KING.  Why, she must fight again!

PRINCE, (shaking head).  Our soldiers ran from the Danes to-day, and lost the battle to them!

KING.  ’Tis because they fear these Danes as they do monsters,—­monsters come to rob them,—­to burn their homes,—­to make them slaves!

SOLDIERS.  Aye!  Aye!

KING.  If only I could turn their fear to rage and fierce, hot anger! 
Then England would not flee!  She’d fight her foes and conquer!

SOLDIERS.  Aye!  Aye!

PRINCE.  ’Tis for that great work you should save yourself, Sire!  For that, you should wear the beggar’s rags now!

[Enter ENGLISH SOLDIERS in great haste.]

THIRD SOLDIER.  Sire, save yourself!  The Danes still follow us!

FOURTH SOLDIER.  They have crossed the river!

THIRD SOLDIER.  They pursue your Majesty!

PRINCE.  Go to the hut there, Sire.  Let the Danes find you begging from the goodwife.

KING.  But you, my men, where will you hide?

FIRST SOLDIER.  We’ll scatter, Sire.

KING.  Then go, go at once!  I’ll await you here, if the Danes go on.

PRINCE (saluting).  Farewell, my King!

SOLDIERS (saluting).  Farewell, King Alfred, farewell!

[They go.  The King crosses to hut, and knocks at door, which is opened by the GOODWIFE. She holds a wooden bowl and a large flat stone in her hands.]

GOODWIFE (aside).  Another beggar, as I live!

(Aloud, sharply).  Well, what do you want?

KING.  A bite to eat, goodwife.

GOODWIFE.  My cakes are not yet baked.

KING.  I will wait, then.

GOODWIFE (indignantly).  Well, and you will not, sir!

KING (alarmed).  You will not drive me off, good woman!

GOODWIFE.  And who are you, that you should sit by and wait, whilst I do all the work!  And do you think you are the king, sir?

KING.  No, no!  I—­

GOOD WIFE (interrupting).  You’ll fry the cakes yourself, sir!  And that you will at once, sir!  Go now and mend the fire, and lay this stone upon it.

[The King takes the stone; crosses to the fire, and stirs it; places the stone on the burning wood.  When the stone is hot, the Goodwife pours the batter from the bowl on the stone.]

GOODWIFE.  Now watch these cakes while I’m within.  And watch them well:  rye cakes do burn while one is winking.

KING.  I’ll watch them carefully, goodwife.

(The Goodwife enters hut.  The King turns the cakes carefully, then sits on a log; he shows that his thoughts are far away.)

I will drive them out!  I will!

(Pause.)

To-night I’ll get my men together.

(Pause.)

We will take them by surprise—­at daybreak.

[Enter the GOODWIFE; she rushes to the fire.]