<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="" class="head">The Three Alfreds<a class="footnote" href="#wat23" name="wat23-link" xmlns:html="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">1</a></h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line">THREE Alfreds let us honour. Him who drove</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:%">His foes before the tempest of his blade</p><p class="line">At Ethandune--him first, the all-glorious Shade,</p><p class="line">The care-crowned King whose host with Guthrum strove.</p><p class="line">Next--though a thousand years asunder clove</p><p class="line">These twain--a lord of realms serenely swayed;</p><p class="line">Victoria's golden warbler, him who made</p><p class="line">Verse such as Virgil for Augustus wove.</p><p class="line">Last--neither King nor bard, but just a man</p><p class="line">Who, in the very whirlwind of our woe,</p><p class="line">From midnight till the laggard dawn began,</p><p class="line">Cried ceaseless, " Give us shells--more shells," and so</p><p class="line">Saved England; saved her not less truly than</p><p class="line">Her hero of heroes saved her long ago.</p></div></body></html> · Great War