Languages & literature > Alfred: a masque

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A M A S Q_U E.
And was It thee I refcu’d from thefe ruffians
O providence amazing !—thee, Eltruda!
Elt. I tremble ftill—from worfe than death deliver’d !
And am I then fecure in Alfred's arms ?
Alf. There let me hold thee : lull thy fears to reft:
There huffi thy foul with everlafting fondnefs.
i The panting bird lb flutters, juft efcap’d
I The fowler’s fnare.
Elt. My heart, my heart is full
S And muft o’erflow in tears. A thoufand thoughts
j Are bufy here—that ever we fhould meet
! In fuch a dire extremity !—Ah me !
| That ever Alfred's family and children
f Should need the fhelter of his fingle arm !
Alf My children!—where, where are they?
Elt. Turn thine eyes
^ To yonder cottage : there conceal’d
Alf My Conn,
( Fly, bring them to my arms. But fay, my love,
! Why didd thou leave the convent, where I plac’d thee ?
j Why, unprotected, truft thee to a land,
! A barbarous land, where violence inhabits ?
Our hofpitable England is no more.
1 Elt. Alas! my Alfred, even the peaceful cells,
! Where fafe beneath religion’s holy veil
* Her cloifter’d votaries dwelt, from impious Danes
i No reverence claim. The villages around,
( Difpers’d and flying wild before their arms,
< Inform’d us, a near party, on whole courle
{ DeftruCtion waits, were marching full to us.
i Inflant I fled. Two faithful fervants bore
■ Our children off: and heaven has fav’d us all !
5 Alf. O welcome to my foul !—O happy Alfred!
, Thus to have refcu’d what the feeling heart
j Moft dear and precious holds, from men who war
'With earth and heaven.
Elt. Tho’ terrible at firft,
f Bleft be the tempeft that has driven me hither,
; Into this fafe, this facred harbour!