Alfred An Heroic Poem, in Twenty-Four Books. By Joseph Cottle: 4th ed. |
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 | Alfred |  |
‘My dying words are these—
‘Go arm thyself! Fight manfully! Find out
‘Thy monarch's standard! for, in such a cause
‘'Twere villainy to man, and insult vile
‘To heaven above, idly to stand and gaze!
‘Hence, from this scene of ruin, and as once
‘I bade thee seek with all men peace and love;
‘I now command thee with a prophet's voice.
‘Consume our foes! For whilst the Saxon arm
‘Fails to destroy them, piteous is the state
‘For all who live!’—
‘Go arm thyself! Fight manfully! Find out
‘Thy monarch's standard! for, in such a cause
‘'Twere villainy to man, and insult vile
‘To heaven above, idly to stand and gaze!
‘Hence, from this scene of ruin, and as once
‘I bade thee seek with all men peace and love;
‘I now command thee with a prophet's voice.
‘Consume our foes! For whilst the Saxon arm
‘Fails to destroy them, piteous is the state
‘For all who live!’—
| Alfred | |