University of Virginia Library

Search this document 
The Collected Works of William Morris

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

expand sectionI. 
VOLUME I THE DEFENCE OF GUENEVERE AND OTHER POEMS
expand sectionII. 
VOLUME II THE LIFE AND DEATH OF JASON
expand sectionIII, IV, V, VI. 
VOLUME III, IV, V, VI THE EARTHLY PARADISE
expand sectionVII. 
VOLUME VII THE STORY OF GRETTIR THE STRONG. THE STORY OF THE VOLSUNGS AND NIBLUNGS
expand sectionIX. 
VOLUME IX LOVE IS ENOUGH. POEMS BY THE WAY
expand sectionX. 
VOLUME X THREE NORTHERN LOVE STORIES. THE TALE OF BEOWULF
expand sectionXII. 
VOLUME XII THE STORY OF SIGURD THE VOLSUNG AND THE FALL OF THE NIBLUNGS
expand sectionXIV. 
VOLUME XIV THE HOUSE OF THE WOLFINGS. THE STORY OF THE GLITTERING PLAIN
collapse sectionXV. 
VOLUME XV THE ROOTS OF THE MOUNTAINS
expand section 
INTRODUCTION
  
THE ROOTS OF THE MOUNTAINS WHEREIN IS TOLD SOMEWHAT OF THE LIVES OF THE MEN OF BURGDALE, THEIR FRIENDS THEIR NEIGHBOURS THEIR FOEMEN AND THEIR FELLOWS IN ARMS BY WILLIAM MORRIS
expand sectionIII. 
CHAPTER III. THEY TALK OF DIVERS MATTERS IN THE HALL.
expand sectionVI. 
CHAPTER VI. OF FACE-OF-GOD AND THOSE MOUNTAIN DWELLERS.
expand sectionIX. 
CHAPTER IX. THOSE BRETHREN FARE TO THE YEW-WOOD WITH THE BRIDE.
expand sectionXV. 
CHAPTER XV. MURDER AMONGST THE FOLK OF THE WOODLANDERS.
expand sectionXX. 
CHAPTER XX. THOSE TWO TOGETHER HOLD THE RING OF THE EARTH-GOD.
expand sectionXXIX. 
CHAPTER XXIX. THEY BRING THE RUNAWAYS TO BURGSTEAD.
expand sectionXXXIV. 
CHAPTER XXXIV. THE CHIEFTAINS TAKE COUNSEL IN THE HALL OF THE FACE.
expand sectionXXXVII. 
CHAPTER XXXVII. OF THE FOLK-MOTE OF THE DALESMEN, THE SHEPHERD-FOLK, AND THE WOODLAND CARLES: THE BANNER OF THE WOLF DISPLAYED.
expand sectionXXXIX. 
CHAPTER XXXIX. OF THE GREAT FOLK-MOTE: MEN TAKE REDE OF THE WAR-FARING, THE FELLOWSHIP, AND THE WARLEADER. FOLK-MIGHT TELLETH WHENCE HIS PEOPLE CAME. THE FOLK-MOTE SUNDERED.
expand sectionXLI. 
CHAPTER XLI. THE HOST DEPARTETH FROM SHADOWY VALE: THE FIRST DAY'S JOURNEY.
expand sectionXLIV. 
CHAPTER XLIV. OF THE ONSLAUGHT OF THE MEN OF THE STEER, THE BRIDGE, AND THE BULL.
expand sectionXLV. 
CHAPTER XLV. OF FACE-OF-GOD'S ONSLAUGHT.
expand sectionXLVIII. 
CHAPTER XLVIII. MEN SING IN THE MOTE-HOUSE.
expand sectionLI. 
CHAPTER LI. THE DEAD BORNE TO BALE: THE MOTE-HOUSE RE-HALLOWED.
expand sectionLV. 
CHAPTER LV. DEPARTURE FROM SILVERDALE.
expand sectionLVIII. 
CHAPTER LVIII. HOW THE MAIDEN WARD WAS HELD IN BURGDALE.
expand sectionXVI. 
VOLUME XVI NEWS FROM NOWHERE. A DREAM OF JOHN BALL. A KING'S LESSON
expand sectionXVII. 
VOLUME XVII THE WOOD BEYOND THE WORLD. CHILD CHRISTOPHER. OLD FRENCH ROMANCES
expand sectionXXI. 
VOLUME XXI THE SUNDERING FLOOD. UNFINISHED ROMANCES
expand sectionXXIV. 
VOLUME XXIV SCENES FROM THE FALL OF TROY AND OTHER POEMS AND FRAGMENTS

collapse section Collapse All | Expand All expand section
previous section The Collected Works of William Morris
next section
80

“Then Reidmar laughed and answered: ‘So much is thy word of worth!
And they call thee Odin for this, and stretch forth hands in vain,
And pray for the gifts of a God who giveth and taketh again!
It was better in times past over, when we prayed for nought at all,
When no love taught us beseeching, and we had no troth to recall.
Ye have changed the world, and it bindeth with the right and the wrong ye have made,
Nor may ye be Gods henceforward save the rightful ransom be paid.
But perchance ye are weary of kingship, and will deal no more with the earth?
Then curse the world, and depart, and sit in your changeless mirth;
And there shall be no more kings, and battle and murder shall fail,
And the world shall laugh and long not, nor weep, nor fashion the tale.’
previous section The Collected Works of William Morris
next section