large/5754/balladwhitehorse_1404_librivox_64kb_mp3/balladofthewhitehorse_00_chesterton_64kb_21
large/5754/balladwhitehorse_1404_librivox_64kb_mp3/balladofthewhitehorse_00_chesterton_64kb
English
5754
Both these objections might possibly be met. It has taken us nearly as long to learn the whole truth about Byron, and perhaps longer to learn the whole truth about Pepys, than elapsed between Alfred and the first writing of such tales. BOTH THESE OBJECTIONS MIGHT POSSIBLY BE MET IT HAS TAKEN US NEARLY AS LONG TO LEARN THE WHOLE TRUTH ABOUT BYRON AND PERHAPS LONGER TO LEARN THE WHOLE TRUTH ABOUT PEEPS THAN ELAPSE BETWEEN ALFRED AND THE FIRST WRITING OF SUCH TALES
 mean. A tradition connects the ultimate victory of Alfred with the valley in Berkshire called the Vale of the White Horse. I have seen doubts of the tradition, which may be valid doubts. I do not know when or where the story started; it is enough that it started somewhere and ended with me; for I only seek to write upon a hearsay, as the old balladists did. For the second case, there is a popular tale that Alfred played the harp and sang in the Danish camp; I select it because it is a popular tale, at whatever time it arose. For the third case, there is a popular tale that Alfred came in contact with a woman and cakes; I select it because it is a popular tale, because it is a vulgar one. It has been disputed by grave historians, who were, I think, a little too grave to be good judges of it. The two chief charges against the story are that it was first recorded long after Alfred's death, and that (as Mr. Oman urges) Alfred never really wandered all alone without any thanes or soldiers. D THAT I DEAL WITH HIM HERE I WRITE AS ONE IGNORANT OF EVERYTHING EXCEPT THAT I HAVE FOUND THE LEGEND OF A KING OF WESSEX STILL ALIVE IN THE LAND I WILL GIVE THREE CURT CASES OF WHAT I MEAN A TRADITION CONNECTS THE ULTIMATE VICTORY OF ALFRED WITH THE VALLEY IN BERKSHIRE CALLED THE VALE OF THE WHITE HORSE I HAVE SEEN DOUBTS OF THE TRADITION WHICH MAY BE VALID DOUBTS I DO NOT KNOW WHEN OR WHERE THE STORY STARTED IT IS ENOUGH THAT IT STARTED SOMEWHERE AND ENDED WITH ME FOR I ONLY SEEK TO WRITE UPON A HERESY AS THE OLD BALLADIST DID FOR THE THIRD CASE THERE IS A POPULAR TALE THAT ALFRED CAME IN CONTACT WITH THE WOMEN AND KATES I SELECT IT BECAUSE IT IS A POPULAR TALE BECAUSE IT IS A VULGAR ONE IT HAS BEEN DISPUTED BY GRA GRAVE HISTORIANS WHO WERE I THINK A LITTLE TOO GRAVE TO BE GOOD JUDGES OF IT THE TWO CHIEF CHARGES AGAINST THE STORY ARE THAT IT WAS FIRST RECORDED LONG AFTER ALFRED'S DEATH AND THAT AS MISTER OMON URGES ALFRED NEVER REALLY WANDERED ALL ALONE WITHOUT ANY THANES OR SOLDIERS
large/5754/balladwhitehorse_1404_librivox_64kb_mp3/balladofthewhitehorse_00_chesterton_64kb
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