Alfred An Heroic Poem, in Twenty-Four Books. By Joseph Cottle: 4th ed. |
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 | Alfred |  |
A mighty plan
Now struck the king, attended with dismays
And dangers infinite, yet such as gave
To him no terrors. Hastening to the fort,
With earnest brow, thus to his chiefs he spake.—
‘Friends! who with me have borne all ills, endured
‘Perils and strife, there is a vent'rous act,
‘A bold achievement, which, to crown our toil,
‘Some round me must perform. Regard your prince.
‘Hubba and Ivar, with that other man,
‘Guthrum, my most peculiar foe! are now
‘Gather'd near Kenwith, forming future plans
‘To desolate our country. Well we know
‘When stratagems and schemes are used, the like
‘Should counteract them, and the antidote
‘Be as the bane. I would advise this deed:
‘Instant some Saxon to go forth and learn,
‘Amid the thickest Danes, e'en in their camp,
‘How stands the enemy; their force how great;
‘Their next designs; whether the wasted fleet
‘Hath stay'd their anger, or their savage wrath
‘Rous'd into fiercer vengeance. Service this,
‘Which none may dare perform, save in some guise
‘Familiar to the eye, of humbler sort.—
‘What think ye?’—
Now struck the king, attended with dismays
And dangers infinite, yet such as gave
To him no terrors. Hastening to the fort,
With earnest brow, thus to his chiefs he spake.—
196
‘Perils and strife, there is a vent'rous act,
‘A bold achievement, which, to crown our toil,
‘Some round me must perform. Regard your prince.
‘Hubba and Ivar, with that other man,
‘Guthrum, my most peculiar foe! are now
‘Gather'd near Kenwith, forming future plans
‘To desolate our country. Well we know
‘When stratagems and schemes are used, the like
‘Should counteract them, and the antidote
‘Be as the bane. I would advise this deed:
‘Instant some Saxon to go forth and learn,
‘Amid the thickest Danes, e'en in their camp,
‘How stands the enemy; their force how great;
‘Their next designs; whether the wasted fleet
‘Hath stay'd their anger, or their savage wrath
‘Rous'd into fiercer vengeance. Service this,
‘Which none may dare perform, save in some guise
‘Familiar to the eye, of humbler sort.—
‘What think ye?’—
| Alfred | |