The Musick was composed by Command of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, and never performed in England, but at His Royal Highness's Palace at Cliefden. The music by Mr. Arne. To conclude with a celebrated Ode in Honour of Great Britain, in imitation of those formerly sung at the Banquets of Kings and Heroes: Boxes, 6s.; Pit, 4s.; First Gallery, 2s. 6d.; and Upper Gallery, 1s. 6d. Mr. Arne humbly hopes the Town will not be offended at the small advance of the Price, this Performance being exhibited at an Extra Expence, with regard to the Number of Hands, Chorus Singers, building the stage, and erecting an Organ; besides all other incidents as usual. The Ladies are desir'd to send their Servants[38] by Four o'clock. The above day is fix'd on to avoid interfering with Mr. Handel."[39] For this performance the libretto had been considerably altered, re-written in fact, and Arne had composed the additional music required; the title-page of the revised book reads: "Alfred, an Opera. Alter'd from the Play, written by Mr. Thomson and Mr. Mallet, in Honour of the Birth-Day of Her Royal Highness, The Young Princess Augusta. The Musick was composed by Mr. Arne, and perform'd with the Play at Cliffden in Buckinghamshire at the Special Command of His Royal Highness, Frederic, Prince of Wales. London. Printed for A. Millar at Buchanan's Head, Opposite Catherine Street in the Strand. M.DCC.XLX." The dramatis personæ were all singers, Mr. Lowe, the tenor, represented Alfred, King of England; Master Connel, Prince Edward, son of Alfred; Mr. Baildon, Earl of Devon; Mr. Baker, Corin, a shepherd; Mrs. Arne, Eltruda, Queen of England; Miss Young, the First Spirit; Miss Sybilla, the Second Spirit; Miss Young, a Shepherdess, wife of Corin. The first libretto (1740) of "Alfred" was certainly written by Thomson. It contained many fine lines which are not to be found in the 1745 book. Two examples will suffice. The Hermit, addressing Alfred, says: A vision to my phantasy appear'd-- I liv'd thro' future ages; felt the virtue, The great the glorious passions that will fire Distant posterity: when guardian laws Are by the patriot, in the glowing senate, Won from corruption; when th' impatient arm Of liberty, invincible, shall scourge The tyrants of mankind,--and when the Deep, Through all her swelling waves, shall proudly joy Beneath the boundless empire of thy sons. Alfred the King speaks: In thoughtless, gay prosperity, when all Attends our wish; when nought is seen around us But kneeling flattery, and obedient fortune; Then are blind mortals apt, within themselves To fix their stay, forgetful of the giver, But when thus humbled, ALFRED, as thou art, When to their feeble natural powers reduc'd, 'Tis then they feel this universal truth-- That heaven is all--and man is nothing.