The House of the Wolfings

by William Morris

THE HOUSE OF THE WOLFINGS

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

We pass amid the gathering night

Some homestead that we had to leave

Years past; and see its candles bright

Shine in the room beside the door

Where we were merry years agone

But now must never enter more,

As still the dark road drives us on.

E'en so the world of men may turn

At even of some hurried day

And see the ancient glimmer burn

Across the waste that hath no way;

Then with that faint light in its eyes

A while I bid it linger near

And nurse in wavering memories

The bitter-sweet of days that were.

Contents

• CHAPTER I—THE DWELLINGS OF MID-MARK
• CHAPTER II—THE FLITTING OF THE WAR-ARROW
• CHAPTER III—THIODOLF TALKETH WITH THE WOOD-SUN
• CHAPTER IV—THE HOUSE FARETH TO THE WAR
• CHAPTER V—CONCERNING THE HALL-SUN
• CHAPTER VI—THEY TALK ON THE WAY TO THE FOLK-THING
• CHAPTER VII—THEY GATHER TO THE FOLK-MOTE
• CHAPTER VIII—THE FOLK-MOTE OF THE MARKMEN
• CHAPTER IX—THE ANCIENT MAN OF THE DAYLINGS
• CHAPTER X—THAT CARLINE COMETH TO THE ROOF OF THE WOLFINGS
• CHAPTER XI—THE HALL-SUN SPEAKETH
• CHAPTER XII—TIDINGS OF THE BATTLE IN MIRKWOOD
• CHAPTER XIII—THE HALL-SUN SAITH ANOTHER WORD
• CHAPTER XIV—THE HALL-SUN IS CAREFUL CONCERNING THE PASSES OF THE WOOD
• CHAPTER XV—THEY HEAR TELL OF THE BATTLE ON THE RIDGE
• CHAPTER XVI—HOW THE DWARF-WROUGHT HAUBERK WAS BROUGHT AWAY FROM THE HALL OF THE DAYLINGS
• CHAPTER XVII—THE WOOD-SUN SPEAKETH WITH THIODOLF
• CHAPTER XVIII—TIDINGS BROUGHT TO THE WAIN-BURG
• CHAPTER XIX—THOSE MESSENGERS COME TO THIODOLF
• CHAPTER XX—OTTER AND HIS FOLK COME INTO MID-MARK
• CHAPTER XXI—THEY BICKER ABOUT THE FORD
• CHAPTER XXII—OTTER FALLS ON AGAINST HIS WILL
• CHAPTER XXIII—THIODOLF MEETETH THE ROMANS IN THE WOLFING MEADOW
• CHAPTER XXIV—THE GOTHS ARE OVERTHROWN BY THE ROMANS
• CHAPTER XXV—THE HOST OF THE MARKMEN COMETH INTO THE WILD-WOOD
• CHAPTER XXVI—THIODOLF TALKETH WITH THE WOOD-SUN
• CHAPTER XXVII—THEY WEND TO THE MORNING BATTLE
• CHAPTER XXVIII—OF THE STORM OF DAWNING
• CHAPTER XXIX—OF THIODOLF'S STORM
• CHAPTER XXX—THIODOLF IS BORNE OUT OF THE HALL AND OTTER IS LAID BESIDE HIM
• CHAPTER XXXI—OLD ASMUND SPEAKETH OVER THE WAR-DUKES: THE DEAD ARE LAID IN MOUND

Footnotes

[1] Welsh with these men means Foreign, and is used for all people of Europe who are not of Gothic or Teutonic blood.

[2] i.e. Foreigners: see note [1].