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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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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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INTRODUCTION
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THE STORY OF SIGURD THE VOLSUNG AND THE FALL OF THE NIBLUNGS
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BOOK I. SIGMUND
  
OF THE DWELLING OF KING VOLSUNG, AND THE WEDDING OF SIGNY HIS DAUGHTER.
  
HOW THE VOLSUNGS FARED TO THE LAND OF THE GOTHS, AND OF THE FALL OF KING VOLSUNG.
  
OF THE ENDING OF ALL VOLSUNG'S SONS SAVE SIGMUND ONLY, AND OF HOW HE ABIDETH IN THE WILD WOOD.
  
OF THE BIRTH AND FOSTERING OF SINFIOTLI, SIGNY'S SON.
  
OF THE SLAYING OF SIGGEIR THE GOTH-KING.
  
HOW SIGMUND COMETH TO THE LAND OF THE VOLSUNGS AGAIN, AND OF THE DEATH OF SINFIOTLI HIS SON.
  
OF THE LAST BATTLE OF KING SIGMUND, AND THE DEATH OF HIM.
  
HOW KING SIGMUND THE VOLSUNG WAS LAID IN MOUND ON THE SEA-SIDE OF THE ISLE-REALM.
  
HOW QUEEN HIORDIS IS KNOWN; AND HOW SHE ABIDETH IN THE HOUSE OF ELF THE SON OF THE HELPER.
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BOOK II. REGIN
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BOOK III. BRYNHILD
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BOOK IV. GUDRUN
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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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104

THE BURGHERS' BATTLE

Thick rise the spear-shafts o'er the land
That erst the harvest bore;
The sword is heavy in the hand,
And we return no more.
The light wind waves the Ruddy Fox,
Our banner of the war,
And ripples in the Running Ox,
And we return no more.
Across our stubble acres now
The teams go four and four;
But out-worn elders guide the plough,
And we return no more.
And now the women heavy-eyed
Turn through the open door
From gazing down the highway wide,
Where we return no more.
The shadows of the fruited close
Dapple the feast-hall floor;
There lie our dogs and dream and doze,
And we return no more.
Down from the minster tower to-day
Fall the soft chimes of yore
Amidst the chattering jackdaws' play:
And we return no more.
But underneath the streets are still;
Noon and the market's o'er!
Back go the goodwives o'er the hill;
For we return no more.
What merchant to our gates shall come?
What wise man bring us lore?
What abbot ride away to Rome,
Now we return no more?
105

What mayor shall rule the hall we built?
Whose scarlet sweep the floor?
What judge shall doom the robber's guilt,
Now we return no more?
New houses in the street shall rise
Where builded we before,
Of other stone wrought otherwise;
For we return no more.
And crops shall cover field and hill
Unlike what once they bore,
And all be done without our will,
Now we return no more.
Look up! the arrows streak the sky,
The horns of battle roar;
The long spears lower and draw nigh,
And we return no more.
Remember how beside the wain
We spoke the word of war,
And sowed this harvest of the plain,
And we return no more.
Lay spears about the Ruddy Fox!
The days of old are o'er;
Heave sword about the Running Ox!
For we return no more.
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