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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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CHAPTER XIV. OF GRETTIR AS A CHILD, AND HIS FROWARD WAYS WITH HIS FATHER.
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CHAPTER XVI. OF THE SLAYING OF SKEGGI.
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CHAPTER XVII. OF GRETTIR'S VOYAGE OUT.
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CHAPTER XVIII. OF GRETTIR AT HARAMSEY AND HIS DEALINGS WITH KARR THE OLD.
  
[“Lessener of the flame of sea]
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CHAPTER XIX. OF YULE AT HARAMSEY, AND HOW GRETTIR DEALT WITH THE BEARSERKS.
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CHAPTER XXI. OF GRETTIR AND BIORN AND THE BEAR.
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CHAPTER XXII. OF THE SLAYING OF BIORN.
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CHAPTER XXIV. OF THE SLAYING OF GUNNAR, & GRETTIR'S STRIFE WITH EARL SVEIN.
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CHAPTER XXVII. THE SUIT FOR THE SLAYING OF THORGILS MAKSON.
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CHAPTER XXVIII. GRETTIR COMES OUT TO ICELAND AGAIN.
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CHAPTER XXXI. HOW GRETTIR MET BARDI, THE SON OF GUDMUND, AS HE CAME BACK FROM THE HEATH-SLAYINGS.
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CHAPTER XXXVII. OLAF THE SAINT, KING IN NORWAY; THE SLAYING OF THORBIORN TARDY; GRETTIR GOES TO NORWAY.
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CHAPTER XL. OF GRETTIR AND SNŒKOLL.
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CHAPTER XLVII. GRETTIR COMES OUT TO ICELAND AGAIN.
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CHAPTER XLVIII. THE SLAYING OF THORBIORN OXMAIN.
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CHAPTER LII. HOW GRETTIR WAS TAKEN BY THE ICEFIRTH CARLES.
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CHAPTER LIV. GRETTIR MEETS HALLMUND ON THE KEEL.
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CHAPTER LVII. HOW THORIR OF GARTH SET ON GRETTIR ON ERNEWATERHEATH.
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CHAPTER LIX. GISLI'S MEETING WITH GRETTIR.
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CHAPTER LXI. HOW GRETTIR LEFT FAIR-WOOD-FELL, & OF HIS ABIDING IN THORIR'S-DALE
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CHAPTER LXII. OF THE DEATH OF HALLMUND, GRETTIR'S FRIEND.
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CHAPTER LXIII. HOW GRETTIR BEGUILED THORIR OF GARTH WHEN HE WAS NIGH TAKING HIM.
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CHAPTER LXVI. OF THE DWELLER IN THE CAVE UNDER THE FORCE.
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CHAPTER LXXIV. OF GRETTIR'S WRESTLING: AND HOW THORBIORN ANGLE NOW BOUGHT THE MORE PART OF DRANGEY.
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CHAPTER LXXVII. GRETTIR AT THE HOMESTEAD OF REEKS.
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CHAPTER LXXXII. GRETTIR SINGS OF HIS GREAT DEEDS.
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CHAPTER LXXXVI. HOW THORBIORN ANGLE BROUGHT GRETTIR'S HEAD TO BIARG.
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CHAP. XC. HOW THE LADY SPES REDEEMED THORSTEIN FROM THE DUNGEON.
  
[conclusion]
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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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40

[“Lessener of the flame of sea]

[Grettir.]
“Lessener of the flame of sea,
My strong hope was true to me,
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When I deemed that treasure lay
In the barrow; from to-day
Folk shall know that I was right;
The begetters of the fight
Small joy now shall have therein,
Seeking dragon's-lair to win.”

Thorfinn answered, “Blood will seldom seem blood to thine eyes; no man before thee has had will to break open the barrow; but, because I know that what wealth soever is hid in earth or borne into barrow is wrongly placed, I shall not hold thee blameworthy for thy deed as thou hast brought it all to me; yea, or whence didst thou get the good sword?”

Grettir answered and sang:

“Lessener of waves flashing flame,
To my lucky hand this came
In the barrow where that thing
Through the dark fell clattering;
If that helm-fire I should gain,
Made so fair to be the bane
Of the breakers of the bow,
Ne'er from my hand should it go.”
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