And crowd the waving boughs with many a nest.
Midway the nimble squirrel builds his bower;
And sharp-billed pies the insect tribes devour
That gnaw beneath the bark their secret ways,
While unperceived the stately pile decays.”
ALFRED.—A Drama.
| PERSONS OF THE DRAMA. | |
|---|---|
| Alfred | King of England. |
| Gubba | a Farmer. |
| Gandelin | his Wife. |
| Ella | an Officer of Alfred. |
Scene—The Isle of Athelney.
Alfred. How retired and quiet is everything in this little spot! The river winds its silent waters round this retreat; and the tangled bushes of the thicket fence it from the attack of an enemy. The bloody Danes have not yet pierced into this wild solitude. I believe I am safe from their pursuit. But I hope I shall find some inhabitants here, otherwise I shall die of hunger. Ha! here is a narrow path through the wood, and I think I see the smoke of a cottage rising between the trees. I will bend my steps thither.