William Morris

“ See then, sweetheart, said he, how might it ever come about that we might meet bodily if I abode ever at Wethermel and in the Dale in peace and quietness, while thou dwelt still with thy carlines on the other side of this fierce stream? Must I not take chance-hap and war by the hand and follow where they lead, that I may learn the wideness of the world, and compass earth and sea till I have gone about the Sundering Flood and found thy little body somewhere in the said wide world? ”

“ At the said house that even they were of one mind to gather a mote there the next morning, and they sent folk that same night to bear the war-arrow to the steads above and below, and all seemed like to go well; and ever Osberne spake his mind without fear or favour to the boldest and wisest that were there. ”

“ O if thou mightest but be here and thine arms about me! for now I see that some evil hath befallen, and that thou art arrayed to go away from out of the Dale. And O thy warcoat and thine helm! thou art going into peril of death, and thou so young! But I had an inkling hereof, for there were two carles in our house last night, and they said that there were weaponed men riding amidst the East Dalers. Tell me, what is it? Will ye fight in the Dale or go far from it? ”