Alfred An Heroic Poem, in Twenty-Four Books. By Joseph Cottle: 4th ed. |
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 | Alfred |  |
Like one—
A blushing maid, who when she hears the name
Dear to her heart, appears to hear it not,
And rather than repeat her true-love's name,
Would wander far about. So Alfred seem'd,
Till calling up his courage, thus he spake:
‘Oddune, one motive I had vow'd to keep
‘Concealed from every heart; but these thy words
‘So probe my spirit, and on what I say
‘Such absence of all meaning cast, that I,
‘To satisfy myself that I am one
‘Who hath some meaning, must declare the truth.
‘Is there not one amid the Danish camp,
‘Think'st thou, most dear?’ Instant in other light,
Oddune the once mysterious subject saw.
Alfred continued. ‘I must seek the spot,
‘Where she abides, and fain would I persuade
‘This heart, that of the bold experiment
‘Some good may follow, haply, rapturous thought!
‘Alswitha I may rescue; I may mark,
‘Where to direct the terrors of our spear!’
A blushing maid, who when she hears the name
Dear to her heart, appears to hear it not,
And rather than repeat her true-love's name,
Would wander far about. So Alfred seem'd,
Till calling up his courage, thus he spake:
‘Oddune, one motive I had vow'd to keep
‘Concealed from every heart; but these thy words
‘So probe my spirit, and on what I say
‘Such absence of all meaning cast, that I,
‘To satisfy myself that I am one
‘Who hath some meaning, must declare the truth.
‘Is there not one amid the Danish camp,
‘Think'st thou, most dear?’ Instant in other light,
Oddune the once mysterious subject saw.
Alfred continued. ‘I must seek the spot,
‘Where she abides, and fain would I persuade
‘This heart, that of the bold experiment
‘Some good may follow, haply, rapturous thought!
‘Alswitha I may rescue; I may mark,
‘Where to direct the terrors of our spear!’
| Alfred | |