03:P8a
The Lay of Leithian Recommenced (a)

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Volume: The Lays of Beleriand
Chapter: The Lay of Leithian Recommenced
Pages: 331–348
Paragraph count: 674
Token count: 4,386

Citation Index

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

p331
THE LAY OF
I. OF THINGOL
⸤¶A king there
⸤¶ere Men yet
⸤¶his power was
⸤¶his hand was
⸤¶Of leaves his
⸤¶his silver lances
⸤¶the starlight in
⸤¶ere moon was
⸤¶In after-days, when
⸤¶of Middle-earth from
⸤¶the Elven-hosts in
⸤¶and banners flew
⸤¶when kings of
⸤¶in strength of
⸤¶then still his
⸤¶when sun was
⸤¶Afar then in
⸤¶in Doriath’s beleaguered
⸤¶King Thingol sat
⸤¶in many-pillared halls
⸤¶there beryl, pearl,
⸤¶and metal wrought
⸤¶buckler and corslet,
⸤¶and gleaming spears
⸤¶all these he
⸤¶for dearer than
⸤¶and fairer than
⸤¶a daughter had
OF LÚTHIEN THE
⸤¶Such lissom limbs
⸤¶on the green
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⸤¶so fair a
⸤¶from dawn to
⸤¶Her robe was
⸤¶but grey as
⸤¶her mantle sewn
⸤¶but dark as
⸤¶Her feet were
⸤¶her laughter merry
⸤¶the slender willow,
⸤¶the fragrance of
⸤¶the light upon
⸤¶the voice of
⸤¶her beauty was
⸤¶her glory and
⸤¶She dwelt in
⸤¶while elven-might yet
⸤¶the woven woods
⸤¶none ever thither
⸤¶unbidden, none the
⸤¶dared pass, or
⸤¶To North there
⸤¶Dungorthin where all
⸤¶in hills of
⸤¶beyond was Deadly
⸤¶in Taur-nu-Fuin’s fastness
⸤¶where sun was
⸤¶To South the
⸤¶to West the
⸤¶unsailed and shoreless,
⸤¶to East in
⸤¶in silence folded,
⸤¶the mountains of
⸤¶Thus Thingol in
⸤¶amid the Thousand
⸤¶of Menegroth as
⸤¶to him there
⸤¶Beside him sat
⸤¶fair Melian, and
⸤¶nets of enchantment
⸤¶and spells were
⸤¶sharp was his
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⸤¶the king of
⸤¶When grass was
⸤¶when finch and
⸤¶there under bough
⸤¶in shadow and
⸤¶fair Lúthien the
⸤¶dancing in dell
OF DAIRON MINSTREL
⸤¶When sky was
⸤¶then Dairon with
⸤¶as daylight melted
⸤¶a trembling music
⸤¶on flutes of
⸤¶for Lúthien, the
⸤¶There mirth there
⸤¶there eve was
⸤¶there jewel gleamed
⸤¶and red gold
⸤¶and elanor and
⸤¶bloomed in the
⸤¶while the endless
⸤¶rolled over far
⸤¶until a day
⸤¶as still the
{}
2. OF MORGOTH
⸤¶Far in the
⸤¶in caverns black
⸤¶by flame encircled;
⸤¶in coiling columns
⸤¶the breath of
⸤¶and gasping dungeons
⸤¶to hopeless death
⸤¶by doom beneath
⸤¶A king there
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⸤¶of all that
⸤¶Than earth or
⸤¶more ancient was
⸤¶in mind abysmal
⸤¶of Eldar or
⸤¶of strength primeval;
⸤¶was hewn to
⸤¶he walked in
⸤¶burned, as he
⸤¶He ’twas that
⸤¶the Blessed Realm
⸤¶to Middle-earth anew
⸤¶beneath the mountains
⸤¶with misbegotten slaves
⸤¶death’s shadow brooded
⸤¶His hosts he
⸤¶and brands of
⸤¶the wolf walked
⸤¶with lidless eyes.
