84 SIXTH EVENING.

Scene—Before the Cottage.
CCUBBA coming forward, GANDELIN uth.

Alfre’. Good even to you, good man. Are you
disposed to show hospitality to a poor traveller ?

Gubbe. Why truly there are so many poor travellers
now-a-days, that if we entertain them all, we shal
have nothing left for ourselves. However, come along
to my_ wife, and we will see what can be done for
you. Wife, Iam 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
wil take an hour to bake, and the sun is yet high ; it
has not yet dipped behind the old barn. But who
have you with you, I trow?

Alfred. Good mother, [am a stranger ; and entreat
you to aflord me food and shelter.

Gandelin. Good mother, quotha! Good wife, it
you please, and welcome. 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

eame into it.

Alfred. Tam not a stranger m England, though I
am a stranger here. JI ama true-born E nelishman.

Gubba. And do you hate those wicked Danes, that

eat us up, and burn our houses, and drive e away our
cattle ?

Alfred. I do hate them.

Gandelin. Veartily! he does not speak heartily,
husband. |

Alfred. Toartily T hate them ;—-most heartily.

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

Alfred, was with King Alfred in the last baitle
hoe fought.

Gandelin. With King Alfred? Tleaven bless hin}

Gubba. What is become of our good King?

Alfred, Did you love him, then? : /