the tiger kind, as a tiger an animal of the cat-kind ? So, if you recollect what

I have been describing, you will find, with Betsy's help, that all the other wonderful things I have told you of are inatters familiar among ourselves. But I meant to show you, that a foreigner might easily represent every thing as equally strange and wonderful among us, as we could do with respect to his country; and also to make that we daily call a great many things by their names, without ever inquiring into their nature and properties ; so that, in reality, it is only their names, and not the things themselves, with which we are acquainted.

you sensible

SECOND EVENING.

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 every thing 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.

Scene- Before the Cottage.

GUBBA coming forward. GANDELIN,

within.

man.

Alfred. Good even to you, good

Are you disposed to show hospitality to a poor traveller ?

Gubba. Why truly there are so many poor travellers now a days, that if we entertain them all, we shall have nothing left for ourselves.

However, come along to my wife, and we will see what can be done for you.

Wife, I am very weary: I have been chopping wood all day.

Gandelin. You are always ready for your supper, but it is not ready for

you, I assure you : the cakes will take an hour to bake, and the sun is yet high ;

1

come.

it has not yet dipped behind the old barn. But who have

you
with

you, I trow ?

Alfred. Good mother, I am a stranger ; and entréat you to afford me food and shelter.

Gandelin. Good mother, quotha ! Good wife, if you please, and wel.

But I do not love strangers ; and the land has no reason to love them. It has never been a merry day for Old England since strangers came into it.

Alfred. I am not a stranger in England, though I am a stranger here. I am a true-born Englishman.

Gubba. And do you hate those wicked Danes, that eat us up, and burn our houses, and drive away our cattle?

Alfred. I do hate them.

Gandelin. Heartily! he does not speak heartily, husband.

Alfred. Heartily I hate them ; most heartily.

Gubba. Give me thy hand, then ; thou art an honest fellow.

Alfred. I was with King Alfred in the last battle he fought,

Gandelin. With King Alfred ? Heaven bless him !

Gubba. What is become of our good King ?

Alfred. Did you love him, then ?

Gubba. Yes, as much as a poor man may love a King; and kneeled down and prayed for him every night, that he might conquer those Danish wolves; but it was not to be so.

Alfred. You could not love Alfred better than I did.

Gubba. But what is become of him?
Alfred. He is thought to be dead.

Gubba. Well, these are sad times; Heaven help us! Come, you shall be welcome to share the brown loaf with