03:P2
The Lay of the Children of Húrin (First Version) II

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Volume: The Lays of Beleriand
Chapter: The Lay of the Children of Húrin (First Version)
Pages: 29–48
Paragraph count: 782
Token count: 5,036

Citation Index

Page numbers refer to the setting used by all editions other than mass-market paperbacks.

p29
II
BELEG
⸤¶Long time alone
⸤¶a hunter of
⸤¶or Orcs, or
p30
⸤¶there one by
⸤¶around him rallied;
⸤¶they were feared
⸤¶For hot with
⸤¶nor a friend
⸤¶as he wandering
⸤¶There Beleg the
⸤¶they found and
⸤¶and o’erborne by
⸤¶till their captain
⸤¶Afar from that
⸤¶had taken Túrin
⸤¶as they hastened
⸤¶with the loot
⸤¶Then soon was
⸤¶they had tied
⸤¶stared astonied on
⸤¶of Beleg the
⸤¶of whom he
⸤¶and of bended
⸤¶and the wild
⸤¶when they blent
⸤¶Then Túrin’s heart
⸤¶and he bade
⸤¶‘Now fare thou
⸤¶if thy heart
⸤¶never tell thou
⸤¶an outlaw unloved
⸤¶whom Thingol’s thanes
⸤¶Betray not my
⸤¶Then Beleg of
⸤¶he had not
⸤¶there kissed him
⸤¶‘Lo! nought know
⸤¶but outlawed or
⸤¶the brother of
⸤¶Yet little me
⸤¶the life should
⸤¶Are the grim
⸤¶or the foes
⸤¶that warlike Men
p31
⸤¶Shall the foes
⸤¶Betrayest thou thy
⸤¶‘Nor of arméd
⸤¶nor of any
⸤¶O Beleg the
⸤¶I count as
⸤¶and friendless fate
⸤¶‘Let the bow
⸤¶and swearing death
⸤¶let us suage
⸤¶Our valour is
⸤¶that once we
⸤¶Thus hope in
⸤¶awoke at those
⸤¶of that band
⸤¶Blodrin Bor’s son,
⸤¶alone lusted, and
⸤¶whom he robbed
⸤¶were it Elf
⸤¶the thoughts of
⸤¶where the fires
⸤¶of pine were
⸤¶where glad men
⸤¶as dusk fell
⸤¶Then a song
⸤¶and the trees
⸤¶was raised of
⸤¶of the need
⸤¶of the fight
⸤¶oath unbreakable. Then
⸤¶‘That our vaunt
⸤¶even such as
⸤¶an oath let
⸤¶as Tain-Gwethil’s towering
⸤¶Their blades were
⸤¶in the flame
⸤¶As with one
⸤¶and the oath
⸤¶abide for ever,
⸤¶and friendship in
p32
⸤¶Thus war was
⸤¶for the foes
⸤¶and the fear
⸤¶when the horn
⸤¶that shook the
⸤¶Blades were naked
⸤¶and shafts from
⸤¶and the sons
⸤¶even in Angband
⸤¶Then the word
⸤¶that Túrin Thalion
⸤¶and Thingol heard
⸤¶to lead the
⸤¶but his fate
⸤¶Little gold they
⸤¶but weary watches
⸤¶nor on robber-raids
⸤¶who fended from
⸤¶But Blodrin Bor’s
⸤¶for the loud
⸤¶and meats unmeasured,
⸤¶refilled and filled,
⸤¶that went as
⸤¶Now tales have
⸤¶he was dragged
⸤¶and in Nogrod
⸤¶spite blood and
⸤¶His heart hated
⸤¶and the bowman
⸤¶he fled their
⸤¶to the merciless
⸤¶cruel-curvéd blades to
⸤¶than whose greed
⸤¶save in hungry
