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88 upon his back, they looked like images of the clouds.

Alfred's heart smote against his side, when he saw the beauty of that lady: he eat no meat, but still gazed upon her; nor did he crush any grapes, nor mingle any wine. He heard not, felt not, thought not. He hardly breathed. His senses were in his eyes. He was as one who is "gazing himself blind, by looking on the moon." All this while was his heart beating audibly, and he sat as quiet as a stone, till the feast was done. When the duke had led the duchess away, and the hall was cleared, he was aroused; and looking mournfully around, he sighed deeply, and departed weeping.

On the next day, he wrote to the king as follows:—

";

"It importeth my honour and my life, that I should be absent from your kingdom for some time; how long, I know not. I am a slave; but I serve those whom I most love, and do bless my bondage. I want no gold, therefore use my patrimony while you want it; when not, be it bestowed for the benefit of learning; giving to the church no more than it can demand. Though the tears I now shed are not mine, I do dedicate