'When all philosophies shall fail,
This word alone shall fit;
That a sage feels too small for life,
And a fool too large for it.
Asia and all Imperial plains
Are too little for a fool;
But for one man whose eyes can see,
The little island of Athelney
Is too large a land to rule.
... But I am a common king,
And I will make my fences tough
From Wantage Town to Plymouth Bluff,
Because I am not wise enough
To rule so small a thing.'"
He only commands his men to keep the White Horse white. Rumour of the Danes to the eastward, Danes wasting the world about the Thames reaches him, but Alfred only points to the White Horse.
"'Will ye part with the weeds for ever?
Or show daisies to the door?
Or will you b id the bold grass
Go, and return no more?...
And though skies alter and empires melt,
This word shall still be true:
If we would have the horse of old,
Scour ye the horse anew....
But now I wot if ye scour not well
Red rust shall grow on God's great bell
And grass in the streets of God.'"
He has a vision that the heathen will return.
"'They shall not come with warships,
They shall not waste with brands,
But books be all their eating,
And ink be on their hands....
By this sign you shall know them,
The breaking of the sword,
And Man no more a free knight,
That loves or hates his lord....
When is great talk of trend and tide,
And wisdom and destiny,
Hail that undying heathen
That is sadder than the sea.'"