⸤¶He betrayed his
⸤¶and the forest
⸤¶he opened to
⸤¶There they fought
⸤¶by treachery trapped
⸤¶when their fires
⸤¶some wakened never,
⸤¶nor cries nor
p33
⸤¶swept as they
⸤¶But Túrin they
⸤¶at the Huntsman’s
⸤¶as a bear
⸤¶unheeding his hurts;
⸤¶yet living they
⸤¶with hairy hands
⸤¶Then Beleg was
⸤¶as sorely wounded
⸤¶and all was
⸤¶The dawn over
⸤¶saw Blodrin Bor’s
⸤¶with throat thirléd
⸤¶whose shaven shaft,
⸤¶and feather-wingéd, was
⸤¶He bargained the
⸤¶thus his meed
⸤¶by an orc-arrow
⸤¶From the magic
⸤¶they haled unhappy
⸤¶lest he flee
⸤¶and the leagues
⸤¶over hill and
⸤¶where the peaks
⸤¶looming up lofty
⸤¶and veiled in
⸤¶where Eiglir Engrin,
⸤¶o’er the hopeless
⸤¶wrought at the
⸤¶of Thangorodrim’s thunderous
⸤¶Thither led they
⸤¶but Beleg yet
⸤¶aswoon, till the
⸤¶and the eye
⸤¶Then he woke
⸤¶and to Túrin
⸤¶that o’erborne in
⸤¶Then he crawled
⸤¶weary, wounded, too
⸤¶So Thingol’s thanes
⸤¶in the forest
p34
⸤¶that he should
⸤¶Thus they bore
⸤¶his tidings to
⸤¶of Thingol the
⸤¶to be healéd
⸤¶of Melian Mablui,
⸤¶Ere a week
⸤¶but his heart’s
⸤¶nor soothed nor
⸤¶he fared to
⸤¶in his hopeless
⸤¶he followed the
⸤¶the dread daring,
⸤¶that held the
⸤¶and Doriath’s doughtiest
⸤¶Unmatched among Men,
⸤¶Elves, or hunters
⸤¶or beasts of
⸤¶was his craft
⸤¶an unseen slot
⸤¶foot-prints could find
⸤¶that lightly on
⸤¶long waned, and
⸤¶The grim Glamhoth’s
⸤¶go cunning-footed, but
⸤¶to tread their
⸤¶and the light
⸤¶Never-dawning night was
⸤¶in the black
⸤¶oppressed by pungent
⸤¶and drowsed with
⸤¶he strayed steerless.
⸤¶and the moon
⸤¶in the gathering
⸤¶(whose deep eyes
⸤¶bewildered wandered, who
⸤¶to grope in
⸤¶of girth unguessed
⸤¶the topless trunks
⸤¶That fathomless fold
⸤¶is Taur-na-Fuin, the
⸤¶of Deadly Nightshade,
p35
⸤¶Abandoned, beaten, there
⸤¶to the wind
⸤¶in bending boughs;
⸤¶up high over
⸤¶of the pluméd
⸤¶in black foreboding.
⸤¶in wit wildered,
⸤¶he saw on
⸤¶shine a-shimmering in
⸤¶like a glow-worm’s
⸤¶He marvelled what
⸤¶for he knew
⸤¶in the deep
⸤¶Unmatched their magic
⸤¶who jewels and
⸤¶aforetime fashioned, when
⸤¶now swinking slaves
⸤¶in Angband’s smithies,
⸤¶to wander away,
⸤¶But little lanterns
⸤¶and silver cold
⸤¶they strangely fashioned,
⸤¶burnt unblinking there
⸤¶unquenched for ever.
⸤¶was the jewel-makers’
⸤¶Not Morgoth’s might,
⸤¶them vowed, availed
⸤¶yet lights and
⸤¶many and magical,
⸤¶No dark could
⸤¶whose lode they
⸤¶in groundless grot,
⸤¶’Twas a Gnome
⸤¶of a pine-tree
⸤¶he crept closer.
