The Roots of the Mountains

The Roots of the Mountains

By William Morris.

Table of Contents

1. Titlepage
2. Imprint
3. Epigraph
4. The Roots of the Mountains
   1. I: Of Burgstead and Its Folk and Its Neighbours
   2. II: Of Face-of-God and His Kindred
   3. III: They Talk of Divers Matters in the Hall
   4. IV: Face-of-God Fareth to the Wood Again
   5. V: Face-of-God Falls in with Menfolk on the Mountain
   6. VI: Of Face-of-God and Those Mountain-Dwellers
   7. VII: Face-of-God Talketh with the Friend on the Mountain
   8. VIII: Face-of-God Cometh Home Again to Burgstead
   9. IX: Those Brethren Fare to the Yew-Wood with the Bride
   10. X: New Tidings in the Dale
   11. XI: Men Make Oath at Burgstead on the Holy Boar
   12. XII: Stone-Face Telleth Concerning the Wood-Wights
   13. XIII: They Fare to the Hunting of the Elk
   14. XIV: Concerning Face-of-God and the Mountain
   15. XV: Murder Amongst the Folk of the Woodlanders
   16. XVI: The Bride Speaketh with Face-of-God
   17. XVII: The Token Cometh from the Mountain
   18. XVIII: Face-of-God Talketh with the Friend in Shadowy Vale
   19. XIX: The Fair Woman Telleth Face-of-God of Her Kindred
   20. XX: Those Two Together Hold the Ring of the Earth-God
   21. XXI: Face-of-God Looketh on the Dusky Men
   22. XXII: Face-of-God Cometh Home to Burgstead
   23. XXIII: Talk in the Hall of the House of the Face
   24. XXIV: Face-of-God Giveth That Token to the Bride
   25. XXV: Of the Gate-Thing at Burgstead
   26. XXVI: The Ending of the Gate-Thing
   27. XXVII: Face-of-God Leadeth a Band Through the Wood
   28. XXVIII: The Men of Burgdale Meet the Runaways
   29. XXIX: They Bring the Runaways to Burgstead
   30. XXX: Hall-Face Goeth Toward Rosedale
   31. XXXI: Of the Weapon-Show of the Men of Burgdale and Their Neighbours
   32. XXXII: The Men of Shadowy Vale Come to the Spring Market at Burgstead
   33. XXXIII: The Alderman Gives Gifts to Them of Shadowy Vale
   34. XXXIV: The Chieftains Take Counsel in the Hall of the Face
   35. XXXV: Face-of-God Talketh with the Sun-Beam
   36. XXXVI: Folk-Might Speaketh with the Bride
   37. XXXVII: Of the Folk-Mote of the Dalesmen, the Shepherd-Folk, and the Woodland Carles: The Banner of the Wolf Displayed
   38. XXXVIII: Of the Great Folk-Mote: Atonements Given, and Men Made Sackless
   39. XXXIX: Of the Great Folk-Mote: Men Take Rede of the War-Faring, the Fellowship, and the War-Leader. Folk-Might Telleth Whence His People Came. The Folk-Mote Sundered
   40. XL: Of the Hosting in Shadowy Vale
   41. XLI: The Host Departeth from Shadowy Vale: The First Day’s Journey
   42. XLII: The Host Cometh to the Edges of Silverdale
   43. XLIII: Face-of-God Looketh on Silverdale: The Bowmen’s Battle
   44. XLIV: Of the Onslaught of the Men of the Steer, the Bridge, and the Bull
   45. XLV: Of Face-of-God’s Onslaught
   46. XLVI: Men Meet in the Market of Silverstead
   47. XLVII: The Kindreds Win the Mote-House
   48. XLVIII: Men Sing in the Mote-House
   49. XLIX: Dallach Fareth to Rosedale: Crow Telleth of His Errand: The Kindreds Eat Their Meat in Silverdale
   50. L: Folk-Might Seeth the Bride and Speaketh with Her
   51. LI: The Dead Borne to Bale: The Mote-House Re-Hallowed
   52. LII: Of the New Beginning of Good Days in Silverdale
   53. LIII: Of the Word Which Hall-Ward of the Steer Had for Folk-Might
   54. LIV: Tidings of Dallach: A Folk-Mote in Silverdale
   55. LV: Departure from Silverdale
   56. LVI: Talk Upon the Wildwood Way
   57. LVII: How the Host Came Home Again
   58. LVIII: How the Maiden Ward Was Held in Burgdale
   59. LIX: The Behest of Face-of-God to the Bride Accomplished: A Motestead Appointed for the Three Folks, to Wit, the Men of Burgdale, the Shepherds, and the Children of the Wolf
5. Colophon
6. Uncopyright

Imprint

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Whiles carried o’er the iron road,
We hurry by some fair abode;
The garden bright amidst the hay,
The yellow wain upon the way,
The dining men, the wind that sweeps
Light locks from off the sun-sweet heaps⁠—
The gable grey, the hoary roof,
Here now⁠—and now so far aloof.
How sorely then we long to stay
And midst its sweetness wear the day,
And ’neath its changing shadows sit,
And feel ourselves a part of it.
Such rest, such stay, I strove to win
With these same leaves that lie herein.

The Roots of the Mountains

Wherein Is Told Somewhat of the Lives of the Men of Burgdale, Their Friends, Their Neighbours, Their Foemen, and Their Fellows in Arms

I

Of Burgstead and Its Folk and Its Neighbours

Once upon a time amidst the mountains and hills and falling streams of a fair land there was a town or thorp in a certain valley. This was well-nigh encompassed by a wall of sheer cliffs; toward the East and the great