and whose fury was equally increased by victories or defeats.  All these difficulties served only to increase the vigor of his mind.  He took the field without delay; but he was defeated with considerable loss.  This ominous defeat displayed more fully the greatness of his courage and capacity, which found in desperate hopes and a ruined kingdom such powerful resources.  In a short time after he was in a condition to be respected:  but he was not led away by the ambition of a young warrior.  He neglected no measures to procure peace for his country, which wanted a respite from the calamities which had long oppressed it.  A peace was concluded for Wessex.  Then the Danes turned their faces once more towards Mercia and East Anglia.  They had before stripped the inhabitants of all their movable substance, and now they proceeded without resistance to seize upon their lands.  Their success encouraged new swarms of Danes to crowd over, who, finding all the northern parts of England possessed by their friends, rushed into Wessex.  They were adventurers under different and independent leaders; and a peace little regarded by the particular party that made it had no influence at all upon the others.  Alfred opposed this shock with so much firmness that the barbarians had recourse to a stratagem:  they pretended to treat; but taking advantage of the truce, they routed a body of the West Saxon cavalry that were off their guard, mounted their horses, and, crossing the country with amazing celerity, surprised the city of Exeter.  This was an acquisition of infinite advantage to their affairs, as it secured them a port in the midst of Wessex.

Alfred, mortified at this series of misfortunes, perceived clearly that nothing could dislodge the Danes, or redress their continual incursions, but a powerful fleet which might intercept them at sea.  The want of this, principally, gave rise to the success of that people.  They used suddenly to land and ravage a part of the country; when a force opposed them, they retired to their ships, and passed to some other part, which in a like manner they ravaged, and then retired as before, until the country, entirely harassed, pillaged, and wasted by these incursions, was no longer able to resist them.  Then they ventured safely to enter a desolated and disheartened country, and to establish themselves in it.  These considerations made Alfred resolve upon equipping a fleet.  In this enterprise nothing but difficulties presented themselves:  his revenue was scanty, and his subjects altogether unskilled in maritime affairs, either as to the construction or the navigation of ships.  He did not therefore despair.  With great promises attending a little money, he engaged in his service a number of Frisian seamen, neighbors to the Danes, and pirates, as they were.  He brought, by the same means, shipwrights from the continent.  He was himself present to everything; and having performed the part of a king in drawing together supplies of