Explore "The Sundering Flood" by William Morris on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
But two days after this was the tryst-day for Osberne to see his over-water friend, and he went soberly enough, and came to the waterside and found her over against him; and she asked of him tidings. "Tidings enough," said he, "for now have I done a deed beyond my years, a deed unmeet for a child; to wit, I have slain a man."
"O," she said, "and didst thou sleep after the deed? " Said Osberne: "Yea, and dreamed never a deal. But I must tell thee I was in my right. " Said Elfhild: "What did he to thee that thou must slay him? " Osberne said: "He came swaggering into our house and would take all to him, and put all of us to the road or hold us in thraldom. " She said "But tell me, how didst thou slay him? Was he drunk or asleep? " "Nay," said he, "I was champion for my grandsire, and the robber had a sword in his fist, and I another and we fought, and I overcame him. " Said the maiden: "But was he mannikin or a dastard, or unskilled in weapons? " Spake Osberne, reddening: "He was a stark carle, a bold man, and was said to be of all prowess."