⸤¶his ruinous legions,
⸤¶in field and
⸤¶Where long the
⸤¶had gleamed amid
⸤¶their banners black,
⸤¶and harpers silver
⸤¶now dark the
⸤¶amid the reek,
⸤¶the swords of
⸤¶above the hewn
⸤¶Slowly his shadow
⸤¶rolled from the
⸤¶that would not
⸤¶to death or
⸤¶all things he
⸤¶lay cowed beneath
⸤¶But still there
⸤¶Bëor’s son, Barahir
⸤¶of land bereaved
⸤¶who once a
⸤¶and now an
⸤¶in the hard
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OF THE SAVING
⸤¶Twelve men beside
⸤¶still faithful when
⸤¶Their names are
⸤¶remembered, though the
⸤¶since doughty Dagnir
⸤¶Radhruin, Dairuin and
⸤¶Gorlim Unhappy, and
⸤¶and Arthad and
⸤¶since the black
⸤¶took Belegund and
⸤¶the mighty sons
⸤¶since he whose
⸤¶all tales of
⸤¶fair Beren son
⸤¶For these it
⸤¶of Bëor’s house,
⸤¶of reedy Serech
⸤¶about King Inglor
⸤¶of his defeat,
⸤¶thus saved of
⸤¶the fairest; and
⸤¶And he escaping
⸤¶to Nargothrond his
⸤¶where still he
⸤¶but they to
⸤¶dauntless and few,
⸤¶unconquered still, defying
⸤¶pursued by Morgoth’s
OF TARN AELUIN
⸤¶Such deeds of
⸤¶that soon the
⸤¶at rumour of
⸤¶Though price was
⸤¶to match the
⸤¶no soldier could
⸤¶news even of
⸤¶for where the
⸤¶above the darkling
⸤¶of steep Dorthonion
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⸤¶and barren mountain-winds,
⸤¶a tarn of
⸤¶by night a
⸤¶for stars of
⸤¶above the world
⸤¶Once hallowed, still
⸤¶no shadow of
⸤¶yet thither came;
⸤¶of slender birches
⸤¶stooped on its
⸤¶a lonely moor,
⸤¶of ancient Earth
⸤¶thrust through the
⸤¶and there by
⸤¶the hunted lord
⸤¶under the grey
OF GORLIM UNHAPPY
⸤¶Gorlim Unhappy, Angrim’s
⸤¶as the tale
⸤¶most fierce and
⸤¶while fair was
⸤¶took the white
⸤¶dear love they
⸤¶To war he
⸤¶to find his
⸤¶his house forsaken
⸤¶empty amid the
⸤¶and Eilinel, white
⸤¶was taken whither
⸤¶to death or
⸤¶Black was the
⸤¶for ever on
⸤¶still gnawed him
⸤¶in wilderness wandring,
⸤¶oft sleepless, thinking
⸤¶ere evil came
⸤¶into the woods:
⸤¶she lived, she
⸤¶to seek him,
⸤¶Therefore at whiles
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⸤¶and secretly, alone,
⸤¶and come to
⸤¶broken and cold,
⸤¶and naught but
⸤¶watching and waiting
⸤¶In vain, or
⸤¶had Morgoth, many
⸤¶well used to
⸤¶and Gorlim’s coming
⸤¶and would report.
⸤¶when once more
⸤¶down the deserted
⸤¶at dusk of
⸤¶and cold wind
⸤¶at window fluttering
⸤¶amazed he saw;
⸤¶between faint hope
⸤¶he looked within.
⸤¶Though changed she
⸤¶With grief and
⸤¶her tresses tangled,
⸤¶her gentle eyes
⸤¶as soft she
⸤¶Thou canst not
⸤¶Then slain, alas!
⸤¶And I must
⸤¶and loveless as
⸤¶One cry he
⸤¶blew out, and
⸤¶wolves howled; and
⸤¶suddenly the griping
⸤¶There Morgoth’s servants
⸤¶and he was
⸤¶to Sauron captain
⸤¶the lord of
⸤¶most foul and
⸤¶at Morgoth’s throne.
