University of Virginia Library

XV.

While thus the King half sung, at every word
It haunted me that I had somewhere heard
Rhymes chanted so before. But Alfred drew
Again my notice to the scene in view.
He praised its loveliness, and, certes, I
Withheld no term of fitting eulogy,
But said: “No lands in lovely England shown,
Can match the region which is now my own—
The varied land that fronts the eastern waves,
The land of mountains, and”—“Why not, of caves?”
The Monarch slyly interposed, and laughed.
Then added, gravely: “Not all Eric's craft,
And not the deepest cave in northern glen,
Could from my search have 'vailed to hide thee then,
Had other cares my longer stay allowed!
—I told thee, Aymund, by defeat unbowed,
How willingly my faithful people all
Would arm and muster at their Monarch's call.
I had e'en then—and by a surer scout
Than thy friend Eric proved—sent summons out;
And well I knew that, met on Selwood-lea,
My friends, in arms, already waited me.
That thou shouldst see their numbers, and thence know
They were no feeble, despicable foe,
And so report them—this I did intend
Ere thou to Guthrum's Danish camp shouldst wend.
But this thy fond escape was found to mar,
And I had left me no resource but war.”