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The Collected Works of William Morris

With Introductions by his Daughter May Morris
Morris, William (1834-1896)

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VOLUME I THE DEFENCE OF GUENEVERE AND OTHER POEMS
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VOLUME II THE LIFE AND DEATH OF JASON
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VOLUME III, IV, V, VI THE EARTHLY PARADISE
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VOLUME VII THE STORY OF GRETTIR THE STRONG. THE STORY OF THE VOLSUNGS AND NIBLUNGS
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INTRODUCTION
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GRETTIS SAGA: THE STORY OF GRETTIR THE STRONG:
  
[A life scarce worth the living, a poor fame]
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THIS FIRST PART TELLS OF THE FOREFATHERS OF GRETTIR IN NORWAY, AND HOW THEY FLED AWAY BEFORE HARALD FAIRHAIR, AND SETTLED IN ICELAND; AND OF THEIR DEEDS IN ICELAND BEFORE GRETTIR WAS BORN.
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[subsection]
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HERE BEGINS THE STORY OF THE LIFE OF GRETTIR THE STRONG.
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VÖLSUNGA SAGA: THE STORY OF THE VOLSUNGS AND NIBLUNGS, WITH CERTAIN SONGS FROM THE ELDER EDDA.
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CHAPTER VIII. THE DEATH OF KING SIGGEIR AND OF SIGNY.
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CHAP. XIV. REGIN'S TALE OF HIS BROTHERS, AND THE GOLD CALLED ANDVARI'S HOARD.
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CHAPTER XVII. OF SIGURD'S AVENGING OF SIGMUND HIS FATHER.
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CHAPTER XIX. OF THE SLAYING OF REGIN, SON OF HREIDMAR.
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CHAPTER XX. OF SIGURD'S MEETING WITH BRYNHILD ON THE MOUNTAIN.
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CHAPTER XXVII. THE WOOING OF BRYNHILD.
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CHAPTER XXVIII. HOW THE QUEENS HELD ANGRY CONVERSE TOGETHER AT THE BATHING.
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CHAP. XXIX. OF BRYNHILD'S GREAT GRIEF AND MOURNING.
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CHAPTER XXX. OF THE SLAYING OF SIGURD FAFNIR'S BANE.
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CHAPTER XXXI. OF THE LAMENTATION OF GUDRUN OVER SIGURD DEAD, AS IT IS TOLD IN THE ANCIENT SONGS.
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CHAP. XXXIII. GUDRUN WEDDED TO ATLI.
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CHAPTER XLIII. THE LATTER END OF ALL THE KIN OF THE GIUKINGS.
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CERTAIN SONGS FROM THE ELDER EDDA, WHICH DEAL WITH THE STORY OF THE VOLSUNGS
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VOLUME IX LOVE IS ENOUGH. POEMS BY THE WAY
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VOLUME X THREE NORTHERN LOVE STORIES. THE TALE OF BEOWULF
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VOLUME XII THE STORY OF SIGURD THE VOLSUNG AND THE FALL OF THE NIBLUNGS
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VOLUME XIV THE HOUSE OF THE WOLFINGS. THE STORY OF THE GLITTERING PLAIN
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VOLUME XV THE ROOTS OF THE MOUNTAINS
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VOLUME XVI NEWS FROM NOWHERE. A DREAM OF JOHN BALL. A KING'S LESSON
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VOLUME XVII THE WOOD BEYOND THE WORLD. CHILD CHRISTOPHER. OLD FRENCH ROMANCES
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VOLUME XXI THE SUNDERING FLOOD. UNFINISHED ROMANCES
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VOLUME XXIV SCENES FROM THE FALL OF TROY AND OTHER POEMS AND FRAGMENTS

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396

They too, those old men, well might sit and gaze
Upon the images of bygone days,
And wonder mid their soft self-pity, why
Mid such wild struggles had their lives gone by,
Since neither love nor joy, nor even pain,
Should last for ever; yet their strife so vain
While still they strove, so sore regretted now,
The heavy grief that once their heads did bow,
Had wrought so much for them, that they might sit
Amid some pleasure at the thought of it;
At least not quite consumed by sordid fear,
That now at last the end was come anear;
At least not hardened quite so much, but they
Might hear of love and longing worn away
'Twixt birth and death of others, wondering
Belike, amid their pity what strange thing
Made the mere truth of what poor souls did bear
—In vain or not in vain—so sweet to hear,
So healing to the tangled woes of earth,
At least for a short while.
But little mirth
The grey eve and the strong unfailing wind
Might ask of them that tide; and yet behind
That mask of pensive eyes, so unbeguiled
By ancient folly any more, what wild
Strange flickering hopes ineffable might lie,
As swift that latter end of eve slipped by!
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