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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
Plain： and if that be so； then delay not； lead us to thy lord； and
perhaps he will make us content。〃
Spake he who was somewhat less stricken in years than the first：
〃Thanks have thou！ but we need something more than meat and drink； to
wit the Land of Living Men。 And Oh！ but the time presses。〃
Spake the sad and sorry carle： 〃We seek the Land where the days are
many： so many that he who hath forgotten how to laugh； may learn the
craft again； and forget the days of Sorrow。〃
Then they all three cried aloud and said：
〃Is this the Land？ Is this the Land？〃
But Hallblithe wondered； and he laughed and said： 〃Wayfarers； look
under the sun down the plain which lieth betwixt the mountains and
the sea； and ye shall behold the meadows all gleaming with the spring
lilies； yet do we not call this the Glittering Plain； but Cleveland
by the Sea。 Here men die when their hour comes； nor know I if the
days of their life be long enough for the forgetting of sorrow； for I
am young and not yet a yokefellow of sorrow； but this I know； that
they are long enough for the doing of deeds that shall not die。 And
as for Lord； I know not this word； for here dwell we； the sons of the
Raven； in good fellowship； with our wives that we have wedded； and
our mothers who have borne us； and our sisters who serve us。 Again I
bid you light down off your horses； and eat and drink； and be merry；
and depart when ye will； to seek what land ye will。〃
They scarce looked on him； but cried out together mournfully：
〃This is not the Land！ This is not the Land！〃
No more than that they said； but turned about their horses and rode
out through the garth gate； and went clattering up the road that led
to the pass of the mountains。 But Hallblithe hearkened wondering；
till the sound of their horse…hoofs died away； and then turned back
to his work： and it was then two hours after high…noon。
CHAPTER II： EVIL TIDINGS COME TO HAND AT CLEVELAND
Not long had he worked ere he heard the sound of horsehoofs once
more； and he looked not up； but said to himself； 〃It is but the lads
bringing back the teams from the acres； and riding fast and driving
hard for joy of heart and in wantonness of youth。〃
But the sound grew nearer and he looked up and saw over the turf wall
of the garth the flutter of white raiment； and he said：
〃Nay； it is the maidens coming back from the seashore and the
gathering of wrack。〃
So he set himself the harder to his work； and laughed； all alone as
he was； and said： 〃She is with them： now I will not look up again
till they have ridden into the garth； and she has come from among
them； and leapt off her horse； and cast her arms about my neck as her
wont is； and it will rejoice her then to mock me with hard words and
kind voice and longing heart； and I shall long for her and kiss her；
and sweet shall the coming days seem to us： and the daughters of our
folk shall look on and be kind and blithe with us。〃
Therewith rode the maidens into the garth； but he heard no sound of
laughter or merriment amongst them； which was contrary to their wont；
and his heart fell； and it was as if instead of the maidens' laughter
the voices of those wayfarers came back upon the wind crying out； 〃Is
this the Land？ Is this the Land？〃
Then he looked up hastily； and saw the maidens drawing near； ten of
the House of the Raven； and three of the House of the Rose； and he
beheld them that their faces were pale and woe…begone； and their
raiment rent； and there was no joy in them。 Hallblithe stood aghast
while one who had gotten off her horse （and she was the daughter of
his own mother） ran past him into the hall； looking not at him； as if
she durst not： and another rode off swiftly to the horse…stalls。
But the others； leaving their horses； drew round about him； and for a
while none durst utter a word； and he stood gazing at them； with the
spoke…shave in his hand； he also silent； for he saw that the Hostage
was not with them； and he knew that now he was the yokefellow of
sorrow。
At last he spoke gently and in a kind voice； and said： 〃Tell me；
sisters； what evil hath befallen us； even if it be the death of a
dear friend； and the thing that may not be amended。〃
Then spoke a fair woman of the Rose； whose name was Brightling； and
said： 〃Hallblithe； it is not of death that we have to tell； but of
sundering； which may yet be amended。 We were on the sand of the sea
nigh the Ship…stead and the Rollers of the Raven； and we were
gathering the wrack and playing together； and we saw a round…ship
nigh to shore lying with her sheet slack； and her sail beating the
mast； but we deemed it to be none other than some bark of the Fish…
biters； and thought no harm thereof； but went on running and playing
amidst the little waves that fell on the sand； and the ripples that
curled around our feet。 At last there came a small boat from the
side of the round…ship； and rowed in toward shore； and still we
feared not； though we drew a little aback from the surf and let fall
our gown…hems。 But the crew of that boat beached her close to where
we stood； and came hastily wading the surf towards us； and we saw
that they were twelve weaponed men； great； and grim； and all clad in
black raiment。 Then indeed were we afraid； and we turned about and
fled up the beach； but now it was too late； for the tide was at more
than half ebb and long was the way over the sand to the place where
we had left our horses tied among the tamarisk…bushes。 Nevertheless
we ran； and had gotten up to the pebble…beach before they ran in
amongst us： and they caught us； and cast us down on to the hard
stones。
〃Then they made us sit in a row on a ridge of the pebbles； and we
were sore afraid； yet more for defilement at their hands than for
death； for they were evil…looking men exceeding foul of favour。 Then
said one of them： 'Which of all you maidens is the Hostage of the
House of the Rose？'
〃Then all we kept silence； for we would not betray her。 But the evil
man spake again： 'Choose ye then whether we shall take one； or all
of you across the waters in our black ship。' Yet still we others
spake not； till arose thy beloved； O Hallblithe； and said：
〃'Let it be one then； and not all； for I am the Hostage。'
〃'How shalt thou make us sure thereof？' said the evil carle。
〃She looked on him proudly and said： 'Because I say it。'
〃'Wilt thou swear it？' said he。
〃'Yea；' said she； 'I swear it by the token of the House wherein I
shall wed； by the wings of the Fowl that seeketh the Field of
Slaying。'
〃'It is enough；' said the man； 'come thou with us。 And ye maidens
sit ye there； and move not till we have made way on our ship； unless
ye would feel