Atlength,theDevonshiremenmadeheadagainstanewhostofDaneswholandedontheircoast;killedtheirchief,andcapturedtheirflag;onwhichwasrepresentedthelikenessofaRaven-averyfitbirdforathievisharmylikethat,Ithink.ThelossoftheirstandardtroubledtheDanesgreatly,fortheybelievedittobeenchanted-wovenbythethreedaughtersofonefatherinasingleafternoon-andtheyhadastoryamongthemselvesthatwhentheywerevictoriousinbattle,theRavenstretchedhiswingsandseemedtofly;andthatwhentheyweredefeated,hewoulddroop.Hehadgoodreasontodroop,now,ifhecouldhavedoneanythinghalfsosensible;for,KINGALFREDjoinedtheDevonshiremen;madeacampwiththemonapieceoffirmgroundinthemidstofaboginSomersetshire;andpreparedforagreatattemptforvengeanceontheDanes,andthedeliveranceofhisoppressedpeople.
But,first,asitwasimportanttoknowhownumerousthosepestilentDaneswere,andhowtheywerefortified,KINGALFRED,beingagoodmusician,disguisedhimselfasaglee-manorminstrel,andwent,withhisharp,totheDanishcamp.HeplayedandsangintheverytentofGUTHRUMtheDanishleader,andentertainedtheDanesastheycaroused.Whileheseemedtothinkofnothingbuthismusic,hewaswatchfuloftheirtents,theirarms,theirdiscipline,everythingthathedesiredtoknow.Andrightsoondidthisgreatkingentertainthemtoadifferenttune;for,summoningallhistruefollowerstomeethimatanappointedplace,wheretheyreceivedhimwithjoyfulshoutsandtears,asthemonarchwhommanyofthemhadgivenupforlostordead,heputhimselfattheirhead,marchedontheDanishcamp,defeatedtheDaneswithgreatslaughter,andbesiegedthemforfourteendaystopreventtheirescape.But,beingasmercifulashewasgoodandbrave,hethen,insteadofkillingthem,proposedpeace:onconditionthattheyshouldaltogetherdepartfromthatWesternpartofEngland,andsettleintheEast;andthatGUTHRUMshouldbecomeaChristian,inremembranceoftheDivinereligionwhichnowtaughthisconqueror,thenobleALFRED,toforgivetheenemywhohadsoofteninjuredhim.This,GUTHRUMdid.Athisbaptism,KINGALFREDwashisgodfather.AndGUTHRUMwasanhonourablechiefwhowelldeservedthatclemency;for,everafterwardshewasloyalandfaithfultotheking.TheDanesunderhimwerefaithfultoo.Theyplunderedandburnednomore,butworkedlikehonestmen.Theyploughed,andsowed,andreaped,andledgoodhonestEnglishlives.AndIhopethechildrenofthoseDanesplayed,manyatime,withSaxonchildreninthesunnyfields;andthatDanishyoungmenfellinlovewithSaxongirls,andmarriedthem;andthatEnglishtravellers,benightedatthedoorsofDanishcottages,oftenwentinforshelteruntilmorning;andthatDanesandSaxonssatbytheredfire,friends,talkingofKINGALFREDTHEGREAT.
AlltheDaneswerenotliketheseunderGUTHRUM;for,aftersomeyears,moreofthemcameover,intheoldplunderingandburningway-amongthemafiercepirateofthenameofHASTINGS,whohadtheboldnesstosailuptheThamestoGravesend,witheightyships.
Forthreeyears,therewasawarwiththeseDanes;andtherewasafamineinthecountry,too,andaplague,bothuponhumancreaturesandbeasts.ButKINGALFRED,whosemightyheartneverfailedhim,builtlargeshipsnevertheless,withwhichtopursuethepiratesonthesea;andheencouragedhissoldiers,byhisbraveexample,tofightvaliantlyagainstthemontheshore.Atlast,hedrovethemallaway;andthentherewasreposeinEngland.
Asgreatandgoodinpeace,ashewasgreatandgoodinwar,KING