Alfred A Patriotic Play, In Five Acts |
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| 1. | SCENE I. |
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 | Alfred |  |
SCENE I.
The earthworks outside the royal hovel in the marshes of Athelney: with sentinels, and Ethelnoth with Hereward looking out: a sentinel, in the distance, calmly says,—I see a harper coming,—and a girl.
Ethelnoth
(with fervour),
Thank heaven! it is the King!
Hereward
(calling at the cottage window),
Safe, safe! the King!
[Queen Elswitha and the Children run out, and all are eagerly crowding to the distant parapet, looking out, and waving hands; the Queen kneeling, and looking up gratefully. After a pause, Alfred mounts over the parapet, where he flings off his disguise, and lays down his harp,—Bertha behind him.
Alfred
(exultingly).
Now give me my five hundred!
[the boys run up to him.
Father!
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My husband!
[a touching tableau, Alfred in the midst: he looks up, and then affectionately round on all, and then speaks, tenderly.
My wife,—my little ones,—my noble friends!
(they shout)
God save the King!
Ethelnoth
(on one knee).
O thou art greater now,
More glorious far, in this dark time of trial,
Than even when on Ashdune's crimson field
Thou stoodst a conqueror crown'd!
Alfred.
Hearken, my friends,—
Good Providence, or He whose name that is,
Hath sped me on my way;—and Bertha too,
Brave sister, daring that most hideous risk,—
Bertha.
How gladly did I stand beside thee, brother;
And, but that I had gone, Elswitha here
Had even left the babe for love of thee!
Alfred.
Dear wife! Oh what a happy, tender name,
When those who bear that name are such as thou!
Obedient, gentle, loving, sensible,—
But,—Ethelnoth! My soldiers! Hereward!
This night, my Ethelnoth, this happy night,—
Hereward, speak,—are my five hundred sure?
Hereward.
All staunch and true; men that have burning wrongs
And pine to quench them, with inveterate hate,
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Men that love thee and England,—
Alfred.
I could wish
To hear the love of England and her King
Set far before a craving for revenge,—
But this may pass, good Hereward; my five hundred,
Let them be ready at sunset, armed, provisioned,
(They drove in cattle with them, I remember,)
And, somewhile after midnight, from the Dane
Secure, and scattered in the villages,
As taking license after victory,
We, creeping through the woodlands, will regain
At Ethandune what Chippenham had lost.
Take this, Friend;
[he gives to Hereward the Alfred jewel.
Wear it as a badge of honour:
Take this too, Ethelnoth;—
[he gives him a ring.
Let it be an heirloom.
Would I were richer to reward your zeal,—
And soon I shall be, friends, and will remember.
Bid my five hundred eat their fill, and sleep;
See to their weapons; and anon will I
Speak with them each, and thank them: now, away!
[they and the sentinels go out, leaving Alfred's family alone.
Alfred.
Queen,—since that sacred meal, the unbroken loaf,
The empty pitcher marvellously abrim,
And that bright vision seen of none but me,
I have stood strong in hope, a hope assured
That this right-hand shall yet recover England!
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Though I am off at sunset to the Dane,—
For in the morning thou shall set the crown
On my victorious head at Ethandune.
One kiss:—and now to gladden my five hundred!
[they all go out.—Scene changes.
| Alfred | |