The Hollow Land

William Morris

"We find in ancient story wonders many told,
Of heroes in great glory, with spirit free and bold;
Of joyances and high-tides, of weeping and of woe,
Of noble reckon striving, mote ye now wonders know."
- Niebelungen Lied (see Carlylefs Miscellanies)


STRUGGLING IN THE WORLD.

Do you know where it is -- the Hollow Land?

I have been looking for it now so long, trying to find it again the
Hollow Land for there I saw my love first.

I wish to tell you how I found it first of all; but I am old, my
memory fails me: you must wait and let me think if I perchance can
tell you how it happened. Yea, in my ears is a confused noise of
trumpet-blasts singing over desolate moors, in my ears and eyes a
clashing and clanging of horse-hoofs, a ringing and glittering of
steel; drawn-back lips, set teeth, shouts, shrieks, and curses.

How was it that no one of us ever found it till that day? for it is
near our country: but what time have we to look for it, or any good
thing; with such biting carking cares hemming us in on every
side-cares about great things-mighty things: mighty things, 0 my
brothers! or rather little things enough, if we only knew it. Lives