Very shortly after the performance, on the 19th of August, Millar, the bookseller and publisher, issued the libretto of "Alfred": the title of the book reads: "Alfred, a Masque Represented before Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales, At Clifden, (_sic_) on the First of August, 1740. London Printed for A. Millar, over against St. Clement's Church in the Strand MDCCXL." A perusal of the publication shows that Mr. Milward represented King Alfred; Mrs. Horton, the King's wife, Eltruda; Mr. Quin, a Hermit; Mr. Mills, the Earl of Devon; Mr. Salway, Corin, a Shepherd; Mrs. Clive, Emma, the Shepherd's wife. Two other characters, a Bard and a Spirit, have no names attached, but we know that the part of the Spirit was sung by Mrs. Arne. The Masque consists almost entirely of speaking parts; the first introduction of music is a song for Emma, the Shepherd's wife, who has a delightful little ditty to the words: O peace! the fairest child of heaven, To whom the sylvan reign was given, The vale, the fountain and the grove, With every softer scene of love. Return, sweet peace, and cheer the weeping swain; Return with ease and pleasure in thy train. This charming song was doubtless well sung by Kitty Clive, who, a few years later, was the first to warble Arne's exquisite melody, "Where the bee sucks." The third scene opens with a stage direction--"Solemn music is heard at a distance. It comes nearer in full symphony: after which a single trumpet sounds a high and awakening air. Then the following stanzas are sung by two aerial spirits unseen: "Hear, _Alfred_, father of the state Thy genius heaven's high will declare! What proves the hero truly great, Is never, never to despair: Thy hope awake, thy heart expand With all its vigour, all its fires. Arise! and save a sinking land-- Thy country calls, and heaven inspires." If Arne composed music for the above, it was never published. The next air is sung by Eltruda, the Queen, represented by Mrs. Horton. It was sung off the stage, and according to Arne's score was accompanied by harpsichord and flute, the latter instrument echoing the voice-part. The libretto has two verses, but only the following was performed: Sweet valley, say, where, pensive lying, For me, our children, _England_, sighing, The best of mortals leans his head. Ye fountains, dimpled by my sorrow, Ye brooks that my complainings borrow, O lead me to his lonely bed: Or if my lover, Deep woods, you cover, Ah, whisper where your shadows o'er him spread! In the third scene, second Act, after a dialogue between Alfred, Eltruda and the Hermit, the latter summons the "Genius of England." Then the stage direction is "Music grand and awful. The Genius descending sings the following song":