⸤¶was loosed from
⸤¶by his side
⸤¶his fear-worn face
⸤¶Lest in webs
⸤¶spun round by
⸤¶he lie forlorn
⸤¶the Hunter hailed
p36
⸤¶to the drowsy
⸤¶fear ever-following came
⸤¶as the lancing
⸤¶full deeming that
⸤¶Flinding go-Fuilin fleeing
⸤¶from the mines
⸤¶the ancient tongue
⸤¶and Beleg the
⸤¶and learnt his
⸤¶how thrust to
⸤¶from the kindred
⸤¶of the Gnomes
⸤¶long years he
⸤¶of the baleful
⸤¶A tale he
⸤¶o’er flaming fell
⸤¶o’er the parchéd
⸤¶till his heart
⸤¶‘Then Taur-na-Fuin entangled
⸤¶in its mazes
⸤¶that I wandered
⸤¶and beating the
⸤¶in idle anger
⸤¶They were camped
⸤¶by mercy I
⸤¶is beaten broad
⸤¶by wizardry warded
⸤¶but dread they
⸤¶and in haste
⸤¶Now cruel cries
⸤¶awoke in the
⸤¶from horny bows
⸤¶and following feet,
⸤¶were padding and
⸤¶and hairy hands
⸤¶in the glooms
⸤¶till they cowering
⸤¶beaten and bleeding,
⸤¶they laughing led
⸤¶with their spears
⸤¶and countless captives
⸤¶and Elfin maids
p37
⸤¶But one they
⸤¶was stern-visaged, strong,
⸤¶as are Hithlum’s
⸤¶Full length he
⸤¶in baleful bonds,
⸤¶his mouth no
⸤¶but defied his
⸤¶Then he called,
⸤¶that hails his
⸤¶on the name
⸤¶but men unmindful
⸤¶Húrin Thalion, who
⸤¶the Unbending, for
⸤¶and Morgoth’s might
⸤¶he defies fearless,
⸤¶of thunder-riven Thangorodrim.’¶⸥⸤⸥
⸤¶In eager anger
⸤¶crying and calling,
⸤¶‘O Túrin, Túrin,
⸤¶to the brazen
⸤¶and the darkling
⸤¶‘Thou wilt join
⸤¶O bowman crazéd,
⸤¶to the Orcs
⸤¶are keener whetted,
⸤¶be a day
⸤¶who knows if
⸤¶that crept from
⸤¶on belly cowering,
⸤¶in deathly swoon
⸤¶of their loathsome
⸤¶and ye glorious
⸤¶and their tongues
⸤¶from their hungry
⸤¶or sleep with
⸤¶Thy lamp shall
⸤¶and wise wood-craft!’
⸤¶thy words are
⸤¶and wizardry ward
⸤¶unerring their arrows;
⸤¶of their curvéd
p38
⸤¶the meshes of
⸤¶those eyes are
⸤¶the flesh freezes!
⸤¶for fear fetters
⸤¶better die in
⸤¶than wilfully woo
⸤¶I know not
⸤¶of Flinding go-Fuilin?
⸤¶thus show himself
⸤¶who twice entrapped
⸤¶Remember the might
⸤¶the renown of
⸤¶Thus Beleg the
⸤¶but Flinding fought
⸤¶and loosed the
⸤¶now brighter burning.
⸤¶enwound they wandered,
⸤¶by the tall
⸤¶oft barred and
⸤¶over rock-fast roots
⸤¶and drowsed with
⸤¶till hope was
⸤¶viewless voices vague
⸤¶a muffled murmur
⸤¶that are shod
⸤¶‘No noise I
⸤¶‘thy hope cheats
⸤¶clinking, creaking, the
⸤¶and wolves padding
⸤¶I smell the
⸤¶that are cruel
⸤¶now, listen! louder
⸤¶the hunter said.
⸤¶quoth Flinding fearful.
⸤¶with bended bow
⸤¶‘my cunning rekindles,
⸤¶thy lamp’s leading.’
⸤¶he shrank in
⸤¶Flinding followed him,
⸤¶and drowsy dimness
⸤¶unfolding from them
p39
⸤¶and its magic
⸤¶they were brought
⸤¶an archway opened.
