William Morris

“ Said Osberne: I would we were there awhile, for as I look at the stead it seemeth friendly to me, and I fare to feel that the folk thereof shall come into my life some day. Answered the goodman: We hear that little dwelleth there save a widow woman and her one child, a little maiden. And as to thy one day, it shall be a long while coming; for long and long shall it be for any one to encompass the Sundering Flood, save the Winter of Fear come upon us, and all the land be overlaid with ice, and the waters of the Flood be stayed; which may God and Allhallows forfend. ”

“ But now on either side the churches fell to ringing to mass, and all folk, fared to service. And Osberne sat in a good place amongst the carles, and forsooth he had both ears and eyes open both then and all day. Mass over, the cooking-fires were lighted and tents were pitched on either side the water, and in a while they went to dinner; and thereafter, when they had sung awhile, came the time of drinking, and folk were paired, men and women so far as might be, for more men there were than women ”

“ CHAPTER VI. THEY FARE TO THE CLOVEN MOTE.
AND now the days wore away to winter, and ever thereafter might Osberne do what he would, and go where he would, for as little a lad as he was; but he worked with a good will if he were uncompelled, and if he were suffered to wander at whiles as his will drave him. Forsooth, since he had no fellows of a like age to him, it was whiles that he found the open field or the waste gave him better fellowship than the older folk, yea even than the women. ”