midnight
and he would minister as well to the harmonies of an oratorio as Abel , or Jephtha , Moses , or St. Paul -- nay , as the Messiah , or the last dread Judgment . Remember , our Alfred was a proficient himself , and spied the Danish forces in the character of a harper . What scope were here for gentle airs , and stirring Saxon songs ! He harangues his patriot band , and a manly Phillips would personify with admirable taste the truly royal bard : he leaves Athel-switha his wife , and a fair flock of children in sanctuary , while he rushes to the battle-field : the churchmen might receive their queenly charge with music : the Danes riot in their unguarded camp with drinking-snatches , and old-country-staves : a storm might occur , with elemental crash : the succeeding silence of nature , and distant coming on of the patriot troops at midnight ; their war-songs and marches nearer and nearer ; the invaders surprised in their camp and in their cups ; the hurlyburly of the fight -- a hail-stone chorus of arrows , a clash of thousand swords , trumpets , drums , and clattering horse-hoofs ; a silent interval , to introduce a single combat between Alfred and Hubba the Dane , with Homeric challenges , tenor and bass ; the routed foe , in clamorous and discordant staccato ; the conquerors pressing on in steady overwhelming concord ; how are the mighty fallen -- and praise to the God of battles ! Most briefly , then , thus : there is religion enough to keep it solemn , without being so experimental as to intrude upon personal prejudice . The notion is too slight , and too slenderly worked out , even for admission here , if I were not still , my shrewd and mindful reader , sedulously endeavouring to get rid of all my brain-oppressing fancies : and this , happening to come uppermost as I write , finds itself caught , to my comfort . It is commended , if worth any thing , to the musical proficient : for I might as well think of adding a note to the gamut as of trying to compose an oratorio .