⸤¶it was framed
⸤¶the lightning felled,
⸤¶their lichen-leprous limbs
⸤¶There shadowy bats
⸤¶flew in and
⸤¶as they swerved
⸤¶faint filtered in,
⸤¶they looked o’er
⸤¶o’er the bleak
⸤¶and dusty drouth
⸤¶o’er that Thirsty
⸤¶now glimpséd grey
⸤¶of the marching
⸤¶and faint and
⸤¶the thunderous towers
⸤¶But backward broad
⸤¶from that darkling
⸤¶the ancient Orc-road;
⸤¶the silence suddenly
⸤¶was shaken behind
⸤¶from afar came
⸤¶trappings tinkling; and
⸤¶of viewless voices
⸤¶came near and
⸤¶said Flinding fearful;
⸤¶from hate and
⸤¶from fiery eyes
⸤¶Ah! woe that
⸤¶Then beat in
⸤¶with dread unwonted
⸤¶of Beleg the
⸤¶in faded fern
⸤¶of brown bracken
⸤¶where dank and
⸤¶on the wood’s
⸤¶dripping down to
⸤¶Yet hardly were
⸤¶round a dark
p40
⸤¶came swinging sudden
⸤¶of feet after
⸤¶In rank on
⸤¶that war-host went;
⸤¶countless captives, cruelly
⸤¶with bloodstained booty,
⸤¶they haled behind
⸤¶by the wolf-riders
⸤¶Their road of
⸤¶many a hall
⸤¶of Gnomish lords
⸤¶their o’ermastering might
⸤¶and fair things
⸤¶with the bravest
⸤¶To an army
⸤¶that Blodrin Bor’s
⸤¶to the wood-marches,
⸤¶homeward hurrying to
⸤¶swiftly swollen to
⸤¶Like a throbbing
⸤¶of cavernous clouds
⸤¶now swelled on
⸤¶and their hellward
⸤¶flung from the
⸤¶who viewed mid
⸤¶the threefold peaks
⸤¶it rolled rearward,
⸤¶like drums in
⸤¶Then a werewolf
⸤¶like steel on
⸤¶their spears and
⸤¶as the wild
⸤¶with points that
⸤¶As by wind
⸤¶and bowed, as
⸤¶moved on mirthless
⸤¶from the topless
⸤¶neath the leprous
⸤¶Then Beleg the
⸤¶on the loathly
⸤¶saw Túrin the
p41
⸤¶neath the whips
⸤¶and rage arose
⸤¶and piercing pity
⸤¶The hymn was
⸤¶down the hellward
⸤¶and silence sank
⸤¶round the trunks
⸤¶and nethermost night
⸤¶‘Follow me, Flinding,
⸤¶Let us haste
⸤¶or to death
⸤¶and Beleg bounded
⸤¶like a deer
⸤¶from his hiding
⸤¶and Flinding followed
⸤¶neath the yawning
⸤¶through bogs and
⸤¶till they reached
⸤¶and friendless fells
⸤¶to the dusty
⸤¶In a cup
⸤¶whose broken brink
⸤¶with bended bushes
⸤¶from the North-wind’s
⸤¶the feasting camp
⸤¶the fiery flare
⸤¶and black bodies
⸤¶crossing countlessly, and
⸤¶and the hollow
⸤¶Then a moon
⸤¶and the keen
⸤¶the shadows sharpened
⸤¶and slashed the
⸤¶in wreaths uprising
⸤¶was touched to
⸤¶Then the fires
⸤¶in a sleep
⸤¶nor guards them
⸤¶to watch wakeful
⸤¶neath Eiglir Engrin,
⸤¶gazed unclosing from
p42
⸤¶Did not werewolves’
⸤¶in the wan
⸤¶that sit in
⸤¶round camp or
⸤¶Then was Beleg
⸤¶nigh chilled his
⸤¶in fear unfathomed,
⸤¶by a boulder
⸤¶surged up like
⸤¶and the sheen
⸤¶the wind came
