THE 8. L. Buel گے 1884 LOVERS OF GUDRUN. А РОЕМ. BY WILLIAM MORRIS. REPRINTED FROM "THE EARTHLY PARADISE.” BOSTON: ROBERTS BROTHERS. 1870. "The Lovers of Gudrun " is one of the six stories comprising the Third Part of "The Earthly Paradise," and is reprinted from that volume for the convenience of tourists and others. The publishers have not thought it necessary to make any change in the paging. UNIVERSITY PRESS: WELCH, BIGELOW, & Co., CAMBRIDGE. THE LOVERS OF GUDRUN. ARGUMENT. THIS story shows how two friends loved a fair woman, and how he who loved her best had her to wife, though she loved him little or not at all; and how one of these two friends gave shame to and received death of the other, who in his turn came to his end by reason of that deed. Of Herdholt and Bathstead. HERDHOLT my tale names for the stead, where erst Olaf the Peacock dwelt, nowise the worst Nigh where Laxriver meets the western sea, Great wealth of sheep and cattle. Ye shall know That Olaf to a mighty house did go Besides these props the Peacock's house that stayed, Bodli his name was. Thus the tale is done Midst the gray slopes, Bathstead its roof did raise Seven miles from Herdholt; Oswif, wise of men, Who Thordis had to wife, abode there then With his five sons, of whom let names go past That are but names; but these were first and last, Ospak and Thorolf: never, says my tale, That Oswif's wisdom was of much avail In making these, though they were stout enow; To perfect womanhood, Gudrun by name, Whose birth the wondering world no more might blame Than hers who erst called Tyndarus her sire, What hearts soe'er, what roof-trees she might fire, What hearts soe'er, what hearths she might leave cold, Before the ending of the tale be told. But where we take the story up, fifteen The maiden's years were; Kiartan now had seen Now most fair Seemed Olaf's lot in life, and scarcely worse |