved a traitor! Queen and child,
Except my country, Oddune, I have none—
That, now, is Alfred's all!—His all, for which
Alone he cares to live! Now, could we learn
The state and numbers of the enemy,
A blow might soon be struck—Oddune!—

Od.
My liege.

Alf.
[To himself.]
No—that were doubtful—Oddune.

Od.
Well, my liege?

Alf.
[To himself.]
And so were that!

Od.
My liege, you spoke just now.

Alf.
Anon, my Oddune! Make the attempt myself?
Yes! Life and empire on this east I'll stake!
But how provide myself? There is a place
In the glen, where, of its shaggy vesture scant,
Its sides stand bare, and their huge ribs expose
Of solid rock; so giddy steep withal,
That down direct from the precipitous verge
You many fathoms look.—There have I mark'd
A lonely wight at the bottom couch'd, with harp
Playing to the idle echoes by the hour,
Admiring how they mock'd him—I will use
That harp!—will use it to expel the foe,
That thrust its master from the shining hall
To the dim cavern-cell; spill'd his heap'd dish—
O'erturn'd his cup, from all sides running o'er,
And cast him, with that golden song of his,
To roots and water,—Edwy, speak with me!
Wilt be awhile companion to thy king,
Though to share danger with him?

Edwy.
To share death.

Alf.
Your hand! My friends, our country must be free!
My trusty Oddune, wonder not, although
You've found your king, to lose him for a time.
This list of trusty chiefs, with whom, through means
I need not name to thee, I have kept up
Intelligence, will show thee whom to warn
Of thy success. Summon them to repair
To Selwood forest, there to meet their king.
There shall we meet again, my gallant friends!
Your hands, my chiefs! Soldiers, our hearts embrace!
Farewell! Be strong in hope! The land's not lost
That's left a son resolved to do her right;
And here are troops of sons, and loyal ones!
Confirm the stirring spirit of the time
Till it o'erspread the realm; the which, throughout,
With swiftest expedition bear the call
That to her rescue rouses those that love her!
Strong in her children should a mother be!
Shall ours be helpless that has sons like us?
God save our native land, whoever pays
The ransom that redeems her!—though the king!
There king and subject side by side shall stand!
Stand by your king, your king will stand by you!

[Alfred and Edwy go out. Oddune and the others severally.