The Story of the Glittering Plain | Page 3

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THE STORY OF THE GLITTERING PLAIN OR THE LAND OF
LIVING MEN
by William Morris

CHAPTER I
: OF THOSE THREE WHO CAME TO THE HOUSE OF THE
RAVEN

It has been told that there was once a young man of free kindred and
whose name was Hallblithe: he was fair, strong, and not untried in
battle; he was of the House of the Raven of old time.
This man loved an exceeding fair damsel called the Hostage, who was
of the House of the Rose, wherein it was right and due that the men of
the Raven should wed.
She loved him no less, and no man of the kindred gainsaid their love,
and they were to be wedded on Midsummer Night.
But one day of early spring, when the days were yet short and the
nights long, Hallblithe sat before the porch of the house smoothing an
ash stave for his spear, and he heard the sound of horse-hoofs drawing
nigh, and he looked up and saw folk riding toward the house, and so
presently they rode through the garth gate; and there was no man but he
about the house, so he rose up and went to meet them, and he saw that
they were but three in company: they had weapons with them, and their
horses were of the best; but they were no fellowship for a man to be
afraid of; for two of them were old and feeble, and the third was dark
and sad, and drooping of aspect: it seemed as if they had ridden far and
fast, for their spurs were bloody and their horses all a-sweat.
Hallblithe hailed them kindly and said: "Ye are way-worn, and maybe

ye have to ride further; so light down and come into the house, and take
bite and sup, and hay and corn also for your horses; and then if ye
needs must ride on your way, depart when ye are rested; or else if ye
may, then abide here night-long, and go your ways to-morrow, and
meantime that which is ours shall be yours, and all shall be free to
you."
Then spake the oldest of the elders in a high piping voice and said:
"Young man, we thank thee; but though the days of the springtide are
waxing, the hours of our lives are waning; nor may we abide unless
thou canst truly tell us that this is the Land of the Glittering