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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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VOLUME XIV THE HOUSE OF THE WOLFINGS. THE STORY OF THE GLITTERING PLAIN
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A TALE OF THE HOUSE OF THE WOLFINGS AND ALL THE KINDREDS OF THE MARK WRITTEN IN PROSE AND IN VERSE BY WILLIAM MORRIS
  
[WHILES IN THE EARLY WINTER EVE]
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CHAPTER II. THE FLITTING OF THE WAR-ARROW.
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CHAPTER III. THIODOLF TALKETH WITH THE WOOD-SUN.
  
[“We wrought in the ring of the hazels, and the wine of war we drank]
  
[“Nay, nay; I began, I was born; although it may be indeed]
  
[“In what land is she abiding? Is she near or far away?]
  
[“In many a stead Doom dwelleth, nor sleepeth day nor night]
  
[“I have deemed, and long have I deemed that this is my second life]
  
[“O mighty man and joyous, art thou of the Wolfing kin?]
  
[“In forty fights hast thou foughten, and been worsted but in four]
  
[“For thy fair love I thank thee, and thy faithful word, O friend!]
  
[“Keen-edged is the sword of the city, and bitter is its spear]
  
[“O Wood-Sun, thou wottest our battle and the way wherein we fare]
  
[“O Folk-wolf, heed and hearken; for when shall thy life be spent]
  
[“God's Daughter, long hast thou lived, and many a matter seen]
  
[“Yea, I that am God's Daughter may tell thee never a whit]
  
[“What evil thing abideth with this warder of the strife]
  
[“No ill for thee, beloved, or for me in the hauberk lies]
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CHAPTER IV. THE HOUSE FARETH TO THE WAR.
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CHAPTER V. CONCERNING THE HALL-SUN.
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CHAPTER VI. THEY TALK ON THE WAY TO THE FOLK-THING.
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CHAPTER VIII. THE FOLK-MOTE OF THE MARKMEN.
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CHAPTER IX. THE ANCIENT MAN OF THE DAYLINGS.
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CHAPTER XI. THE HALL-SUN SPEAKETH.
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CHAPTER XIII. THE HALL-SUN SAITH ANOTHER WORD.
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CHAPTER XV. THEY HEAR TELL OF THE BATTLE ON THE RIDGE.
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CHAPTER XVI. HOW THE DWARF-WROUGHT HAUBERK WAS BROUGHT AWAY FROM THE HALL OF THE DAYLINGS.
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CHAPTER XVII. THE WOOD-SUN SPEAKETH WITH THIODOLF.
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CHAPTER XIX. THOSE MESSENGERS COME TO THIODOLF.
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CHAPTER XX. OTTER AND HIS FOLK COME INTO MID-MARK.
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CHAPTER XXII. OTTER FALLS ON AGAINST HIS WILL.
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CHAPTER XXVI. THIODOLF TALKETH WITH THE WOOD-SUN.
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CHAPTER XXVII. THEY WEND TO THE MORNING BATTLE.
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CHAPTER XXVIII. OF THE STORM OF DAWNING.
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CHAPTER XXIX. OF THIODOLF'S STORM.
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CHAPTER XXX. THIODOLF IS BORNE OUT OF THE HALL AND OTTER IS LAID BESIDE HIM.
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CHAPTER XXXI. OLD ASMUND SPEAKETH OVER THE WAR-DUKES: THE DEAD ARE LAID IN MOUND.
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THE STORY OF THE GLITTERING PLAIN OR THE LAND OF LIVING MEN
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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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359

AS THIS THIN THREAD

As this thin thread upon thy neck shall lie
So on thy heart let my poor love abide
Not noted much, and yet not cast aside;
For it may be that fear and mockery
And shame, earth's tyrants, the thin thing shall try
Nor scorch therefrom what little worth may hide
Amidst its pettiness, till fully tried
Time leaves it as a thing that will not die.
Then hearken! thou who forgest day by day
No chain, but armour that I needs must wear
Although at whiles I deem it hard to bear,
If thou to thine own work no hand will lay,
That which I took I may not cast away,
Keep what I give till Death our eyes shall clear.
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