Languages & literature > Alfred: a masque

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ALFRED:
Will fiiake this ifland’s peace.
[To him.
Now, Alfred, now.
Be all the hero Ihewn.
Af. What may this mean ?
SCENE IV.
Alfred, Gorin.
Corin, kneeling.
My honour’d fovereign
Alf. How is this ! ha! what I
Difcover’d by this peafant—be it fo :
The plain man is moft loyal.
Corin. England's wealth,
The pearly ftores her circling feas contain,
Should never (hake your Corin's faith
Alf. But what
Alarms thee thus ?
Corin. My fears are for my king.
Some Grangers, Sir—their habits fpeak them Danes—
Have found our ifle. Look this way.
Alf. Be of courage.
Now, I perceive them. Thro’ the evening fhade
Their armour gleams a faint and moving light.
Weftward they turn, and ftrike into the path
That opens on this plain. Retire we, fhepherd.
Behind yon dulky elm ; from whence, unfeen,
We may difcern their numbers and their purpofe.
SCENE V.
Firft Dane.
No more. ’Twas (he : I could not be deceiv’d.
A lover’s eye is as the eagle’s (harp,
And kens his prey from far—but lift a while,
If found of human voice, or bleat of (locks
May guide our loft enquiry thro’ this wild.