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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.
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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.
  
[“Doubtful played the foredoomed fate]
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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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previous sectionCHAPTER LXXXII. GRETTIR SINGS OF HIS GREAT DEEDS. The Collected Works of William Morris
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195

[“Doubtful played the foredoomed fate]

[Grettir.]
“Doubtful played the foredoomed fate
Round the sword in that debate,
When the bearserks' outlawed crew
In the days of yore I slew.
Screamed the worm of clashing lands
When Hiarandi dropped his hands
Biorn and Gunnar cast away,
Hope of dwelling in the day.
“Home again then travelled I;
The broad-boarded ship must lie,
Under Door-holm, as I went,
Still with weapon-play content,
Through the land; and there the thane
Called me to the iron rain,
Bade me make the spear-storm rise,
Torfi Vebrandson the wise.
“To such plight the Skald was brought,
Wounder of the walls of thought,
Howsoever many men
Stood, all armed, about us then,
That his hand that knew the oar,
Grip of sword might touch no more;
Yet to me the wound who gave
Did he give a horse to have.
196

“Thorbiorn Arnor's son, men said,
Of no great deed was afraid,
Folk spake of him far and wide;
He forbade me to abide
Longer on the lovely earth;
Yet his heart was little worth,
Not more safe alone was I,
Than when armed he drew a-nigh.
“From the sword's edge and the spears,
From my many waylayers,
While might was, and my good day,
Often did I snatch away;
Now a hag, whose life outworn
Wicked craft and ill hath borne,
Meet for death lives long enow,
Grettir's might to overthrow.”

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