What important thing did King Alfred learn when he penetrated the Danish camp of Guthrum?当阿尔弗雷德国王突袭古思伦的丹麦营地时，他学到了什么重要的东西？
Alfred the Great acted as his own spy, visiting Danish camps disguised as a minstrel.阿尔弗雷德大帝亲自担任间谍，他伪装成吟游诗人，潜入丹麦的营地进行侦察。
In those days wandering minstrels were welcome everywhere.在那些日子里，流浪的吟游诗人随处都受到欢迎。
They were not fighting men, and their harp was their passport.他们并非战士，他们的竖琴就是他们的通行证。
Alfred had learned many of their ballads in his youth and could vary his programme with acrobatic tricks and simple conjuring.阿尔弗雷德在年轻时就学会了他们许多民谣歌曲；他还可以通过表演杂技技巧和简单的魔术来丰富自己的表演节目。
While Alfred's little army slowly began to gather at Athelney, the king himself set out to penetrate the camp of Guthrum, the commander of the Danish invaders.当阿尔弗雷德的小军队开始在阿瑟尔尼集结时，国王本人则动身前往丹麦入侵者指挥官古思伦的营地。
These had settled down for the winter at Chippenham: thither Alfred went.丹麦军队已经在奇彭纳姆扎营过冬了；阿尔弗雷德也前往了那里。
He noticed at once that discipline was slack: the Danes had the self-confidence of conquerors, and their security precautions were casual.他立刻察觉到纪律松弛的情况：丹麦人拥有征服者的自信，他们的安全防范措施也非常松懈。
They lived well, on the proceeds of raids on neighbouring regions.他们靠着对邻近地区的劫掠所得，过上了富足的生活。
There they collected women as well as food and drink, and a life of ease had made them soft.他们在那里掳掠妇女、搜刮食物和酒水；安逸的生活使他们变得软弱。
Alfred stayed in the camp a week before he returned to Athelney.阿尔弗雷德在营地待了一周后，才返回阿瑟尔尼。
The force there assembled was trivial compared with the Danish horde.那里集结的兵力与丹麦大军相比微不足道。
But Alfred had deduced that the Danes were no longer fit for prolonged battle: and that their commissariat had no organization, but depended on irregular raids.但阿尔弗雷德推断出：丹麦军队已不再适合持久战；他们的后勤补给毫无组织，只能依靠零星的劫掠。
So, faced with the Danish advance, Alfred did not risk open battle but harried the enemy.因此，在面对丹麦军队的进攻时，阿尔弗雷德没有选择正面交锋，而是不断骚扰敌人。
He was constantly on the move, drawing the Danes after him.他始终处于移动状态，引诱丹麦军队跟随自己行动。
His patrols halted the raiding parties: hunger assailed the Danish army.他的巡逻队阻止了敌人的劫掠行动；饥饿开始困扰丹麦军队。
Now Alfred began a long series of skirmishes -- and within a month the Danes had surrendered.随后，阿尔弗雷德展开了一系列小规模战斗——一个月内，丹麦军队便投降了。
The episode could reasonably serve as a unique epic of royal espionage!这一事件完全可以被视为一部关于王室间谍活动的独特史诗！