Languages & literature > Alfred: a masque

6
ALFRED:
Corin. And (belter he (hall find:
Who loves his country, is my friend and brother.
Behold him well. Fair manhood in it’s prime,
Even thro’ the homely ruflet that conceals him,
Shines forth, and proves him noble.
Emma. ’Tis mod like,
He is not what his prelent fortnnes fpeak him.
But, ah ! th’ inhuman foe is all around us :
We dare not keep him here.
Corin. Thou haft not weigh’d
This iftand’s force; the deep defence of woods,
Nature’s own hand hath planted ftrong around ;
The rough encumbrance of perplexing thorns,
Of intertwining brakes that rife between,
And choak up every inlet from abroad.
Yet more; thou know’ft, beyond this woody verge
Two rivers broad and rapid hem us in;
Along whofe border fpreads the gulpby pool,
And trembling quagmire to betray the foot
It’s treacherous greenfword tempts. One path alone
Winds to this plain, fo difficult and ftrait,
My (ingle arm, againft a band of foes,
Could long, perhaps, defend it.
Emma. Yet, my Corint
Revolve the ftern decree of that fierce tyrant,
The Danifh king: “ Who harbours, or relieves
“ An captain, dies the death of traitors:
“ But who their haunts difeovers, (hall be fafe,
“ And high rewarded.”
Corin. Now, juft heaven forbid.
An Englifhman fhould ever count for gain
What villainy muft earn. No: are we poor ?
Be henefty our riches. Are we mean,
And humbly born ? The true heart makes us noble.
Thefe hands can toil; can fow the ground and reap
For thee and thy fweet babes. Our daily labour
Is daily wealth: it finds us bread aqd raiment.
Could Danish gold give more ?
Emma. ■ Alas the while<