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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.
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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.
  
[“Ill luck to me]
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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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130

[“Ill luck to me]

[Grettir.]
“Ill luck to me
That I should be
On sea-roof-firth
Borne unto earth;
Ill luck enow
To lie alow,
This head of mine
Griped fast by swine.”

“What were they minded to do to thee,” said Vermund, “when they took thee there?” Quoth Grettir:

“There many men
Bade give me then
E'en Sigar's meed
For lovesome deed;
Till found me there
That willow fair,
Whose leaves are praise,
Her stems good days.”

Vermund asked, “Would they have hanged thee then, if they alone had had to meddle with matters?” Said Grettir:

“Yea, to the snare
That dangled there
My head must I
Soon bring anigh;
131

But Thorbiorg came
The brightest dame,
And from that need
The singer freed.”

Then said Vermund, “Did she bid thee to her?” Grettir answered:

“Sif's lord's good aid,
My saviour, bade
To take my way
With her that day;
So did it fall;
And therewithal
A horse she gave;
Good peace I have.”
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