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University of Virginia Library

The Collected Works of William Morris

With Introductions by his Daughter May Morris

Morris, William (1834-1896)

I.

VOLUME I THE DEFENCE OF GUENEVERE AND OTHER POEMS

II.

VOLUME II THE LIFE AND DEATH OF JASON

III, IV, V, VI.

VOLUME III, IV, V, VI THE EARTHLY PARADISE

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VII.

VOLUME VII THE STORY OF GRETTIR THE STRONG. THE STORY OF THE VOLSUNGS AND NIBLUNGS

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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.

HERE BEGINS THE STORY OF THE LIFE OF GRETTIR THE STRONG.

VÖLSUNGA SAGA: THE STORY OF THE VOLSUNGS AND NIBLUNGS, WITH CERTAIN SONGS FROM THE ELDER EDDA.

VIII.

CHAPTER VIII. THE DEATH OF KING SIGGEIR AND OF SIGNY.

XIV.

CHAP. XIV. REGIN'S TALE OF HIS BROTHERS, AND THE GOLD CALLED ANDVARI'S HOARD.

XVII.

CHAPTER XVII. OF SIGURD'S AVENGING OF SIGMUND HIS FATHER.

XIX.

CHAPTER XIX. OF THE SLAYING OF REGIN, SON OF HREIDMAR.

XX.

CHAPTER XX. OF SIGURD'S MEETING WITH BRYNHILD ON THE MOUNTAIN.

XXVII.

CHAPTER XXVII. THE WOOING OF BRYNHILD.

XXVIII.

CHAPTER XXVIII. HOW THE QUEENS HELD ANGRY CONVERSE TOGETHER AT THE BATHING.

XXIX.

CHAP. XXIX. OF BRYNHILD'S GREAT GRIEF AND MOURNING.

XXX.

CHAPTER XXX. OF THE SLAYING OF SIGURD FAFNIR'S BANE.

XXXI.

CHAPTER XXXI. OF THE LAMENTATION OF GUDRUN OVER SIGURD DEAD, AS IT IS TOLD IN THE ANCIENT SONGS.

XXXIII.

CHAP. XXXIII. GUDRUN WEDDED TO ATLI.

XLIII.

CHAPTER XLIII. THE LATTER END OF ALL THE KIN OF THE GIUKINGS.

CERTAIN SONGS FROM THE ELDER EDDA, WHICH DEAL WITH THE STORY OF THE VOLSUNGS

IX.

VOLUME IX LOVE IS ENOUGH. POEMS BY THE WAY

X.

VOLUME X THREE NORTHERN LOVE STORIES. THE TALE OF BEOWULF

XII.

VOLUME XII THE STORY OF SIGURD THE VOLSUNG AND THE FALL OF THE NIBLUNGS

XIV.

VOLUME XIV THE HOUSE OF THE WOLFINGS. THE STORY OF THE GLITTERING PLAIN

XV.

VOLUME XV THE ROOTS OF THE MOUNTAINS

XVI.

VOLUME XVI NEWS FROM NOWHERE. A DREAM OF JOHN BALL. A KING'S LESSON

XVII.

VOLUME XVII THE WOOD BEYOND THE WORLD. CHILD CHRISTOPHER. OLD FRENCH ROMANCES

XXI.

VOLUME XXI THE SUNDERING FLOOD. UNFINISHED ROMANCES

XXIV.

VOLUME XXIV SCENES FROM THE FALL OF TROY AND OTHER POEMS AND FRAGMENTS

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23

Now when September drew unto its end,
Unto the selfsame place those men did wend
Where last they feasted; and the autumn day
Was so alike to that one passed away,
That, but for silence of the close stripped bare,
And absence of the merry folk and fair,
Whose feet the deep grass, making haste to grow
Before the winter, minded nothing now—
But for the thinned and straightened boughs, well freed
Of golden fruit; the vine-stocks that did need
No pruning more, ere eager man and maid
Brown fingers on the dusty bunches laid—
But for these matters, they might even deem
That they had slept awhile and dreamed a dream,
And woke up weary in the selfsame place.

And now as each man saw his fellow's face
They 'gan to smile, beholding this same thought
Each in the other's eyes:

“Or all is nought
Whereof I think,” at last a Wanderer said,
“Or of my tale shall ye be well apaid;
Meet is it for this silent company
Sitting here musing, well content to see
The shadows changing, as the sun goes by:
A dream it is, friends, and no history
Of men who ever lived; so blame me nought
If wondrous things together there are brought,
Strange to our waking world—yet as in dreams
Of known things still we dream, whatever gleams
Of unknown light may make them strange, so here
Our dreamland story holdeth such things dear
And such things loathed, as we do; else, indeed,
Were all its marvels nought to help our need.”