University of Virginia Library

SCENE II.

—Selwood Forest.
Enter Oddune and Oswald, meeting.
Od.
No sign of Alfred?

Osw.
None! Our scouts have all
Return'd, dishearten'd with their fruitless search.

Od.
Where can he linger, with so fair a welcome
Impatient waiting him, as he would meet
From yonder gallant bands? The spirits now
That bear their crests so high, from his delay
To lead them on to action, will anon
Begin to droop—perchance may quite subside!

Osw.
How many do we muster?

Od.
By the last
Return, six thousand men.

Osw.
The field shows fair!

Od.
Fair cause—fair field! Who'd e'er expect so soon
To see the armour burnish'd up again
They cast aside for good! A pity 'twere
What shows such thrift should not be turn'd to use,
But, bootless, thrown away! They will not fight
Unless the king commands them!

Osw.
See, my lord,
What movement's that?

Od.
Here's one will tell us.

Edg.
[Entering.]
Be
Prepared, my lord. The soldiers clamour for
The king, and doubts are spreading through the ranks;
You humour them—he will not come to lead them.
Their chiefs conduct them hither, from your own lips
Assurance to receive, and fair encouragement.

Enter Egbert, Kenrick, Arthur, Chief, and Soldiers.
Eg.
Now Kenrick, speak! Say what the soldiers want.

Od.
Well, gallant friends! Is England to be free?
Shall we change places with our conquerors,
Or still endure the yoke?

Ken.
We want the king!
Let him appear, we cannot meet the foe
Too soon!

Od.
As surely shall you see him, as
You long to see the foe!

Ken.
But when, my lord?
'Tis that we'd know! When was the king the last
Upon the field? Has he not ever, on
The eve of battle, earlier than his chiefs,
Been out; with looks of ardour heartening us?—
Our morning sun, that never clouded rose—
Enduing us with life and vigour new!
At most we muster bare six thousand men
To meet the Danish host! The king, among us,
Would make our numbers treble! Show us the king.
The only waving of his plume in battle
Were worth a hundred spears in hands as bold
As ever brandish'd weapon!

Od.
What, and if
Indeed he should not come? Ought you to feel
Your tyrant's feet upon your necks the less?
Your king is present in his cause! Be that
Your king!
[Alfred enters, still disguised.
Whoever leads you, meet the Dane!
I speak not, friends, because I'm next in place!
I care not for myself! Point out my post;
The van, the rear; I'll be content to take
My stand beside the man of meanest note
Among you! Make yon minstrel without helm
Or sword your leader, I will follow him!
So that I fight, I care not in what rank!
Let him who makes the absence of his king,
Plea to desert his country and his king,
Fall off! So Heaven sustain me in the cause,
Although our Alfred's presence now would add
Ten other richer lives to mine; yet say
He should not come, this faithful sword I draw,
I will not sheathe till it has struck a blow
For liberty!

Eg.
I second you, brave Oddune.

Osw.
And so do I!

Od.
And so will every man,
Unless there be among the people one
That does not love his king!

Ken.
No, Oddune, no!
The people live but for their king!

Alf.
[Discovering himself.]
The king
Lives only for his people! Oh, my people!
You are the drops of blood that make your king!
And do I see you once again in arms!
[Bursts into tears. The chiefs and general soldiers seem affected.]
O friends! Why draw you hands across your eyes,
If mine should be ashamed of what they do?
We've met again, my friends! Who is the foe
Shall sunder us again? O England! England!
Too fair—too richly gifted—not to tempt
The spoiler—well that thou hast sons, too true,
To leave thee to his ravine! Thou'lt be free
Till thou art childless! Think not, gallant friends,
An hour I've squander'd that was due to you,
And to our common country! I have seen
The Danish camp!

Od.
Their camp, my liege!

Alf.
Have stood
In Guthrum's very presence! That disguise
Will tell thee how. They'd fall an easy prey
To half our numbers! Friends! a royal stake
I've laid upon your heads, that you will win
The day!

Od.
What stake, my liege?

Alf.
Your prince and queen!
They're in the spoiler's power. I might, indeed,
Have ransom'd them, but what he ask'd, your king could not afford to pay.

Od.
What was't, my liege?

Alf.
My people, Oddune!

Eg.
In the spoiler's power
Our prince and queen! What wait we for?

Od.
For nothing,
But the king's word to move upon the foe!

Alf.
Upon him, then! Now think you on the things
You most do love! Husbands and fathers on
Their wives and children—lovers upon their mistresses—
And all upon their country! When you use
Your weapons, think on the beseeching eyes
To whet them could have lent you tears for water.
Oh, now be men or never! From your hearths
Thrust the unbidden feet, that from their nooks
Your aged fathers drove—your wives and babes!
The couches your fair-handed daughters used
To spread, let not the vaunting stranger press,
Weary from spoiling you! Your roofs that hear
The wanton riot of the intruding guest
That mocks their masters—clear them for the sake
Of the manhood, to which all that's precious clings,
Else perishes. The land that bore you—oh!
Do honour to her! Let her glory in
Your breeding!—Rescue her—Revenge her, or
Ne'er call her mother more! Come on, my friends!
And where you take your stand upon the field,
Thence, howsoever you advance, resolve
A foot you'll ne'er recede; while from the tongues
Of womanhood and childhood, helplessness
Invokes you to be strong! Come on! Come on!
I'll bring you to the foe! And when you meet him,
Strike hard! Strike home! Strike while a blow
Is in an arm! Strike till you're free, or fall!

[They go out.