William Morris

“ AS to Osberne, I will say nought of him till he comes back in the even, driving all his sheep before him, not one lacking, and two of the lost ones found. He bears with him shield and spear, and has the Dwarf-wrought whittle in his girdle. Over his shoulder to boot he bears a biggish bag, well-nigh big enough for so little a carle; of white linen it is, it hath something heavy in it, and is much stained with blood. So he folds the sheep straightway, and then comes into the hall, he and his bag, and throws the same into the ingle of the hearth fire. ”

“ He made a shift to thrust them off at last, and stooping to his bag he drew out something and cast it on the board, and lo the sheared-off head of a great grey wolf with gaping jaws and glistening white fangs, and the women shrank before it. But Osberne said: Lo the first of the catch, and here is the second. And again he drew out a head from the bag and cast it on the board; and so with the third in due course. Now, said he, the bag is empty, and deemest thou, grandsire, that I have bought me off my beating? And thou, grandame, I pray thee, give me my meat, for I am anhungered. ”