And a line was drawn north-westerly,That set King Egbert's empire free,Giving all lands by the northern sea, To the sons of the northern star.
In the days of the rest of Alfred, When all these things were done,And Wessex lay in a patch of peace, Like a dog in a patch of sun —
The King sat in his orchard, Among apples green and red,With the little book in his bosom, And the sunshine on his head.
And he gathered the songs of simple men That swing with helm and hod,And the alms he gave as a ChristianLike a river alive with fishes ran;And he made gifts to a beggar man As to a wandering god.
And he gat good laws of the ancient kings, Like treasure out of the tombs;And many a thief in thorny nook,Or noble in sea-stained turret shook,For the opening of his iron book, And the gathering of the dooms.
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