FOURTH DANE (whispering).  ’Twould be safest to take him prisoner, my lord!

CHIEF (nodding).  We’ll take him with us to be certain.

GOODWIFE (hearing this).  Yes, take him!  ’Twould serve him right!  He burnt my cakes just now!

CHIEF.  What!  Burnt your cakes?

GOODWIFE.  Yes, my lord!  And I’d have beaten him had not your lordship come.

CHIEF (aside to Danes).  This cannot be the king.

FIRST DANE (shaking head).  No king would fry cakes!

SECOND DANE (shaking head).  He could not be made to fry them!

THIRD DANE (shaking head).  Nor take a beating from a woman!

[The Goodwife has crept up to listen; and so overhears this last remark.]

GOODWIFE.  He wouldn’t, eh?  Ha, ha!  Well, I sent him within to mix fresh dough!  And I sent him with my stick, I did!

[Flourishing stick.]

FOURTH DANE.  Would you let a woman threaten you with a stick, my lord?

CHIEF (proudly). Never!  Besides, King Alfred would be dressed as are his princes and his soldiers.  I have thought that from the first.  Release the beggar!

[Danes release King Alfred.]

CHIEF.  Now listen, Danes!  A hundred silver pieces will I give the man who makes King Alfred prisoner!  Hear—­all of you!—­One hundred silver pieces!

DANES.  Aye!  Aye!

CHIEF (to Goodwife and Alfred).  And when this Alfred’s taken, to me you’ll bend your English knees!  To me, you English beggar!  Now come, my men!  To hunt King Alfred!

DANES (going).  To hunt King Alfred!  To hunt King Alfred!

[They go.  King Alfred smiles.  The Goodwife looks after them, listening for a moment.]

GOODWIFE.  May they never see a hair of his head!

(Lifting up arms.)

May Heaven protect and save King Alfred!

KING (growling).  You seem to love King Alfred—­

GOODWIFE.  I love the ground he treads on!

KING (as before).  Of course,—­’tis English ground!

GOODWIFE (shaking head).  Not that—­I love the air he breathes!

KING.  Well—­’tis English air.

GOODWIFE (sharply). No, no!  I love the king!—­the king himself!

KING (growling). Out upon King Alfred!  Out upon him, I say!

GOODWIFE (angrily). You are a traitor, sir!

KING.  What has he done for England?  He has lost every battle to the
Danes!  He is running from them now!

GOODWIFE.  ’Tis no fault of his!  If the king’s men were as brave as he, there would not be a Dane on English land to-day!

KING (still growling).  Well, I’m glad there’s one that thinks so well of him!

GOODWIFE.  You are a traitor and should be punished!

(Taking up stick.)