⸤¶and the heath
⸤¶and the moans
⸤¶in the camp
⸤¶as he found
⸤¶hard horn-pointed, by
⸤¶of black yew
⸤¶it was stoutly
⸤¶had nor Man
⸤¶that Beleg the
⸤¶No arrows of
⸤¶as his shaven
⸤¶that was seen
⸤¶Then Dailir he
⸤¶howso far fared
⸤¶unsought he found
⸤¶and barbs unbroken
⸤¶and fleet bade
⸤¶snaketonguéd shaft, as
⸤¶in the notch
⸤¶to his ear
⸤¶and the tingling
⸤¶soundless a sentinel
⸤¶there was one
⸤¶Now arrows after
⸤¶that missed not
⸤¶death in the
⸤¶till three of
⸤¶and four had
⸤¶arrows a-quivering in
⸤¶Then great was
⸤¶and Beleg his
p43
⸤¶‘Wilt come to
⸤¶or await me
⸤¶thou might win
⸤¶to Thingol the
⸤¶how Túrin the
⸤¶how Beleg the
⸤¶Then Flinding fiercely,
⸤¶‘I have followed
⸤¶nor will leave
⸤¶Then both bow
⸤¶with his belt
⸤¶of a dark
⸤¶and Flinding there
⸤¶and his nailéd
⸤¶he kept, that
⸤¶Thus those brave
⸤¶towards the camp
⸤¶and dared that
⸤¶whose glory has
⸤¶and songs have
⸤¶wherever the Elves
⸤¶had light or
⸤¶With breath bated
⸤¶they stood and
⸤¶till they saw
⸤¶was broken; with
⸤¶they passed the
⸤¶the wolves weltered
⸤¶unseen smitten; as
⸤¶they slipped silent
⸤¶as shadowy wraiths
⸤¶from gloom to
⸤¶and the craft
⸤¶to Túrin the
⸤¶with face downward
⸤¶and his feet
⸤¶anguish enchained his
⸤¶There he slept
⸤¶by drugs of
⸤¶he heard not
⸤¶nor the deep
p44
⸤¶to awake his
⸤¶No blade would
⸤¶though Flinding felt
⸤¶of dwarfen steel,
⸤¶that at waist
⸤¶whose edge would
⸤¶as a clod
⸤¶It was wrought
⸤¶in black Belegost,
⸤¶of troth unmindful;
⸤¶from its sheath
⸤¶and roughhewn rocks
⸤¶‘We must bear
⸤¶said Beleg, bending
⸤¶Then the head
⸤¶and Flinding go-Fuilin
⸤¶and doughty that
⸤¶though Men were
⸤¶ere the earth’s
⸤¶though the Elfin
⸤¶were of might
⸤¶faintly fading as
⸤¶in places unpeopled,
⸤¶in bone and
⸤¶and Túrin was
⸤¶that in Hithlum’s
⸤¶Like a log
⸤¶and straining staggered
⸤¶with bodies bending
⸤¶from the cruel
⸤¶where spearmen drowsed
⸤¶by their moon-blades
⸤¶mid their shaven
⸤¶Now Beleg the
⸤¶but his foot
⸤¶with Túrin atop
⸤¶Flinding forward; there
⸤¶long while they
⸤¶for hue and
⸤¶but unbroken the
⸤¶as darkness deepened
p45
⸤¶and the lifeless
⸤¶oft sheds the
⸤¶Then dared their
⸤¶and they found
⸤¶and bent they
⸤¶to their task
⸤¶There the huntsman’s
⸤¶as he groped
⸤¶’twas Dailir his
⸤¶he had found
⸤¶and with barbs
⸤¶neath his body
⸤¶As in dim
⸤¶they won their
⸤¶foot by footstep,
⸤¶the leaguer at
⸤¶and their burden
⸤¶on bare-bosméd earth,
⸤¶ere by winding
⸤¶up the slanting
⸤¶with spended strength
⸤¶in the darkling
⸤¶Then sought his
⸤¶o’er its eager
⸤¶there Beleg murmured,
