long the exposed portion of Great Britain, by which they
became unconsciously a living rampart between the Saxons and other
incursionists.

Now peace began to reign up to 893, and Alfred improved the time by
rebuilding the desolated cities,--London especially, which had become a
sight to behold. A new stock-law, requiring the peasantry to shut up
their unicorns during certain seasons of the year and keep them out of
the crops, also protecting them from sportsmen while shedding their
horns in spring, or moulting, it is said, was passed, but the English
historians are such great jokers that the writer has had much difficulty
in culling the facts and eliminating the persiflage from these writings.

Alfred the Great only survived his last victory over the Danes, at Kent,
a few years, when he died greatly lamented. He was a brave soldier, a
successful all-around monarch, and a progressive citizen in an age of
beastly ignorance, crime, superstition, self-indulgence, and pathetic
stupidity.

[Illustration: ALFRED ESTABLISHED SCHOOLS.]

He translated several books for the people, established or repaired the
University of Oxford, and originated the idea, adopted by the Japanese a
thousand years later, of borrowing the scholars of other nations, and
cheerfully adopting the improvements of other countries, instead of
following the hide-bound and stupid conservatism and ignorance
bequeathed by father to son, as a result of blind and offensive pride,
which is sometimes called patriotism.

[Illustration: KING ALFRED TRANSLATED SEVERAL BOOKS.]

CHAPTER V.

THE TROUBLOUS MIDDLE AGES: DEMONSTRATING A SHORT REIGN FOR THOSE WHO
TRAVEL AT A ROYAL GAIT.

The Ethels now made an effort to regain the throne from Edward the
Elder. Ethelwold, a nephew of Edward, united the Danes under his own
banner, and relations were strained between the leaders until 905, when
Ethelwold was slain. Even then the restless Danes and frontier settlers
were a source of annoyance until about 925, when Edward died; but at his
death he was the undisputed king of all Britain, and all the various
sub-monarchs and associate rulers gave up their claims to him. He was
assisted in his affairs of state by his widowed sister, Ethelfleda.
Edward the Elder had his father's ability as a ruler, but was not so
great as a scholar or _litterateur_. He had not the unfaltering devotion
to study nor the earnest methods which made Alfred great. Alfred not
only divided