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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1895 edition....on him calmly now, and without any wrath, but rather as if she would read what was written in his inmost heart. Then her face changed into joyousness again, and she smote her palms together, and cried This is but foolish talk; for yesterday did I see thy valiancy, and to-day I have seen thy goodliness; and I say, that though thou mightest not be good enough for a fool woman of the earthly baronage, yet art thou good enough for me, the wise and the mighty, and the lovely. And whereas thou sayest that I gave thee but disdain when first thou camest to us, grudge not against me therefor, because it was done but to prove thee; and now thou art proven. Then again he knelt down before her, and embraced her knees, and again she raised him up, and let her arm hang down over his shoulder, and her cheek brush his cheek; and she kissed his mouth and Hereby is all forgiven, both thine offence and mine; and now cometh joy and merry days. Therewith her smiling face grew grave, and she stood before him looking stately and gracious and kind at once, and she took his hand and Thou mightest deem my chamber in the Golden House of the Wood over queenly, since thou art no masterful man. So now hast thou chosen well the place wherein to meet me to-day, for hard by on the other side of the stream is a bower of pleasance, which, forsooth, not every one who cometh to this land may find; there shall I be to thee as one of the up-country damsels of thine own land, and thou shalt not be abashed. She sidled up to him as she spoke, and would he, would he not, her sweet voice tickled his very soul with pleasure, and she looked aside on him happy and well-content. So they crossed the stream by the shallow below the pool wherein Walter had bathed, and within a...
A young man named Walter leaves his home and travels into a mysterious, otherworldly realm where he encounters a powerful enchantress. Walter, driven by a sense of restlessness and a desire for adventure, finds himself drawn into a strange land governed by magical forces and ancient, enigmatic figures. He must navigate the complex social and romantic dynamics of this realm, specifically his interactions with the Lady, whose motives remain obscured by her supernatural status. The narrative framework utilizes a romantic, archaic prose style that emphasizes the atmosphere of a dream-like, mythic landscape.
Readers and critics often identify this work as a foundational text in the development of the high fantasy genre. Discussion frequently centers on the deliberate use of archaic language, which some find immersive while others find challenging to navigate. The narrative is noted for its focus on atmosphere and aesthetic beauty rather than rapid plot progression or complex character psychology. Many observers highlight the influence of Morris's background in design and medievalism on the visual richness of the setting. The work remains a subject of interest for those studying the evolution of fantasy literature and the transition from Victorian romance to modern myth-making.
Page Count:
168
Publication Date:
1980-01-01
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0192813013
ISBN-13:
9780192813015