Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1870 edition. Excerpt: ...blood is spilt! Come ye not forth Until I bid you, if of any worth Ye hold your lives; and meantime for the sake Of what I had and have not, I will take My due from mead and byre." And therewithal He let his helm down o'er his visage fall, And turned back toward the tent. Back shrank again, Cowed into sullen rage, the Bathstead men, And armed but helpless there within the hall Silent they sat, hearkening the raider's call The cattle o'er the meads: in high-seat there Sat Bodli, but his visage, worn with care Of the past days, was sad, but calm and soft, As if he thought of gentle things, though oft Fierce eyes would scowl upon his dreamy face Unnoted of him; in that dreary place He seemed like some dead king, condemned in hell For his one sin among such men to dwell As for their wickedness he hated most Ere righteous ways and life and all were lost. And in mean time, 'twixt silent trembling bower And silent cursing hall, hour after hour Did Gudrun pace with restless feet, and heart Betwixt two nameless miseries torn apart, Whence cold despair was being well fashioned now. And Oswif sat apart with wrinkled brow, Unnoted in that house of grief and wrong. But midst their shame, from outside, laugh and song Came loud and louder, mingled with the clank Of mead-horns; the feast's clamor never sank Till midday was well past; then quieter It grew without, and yet they still might hear Lowing of neat and men's shouts. Then a voice Cried from the slope-side: "Bathstead men, rejoice That ye no autumn-feast need hold this year, For certes else should ye find victuals dear And hard to come by! Oswif's sons, come out, Unharmed and peaceable, and have no doubt Of hurt from us!" They stirred not for a space; Then cried the voice: ...
