the velvet and gold of the binding give the joy which is
greatest.

_Alfred._ What do you mean, dear lady mother?

_Queen._ This is a book I greatly enjoy, for it is full of the tales of
the mighty King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table. You will like
to hear me read these brave stories when you are tired with your day's
work, or on rainy days when you can neither hunt nor ride. Then you know
not how to amuse yourselves and time is heavy on your hands, since you
can neither read nor play upon the musical instruments that give us so
much pleasure.

_Ethelred._ The book is so lovely. Let me take it, lady mother!

_Queen._ I would that the children of my royal husband could read the
book.

_Ethelbald._ Our father does not think much of books and music. He likes
to hunt and fight, and so do I.

_Ethelred._ And I love to hunt, but I love to hear the stories of great
kings and warriors, too.

_Alfred._ To which of us wilt thou give the book, lady mother?

_Queen._ I will bestow it on him who shall first learn how to read it.

_Alfred._ Will you really, dear mother?

_Queen._ Yes, upon the faith of a queen, I will. I will not give it to
one who cannot read it. Books are meant for the learned and not for the
ignorant. The sons of a king should cease to play with toys.

_Alfred._ May I take the book a little while?

_Queen._ Yes, you may take the precious volume, Alfred, for I know you
will not injure it, and I hope you will soon learn how to make its
wisdom your own.

_Alfred._ Thank you, lady mother. I shall study the book and learn to
read, for I wish to know all about the brave knights of Arthur's court.

SCENE II.--_Years later, when Alfred is King_

KING ALFRED, OSCAR THE EARL, ODULPH, THE EARL'S SON

_Alfred._ All the others have gone back to their homes. In no other way
can ye serve me. Wherefore do ye go about to weep and break my heart?

_Oscar._ We weep, royal Alfred, because thou hast forbidden us to share
thy fortunes; as if we were the swarm of summer flies, who follow only
while the sun shineth.

_Alfred._ My valiant Oscar, and you my faithful Odulph, listen to me. I
do not despair. The time is not ripe now for further war. Our foes the
Danes have conquered us for a time. I trust that the time will come when
we shall drive them from our land. But we must do that which seems best
for the present and seek to be more successful in the future. We must
not sit down and weep; no, this rat