her shall you do. Go back to your own
people and keep me in their memory. When the Dane rules most cruelly,
then rise up and cry aloud in the ears of the people, "Alfred the king
yet liveth!" Then gather the soldiers and I shall come to lead them to
victory.

_Oscar._ Thou shalt be obeyed, my royal lord. I will return to my men
and do as thou hast said. But let my son Odulph stay with thee, if only
as thy servant.

_Odulph._ Well will I serve thee, my royal lord. It is not well for the
king to fare alone.

_Alfred._ I am well content to serve myself, or even to be servant to
others, until a happier time shall come. If Odulph desires to serve me,
it shall be by bringing good tidings of your success with my people.
When the time comes that we may again fight for our country, let him
bring me the welcome message. Then we will free our country from the
Danish yoke.

_Oscar._ Farewell, my royal master, since thou wilt have it so.

_Odulph._ And may the time soon come when I shall bring the message to
thee!

_Alfred._ Farewell, my loyal friends. All will be well.

SCENE III.--_In the Peasant's Home_

KING ALFRED, PEASANT CUDRED, WIFE SWITHA

_Alfred._ Save you, good father! May a Saxon stranger, whom the Danish
robbers have made homeless, share a lodging with thy master's cattle for
the night?

_Cudred._ Wilt thou swear to me that thou art not a Dane in disguise?

_Alfred._ I say to thee, my friend, I am no Dane, but a true Saxon.

_Cudred._ Then thou shalt share the calf's crib to-night. Perchance thou
art hungry, too?

_Alfred._ To say truth, father, I have not broken my fast to-day;
neither have I had aught to drink save from these marshy streams. I
shall be right thankful for some food, even a crust of coarsest rye
bread.

_Cudred._ Rye bread, forsooth! Thou talkest of dainties indeed! Thou
wilt get nothing better than flat oaten cakes here.

_Alfred._ I have always wished to taste an oaten cake.

_Cudred._ Follow me, then, and thou shalt have thy desire. Switha,
Switha!

_Switha._ Well, I hear thee!

_Cudred._ Switha, I have brought thee home a guest who will be glad to
partake of our supper.

_Switha._ A guest! And thinkest thou I've naught better to do than broil
fish and bake cakes for all the vagabonds who roam the land?

_Cudred._ Patience, good Switha. I have not asked thee to cook for a
vagabond. This is an honest Saxon whom it will be charity to feed and
shelter for the night.

_Sw