TIME: More than a thousand years ago.
PLACE: a forest in England.
| KING ALFRED. | DANISH CHIEF. | |
| GOODWIFE. | ENGLISH SOLDIERS. | |
| PRINCE. | DANES. |
[A hut is at one side. Near by is a pile of burning fagots. The PRINCE enters from the forest. He carries a great spear. He looks about; creeps to the hut and looks in the window; shows satisfaction; returns to the forest.]
PRINCE (softly). All is well. Enter!
(Enter Two ENGLISH SOLDIERS from forest. They carry large bows and wear quivers holding arrows.)
We are safe here, my men. Tell King Alfred that.
[The first Soldier salutes and enters forest.]
SECOND SOLDIER. Danes may hide in the hut, Prince—
PRINCE (shaking head). There's only an old woman within.
[Enter FIRST SOLDIER. He holds the bushes and vines aside.]
FIRST SOLDIER. The king!
[Enter KING ALFRED. He is disguised as a beggar. He is young, manly, and courageous.]
PRINCE (bowing). You can rest safely here, King Alfred.
KING. Do you think the Danes are still in pursuit?
PRINCE. No, your Majesty, I am sure we have escaped them this time.
SECOND SOLDIER. Besides, they would not know your Majesty dressed so.
KING (anxiously). Gentlemen, disguise yourselves as you have me.
PRINCE. That will not do, Sire. The Danes must not see you dressed as we are. 'Twill make you safer.
KING. Aye, but there's more danger for you dressed so. Come, be beggars now with me!
FIRST SOLDIER (shaking head). Our first thought is for you, Sire.
SECOND SOLDIER. Should you fall into the Danes' hands now, what will become of England?
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.]
GOOD WIFE (looking at cakes). Burnt to cinders! Not one of them fit to eat!
KING. I am sorry—I—
GOOD WIFE (interrupting). Oh, you good-for-nothing! I would like to beat you!
KING. What can I do to make it right?
GOODWIFE (taking up a stick). You'll mix more dough! More dough! Do you hear?
KING. I'll be glad to do it, Madam!
GOODWIFE (flourishing stick). In with you! Now in with you, and get to work!
[The King enters the hut. Enter DANISH CHIEF and DANES from the forest. They carry spears and shields.]
GOODWIFE (with fear; dropping stick). The Danes!
CHIEF (haughtily). Aye, Danes!
GOODWIFE. I have no silver! Not a piece, sir!
CHIEF. Burn the hut, men!
DANES. Aye! Aye!
[They start toward the hut. The Goodwife falls on her knees before them.]
GOODWIFE. I pray you, spare my home!
CHIEF. We spare no home to any English. Do you not know that?
GOODWIFE. I've heard so—
FIRST DANE. We'll burn every home on English land before we go!
SECOND DANE. And drive every Englishman into the seas!
DANES. Aye! Aye!
GOODWIFE (sobbing). I pray you—
CHIEF (roughly). Come, get up! Get up and cease your weeping! I like it not. Get up, I say!
[Goodwife rises, trembling with fear.]
CHIEF. Now listen; we will not burn your hut, if you will tell us what we wish to know.
GOODWIFE. I will tell you what I can—
CHIEF. Did King Alfred pass this way in flight?
GOODWIFE (starting). What? Our king in flight?
CHIEF (angrily). Come, no tears for him! Did he pass this way, I say?
GOODWIFE. No, my lord.
FIRST DANE. Do not believe her, chief! There's not an Englishman that would not hide him from us!
GOODWIFE (forgetting her fear). Aye, and die for him!
CHIEF (angrily). Say not such words to me! I am your king that is to be!
DANES. Aye! Aye!
CHIEF. Go search within the hut, Danes!
[Danes enter hut. They come out immediately bringing King Alfred.]
FIRST DANE. We found this man within, chief.
SECOND DANE. 'Tis only her husband, I think.
GOODWIFE (indignantly). Husband, say you?—that beggar!
CHIEF (showing suspicion). Ah, a beggar—!
GOODWIFE. Yes, my lord, he came but just before you.
FIRST DANE (whispering). Hear that, my lord,—just before us!
SECOND DANE (whispering). It may be King Alfred!
THIRD DANE (whispering). Disguised as a beggar, sir!
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.)
I myself will do it!
[Lifting stick. Enter the PRINCE and ENGLISH SOLDIERS.]
PRINCE (kneeling). Your Majesty is safe!
GOOD WIFE (aside). What!—Your Majesty, they say!
SOLDIERS (kneeling, joyfully). King Alfred! King Alfred!
GOODWIFE (aside). What!—King Alfred!—
KING. Rise, my Prince! Rise, my soldiers! Ah, I'm glad they did not find you!
[He grasps their hands.]
GOODWIFE (aside; showing fear). It is—it is—the king!
KING. We'll fight again, my men! At daybreak we'll surprise them.
SOLDIERS. Aye! Aye!
KING. Goodwife, your king now thanks you.
GOODWIFE (kneeling). Oh, your Majesty, forgive me! forgive me!
KING (gently). Arise, goodwife.
GOODWIFE (rising). Alas the day I made you fry the cakes! Alas the day I would have beaten you!
KING. Nay, goodwife, 'twas that saved my life. I bless the day you made me fry the cakes! I bless the day you would have beaten me! (Lifting his hand over her head.)
And you I bless, goodwife, for your loyalty to England and her king! Soldiers, salute this brave goodwife!
[Soldiers form in a double line from door of hut, and hold their bows aloft to make an arch. The Goodwife passes up this lane, under the bows, and stands in door of hut. The King and the Prince salute her.]
Footnote 2: (return)The words in parentheses are not intended to be read aloud; they will give the child the cue as to how the part should be rendered and thus stimulate better expression.
Footnote 3: (return)The teacher should explain that King Alfred was one of the most famous and best beloved kings of England, and that while he was king the Danes were trying to conquer England. At the time of the story, he had been defeated by the Danes, and was compelled to hide with a few followers in the forest to avoid falling into the hands of the enemy.