Alfred An Heroic Poem, in Twenty-Four Books. By Joseph Cottle: 4th ed. |
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 | Alfred |  |
Hubba upraised
His ponderous spear, and had not Guthrum seized
And stay'd his purpose, prostrate on the ground
Oddune had lain. Him Ivar thus rebuked;
‘Thine anger check, good Hubba! let us know
‘This Saxon's words, and, tho' we after slay,
‘First hear his message.’—Hubba thus replied:
‘Now will I hear thee, cool; Saxon, proceed.’
Oddune prepar'd to speak, when Ivar cried,
‘Gaze not thus haughty! If thy message, man,
‘Be bold, as these thy looks, death shall hide both!’—
‘And that before a second breath thou draw.’
His ponderous spear, and had not Guthrum seized
And stay'd his purpose, prostrate on the ground
Oddune had lain. Him Ivar thus rebuked;
‘Thine anger check, good Hubba! let us know
‘This Saxon's words, and, tho' we after slay,
‘First hear his message.’—Hubba thus replied:
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Oddune prepar'd to speak, when Ivar cried,
‘Gaze not thus haughty! If thy message, man,
‘Be bold, as these thy looks, death shall hide both!’—
‘And that before a second breath thou draw.’
| Alfred | |