University of Virginia Library

IX.

I interposed: “Brave Prince,” I humbly said,
“Thou hast, in me, excused the acting head;
And, having kindly pardoned that which planned,
Mayst well forgive the purely passive hand.
Go, search thine army, and, from rear to van,
Thou shalt not find, believe, a truer man
Than this same Eric! 'Twas his Danish blood
That for a moment checked his loyal mood.
And Hengist, I have ample proof to show,
Holds every foeman of his Prince his foe.
Forgive them!” “No, brave Dane, it may not be!”
“Yet hear me—yield the traitors up to me!
To take the Old Man from his Monarch's sight,
Will not by him be deemed a penance light;
And for the Youth, I know a simple spell
Wherewith to fix that Youth's allegiance well!”
“Then deepest treachery were a virtue made;
But be it so,” the King, relenting, said.
At this old Eric threw him on the ground,
And, clasping good King Alfred's knees around,
With tears of joy the Monarch's feet bedewed.
Erect the while, the youthful Hengist stood—
“I have but little skill to plead or 'plain,”
The Stripling said, “but bring the bravest Dane
Before my falchion—or the slanderer bring,
Who dares to call me traitor to my King,
And he, in combat, who beholds me flinch,
Like vilest snake shall scotch me—inch by inch!”
A murmur of suppressed applause went round,
Nor royal Alfred at the blunt speech frowned.