⸤¶the lamp of
⸤¶There wondrous wove
⸤¶and the names
⸤¶he uttered o’er
⸤¶and the glaive
⸤¶did rive the
⸤¶the sword of
⸤¶of the enchanted
⸤¶in their deep
⸤¶the knife of
⸤¶the sweeping sickle
⸤¶the lambent lightning’s
⸤¶even Celeg Aithorn
⸤¶Then whistling whirled
⸤¶and three times
⸤¶till flame was
p46
⸤¶like licking firelight
⸤¶blue and baleful
⸤¶Lo! a leering
⸤¶by the wind
⸤¶their limbs were
⸤¶they fancied the
⸤¶for the horns
⸤¶in the rustling
⸤¶Then quickly curtained
⸤¶was the lantern’s
⸤¶with his sword
⸤¶on wrist and
⸤¶so strong that
⸤¶entangled still lay
⸤¶For the feet’s
⸤¶Beleg blundering with
⸤¶unwary wounded the
⸤¶of wayworn foot,
⸤¶bedewed his hand
⸤¶that sleep profound
⸤¶in fear woke
⸤¶o’er his body
⸤¶His death or
⸤¶for oft had
⸤¶him goaded gleeful
⸤¶that they cast
⸤¶Lo! the bonds
⸤¶his cry of
⸤¶he flung him
⸤¶and Beleg falling
⸤¶was crushed beneath
⸤¶then seized that
⸤¶to his hand
⸤¶at the throat
⸤¶that the blood
⸤¶ere Flinding knew
⸤¶all was over.
⸤¶he bade the
⸤¶or sup on
⸤¶is freed from
⸤¶in the camps
⸤¶Flight he sought
p47
⸤¶with his last
⸤¶amid foes imagined;
⸤¶there stricken with
⸤¶cried: ‘Magic of
⸤¶with friends thou
⸤¶the lamp o’erturned
⸤¶that its light
⸤¶with its flickering
⸤¶Than the boles
⸤¶stone-faced he stood
⸤¶on that dreadful
⸤¶wildeyed he gazed
⸤¶as in endless
⸤¶So fearful his
⸤¶and watched him,
⸤¶dark, remorseless, dreadly
⸤¶by the might
⸤¶and for Beleg,
⸤¶his black yew-wood
⸤¶his life had
⸤¶in the halls
⸤¶Hark! he heard
⸤¶no ghostly laughter
⸤¶no wraithlike feet
⸤¶the Orcs were
⸤¶the cries of
⸤¶their lust was
⸤¶of night were
⸤¶in hoarse whisper
⸤¶he told his
⸤¶with limbs loosened
⸤¶crouching crumpled by
⸤¶nor sight nor
⸤¶and wavering words
⸤¶‘A! Beleg,’ he
⸤¶Though Flinding shook
⸤¶had he comprehended
⸤¶Then winds were
⸤¶where thrumming thunders
⸤¶storm came striding
⸤¶from the four
p48
⸤¶then the clouds
⸤¶and slung like
⸤¶the hurtling hail
⸤¶with a deluge
⸤¶Now wafted high,
⸤¶the cries of
⸤¶and the howl
⸤¶was mingled mournful:
⸤¶for swollen swept
⸤¶down the blackening
⸤¶so that blundering
⸤¶to the gates
⸤¶were drowned or
⸤¶to die in
⸤¶while the storm-riders
⸤¶all the sunless
⸤¶Flinding go-Fuilin with
⸤¶there crouched aquake;
⸤¶lay Beleg the
⸤¶Túrin Thalion neath
⸤¶sat unseeing without
⸤¶The dusty dunes
⸤¶hissed and spouted.
⸤¶of smoking vapour
⸤¶thick-billowing clouds from
⸤¶and dawn was
⸤¶when a day
⸤¶The Orcs had
⸤¶o’er the weltering
⸤¶to their hopeless
⸤¶no thrall took
⸤¶a burden bore
⸤¶in despair fettered
⸤¶in mourning hopeless