Alfred stayed in the camp a week before he returned to Athelney.

before ^{的译法:然后；才；就}

• It will be a long time before we meet again.^{(强调主句时间长) adv.才}
• ...the bell struck thirteen times before it stopped.  ^{(强调主句时间长) adv.才}
• I hadn’t waited long before he came.  ^{(强调主句时间短) 就}
• I shaved before I went to the party.  ^{(连词) 然后}
• ..., but I decided to disembark before I bought anything.  ^{(连词) 然后}
• ..., but I decided to disembark before buying anything.  ^{(介词) 然后}

The force there assembled was trivial compared with the Danish horde.

assembled / gathered / massed ^{聚集的（作后置定语）}

• The force there assembled was trivial... ^{聚集的军队}
• The information gathered was crucial to the investigation. ^{收集到的信息}
• The crowd massed outside the building was enormous. ^{聚集的人群}

The force (which was) assembled / gathered / massed there was trivial …

compared to / with... ^与...相比

• The force there assembled was trivial compared with the Danish horde.
• The room was light and lofty compared to the basement. ^{这个房间与地下室比起来更亮更高。}
• I was at a disadvantage compared to the younger members of the team. ^{与队里较年轻的队员相比，我处于不利地位。}

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.

be fit for... / to do... ^{适合做某事（达到好的标准）}

• The food is fit for human consumption.^{食物适合人类食用}
• Chickens slaughtered in the United States, claim officials in Brussels, are not fit to grace European tables.^{不适合摆上欧洲餐桌}
• He is fit for the job. ^{他适合这份工作}

no... but... ^{不是...而是...}

• Their commissariat had no organization, but depended on irregular raids.
• There was no one in the room but me. ^{房间里除了...之外没有别人}
• He is no musician but a composer. ^{他不是一个演奏者，而是一个作曲家}