ALFRED; OR, THE MAGIC BANNER. IN THREE ACTS. PERFORMED AT THE THEATRE-ROYAL, HAY-MARKET, IN 1796. BB 2 ALFRE D; OR, THE MAGIC BANNER. ACT I SCENE I. A Clofe Wood. Alarms and Shouts. Enter SwENO, running (with a Standard). SWENO. of MY Y head has escaped a thousand uplifted English faulch ons, but my heart is pierced by the eye an English damfel. A poor exploit for a lufty warrior to take my body prifoner, when my foul is already captive to a puny girl. (retreat founded without) The difmal trumpet of our flying Danes.→ (march without) The exulting clarion of the victorious Saxons. If they make a prifoner of me-the bold Danish ftandard bearer-our magic enfign thall be fate. (retires to a thicket) Enter Enter BLANCHE. Bla. Silly I, in fuch times of peril, to run about the country seeking Euftace-but my joyful heart tells me he's not kill'd-if fo, this precious fcarf, prefented by my love, will be my only fad remembrance. Now to make my way home, thro' bush and bramble-should any ftraggling Danes meet me ift Sol. (without) Hollo! hollo! Enter two Danish SOLDIERS (with drawn fwords) 2d Sol. Thus far we have brought our lives. Surely our ftandard-bearer, Sweno, came this -ha! (feizes Blanche) way Bla. Help! help! Sweno. (advancing from the thicket) The very beauteous girl! (afide) How now, brother foldiers!—a rare prize you've got there. ift Sol. Oh, Sweno! Ay, a prize--won by me. She's mine. 2d Sol. But I first faw her, and therefore fhe's mine. 1ft Sol. 'Twas 1 thát feiz'd her, and by this fword I'll have her. 2d Sol. Oh, if you fwear upon fwords, I'm there as tharp as you. (they prepare to engage) Sweno. Hold-Here are two curft barbarous brutes, going to fight for this dainty morfel; if I cou'd play the fox and fnap it up. (afide) Ift Sold. Come this way, damfel. 2d Sol. I fay, come to me. (they lay hold of her) Sweno. Stop-Is the poor creature to be drawn to pieces between two wild affes? I'll decide this point -Here -Here I fhoot an arrow, and he that brings it to me, fhe's his. Bla. Oh, heavens'! Both Sol. Agreed. (Sweno fhoots an arrow, the Soldiers run off) Bla. I fee your purpose to save me, kind-hearted generous ftranger. Sweno. Yes, I've fav'd you for myself-Aye, you may run, but I win the prize come. Bla. In pity fpare me! Oh-where-where now is Euftace! (Atruggling) Sweno. Take Sweno to your arms. (he clafps her, fhe winds her fcarf round his head, then runs and hides in a cluster of trees)-Eh! (takes it offGone! then our game has been blindman's buffOh, you treacherous little pullet-I must give up my character of fox, I've made myself as great an afs as my rival comrades-English! I'm taken. [Runs off. Enter Earl BURRHED, OSWALD, KNIGHTS, and ATTENDANTS (as hawking). Earl B. Is not that a Dane that fled? Bring him back. [Exeunt attendants. But to return to our sport. Ofw. If your humbleft vaffal might offer an opinion, when an enemy ravages our country, it is not a moment for a Saxon Baron to give up his time to amusement. Earl B. Audacious villain! haven't I caftles, lady, family, and vaffals, as great a ftake as any Noble in the land? Befides, the Danes are routed. You, the high priest of my diverfions, my head falconer, to prate! At home and abroad to be teiz'd thus -my |