'now thereupon did eltas cease his speaking , and suddenly all who hearkened wept ; but he said thereto : 'yea , 't is an unhappy tale , for sorrow hath fared ever abroad among men and doth so still , but in the wild days were very terrible things done and suffered ; and yet hath melko seldom devised more cruelty , nor do i know a tale that is more pitiful . '