William Morris

“ But when the night was yet dark and no sign of dawn in the sky, and, might he have seen it, the south-west wind was driving the rack low adown along the earth, he rose up slowly and gat his bow and arrows into his hands, and weakly and stiffly, like a man who hath been long sick, he fell to going along the river-side toward Wethermel, and his feet knew the way though his eyes might see it not. ”

“ Wherefore, friends, we have won a great victory: God and his hallows keep us from any more such! And it seemed as if the goodman were weeping-ripe, whereof none marvelled. But Osberne spake, and the sound of his own voice seemed strange unto him: Tell me, goodman, have ye lost nought by the murder of men whenas the strong-thieves fell on some stead? Nay, said Wulfstan, the thieves have wasted no other stead save Longryggs, whereas, as I said, the folks escaped the murder, and this little house which is hard hereby of Hart Shaw Knolls. ”

“ NOW some while before men were boun to depart to their own homes, the sound of fresh battle was borne to them on the south-west; so, saving those who must needs go tend the hurt on their way home, they might not tear themselves away from that field of deed ”