⸤¶on Gaurhoth Isle;
⸤¶with strength abroad,
⸤¶to find the
⸤¶He sat in
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⸤¶and thither his
⸤¶There now in
⸤¶with bond on
⸤¶to bitter torment
⸤¶to break his
⸤¶to buy with
⸤¶But naught to
⸤¶of Barahir, nor
⸤¶of faith that
⸤¶until at last
⸤¶and one came
⸤¶a darkling form
⸤¶to him of
⸤¶‘Wouldst thou,’ he
⸤¶who with few
⸤¶for her, and
⸤¶and dwell together
⸤¶friends of the
⸤¶And Gorlim, now
⸤¶yearning to see
⸤¶(whom well he
⸤¶in Sauron’s net),
⸤¶to grow, and
⸤¶Then straight, half
⸤¶they brought him
⸤¶where Sauron sat.
⸤¶before that dark
⸤¶and Sauron said:
⸤¶What do I
⸤¶to barter with
⸤¶What is thy
⸤¶bowed down his
⸤¶word on slow
⸤¶that merciless and
⸤¶that he might
⸤¶again find Eilinel
⸤¶and dwell with
⸤¶against the King.
⸤¶Then Sauron smiled,
⸤¶The price thou
⸤¶for treachery and
p339
⸤¶I grant it
⸤¶Come! Speak now
⸤¶Then Gorlim wavered,
⸤¶half back; but
⸤¶there held him,
⸤¶as he began,
⸤¶from first false
⸤¶he all must
⸤¶betray his lord
⸤¶and cease, and
⸤¶Then Sauron laughed
⸤¶thou cringing worm!
⸤¶and hear me!
⸤¶that I have
⸤¶Thou fool: a
⸤¶that I, I
⸤¶thy lovesick wits.
⸤¶Cold ’tis with
⸤¶Thy Eilinel! She
⸤¶dead, food of
⸤¶And yet thy
⸤¶to Eilinel thou
⸤¶and lie in
⸤¶of war –
⸤¶And Gorlim then
⸤¶and cruelly slew
⸤¶in the dank
⸤¶where Eilinel long
⸤¶in the burned
⸤¶Thus Gorlim died
⸤¶and cursed himself
⸤¶and Barahir at
⸤¶in Morgoth’s snare;
⸤¶by treason was
⸤¶that guarded long
⸤¶Tarn Aeluin: now
⸤¶were secret paths
{}
p340
3. OF BEREN
⸤¶Dark from the
⸤¶the winds of
⸤¶hissed in the
⸤¶Aeluin’s mournful water
⸤¶‘Son Beren’, then
⸤¶‘Thou knowst the
⸤¶of strength from
⸤¶against us; and
⸤¶On thee the
⸤¶to go forth
⸤¶what help thou
⸤¶that feed us
⸤¶to learn. Good
⸤¶In speed return,
⸤¶we spare thee
⸤¶so small: and
⸤¶is long astray
⸤¶As Beren went,
⸤¶resounded in his
⸤¶the last of
⸤¶Through moor and
⸤¶he wandered far:
⸤¶of Sauron’s camp,
⸤¶of hunting Orc
⸤¶and turning back,
⸤¶benighted in the
⸤¶In weariness he
⸤¶fain in a
⸤¶and yet he
⸤¶nearby a marching
⸤¶with clink of
⸤¶up towards the
⸤¶He slipped then
⸤¶until, as man
⸤¶strives upwards gasping,
⸤¶he rose through
⸤¶of sullen pool
⸤¶Their livid boughs
⸤¶trembled, and all
⸤¶each leaf a
p341
⸤¶whose neb a
⸤¶He shuddered, struggling
⸤¶through winding weeds,
⸤¶he saw a
⸤¶gliding across the
⸤¶Slowly it came,
⸤¶‘Gorlim I was,
⸤¶of will defeated,
⸤¶traitor betrayed. Go!
⸤¶Awaken, son of
⸤¶and haste! For
⸤¶upon thy father’s
⸤¶your trysts, your
⸤¶Then he revealed
⸤¶in which he
⸤¶begging forgiveness, wept,
⸤¶out into darkness.
⸤¶leapt up as
⸤¶with fire of
⸤¶and sword he
⸤¶hotfoot o’er rock
⸤¶before the dawn.
⸤¶to Aeluin at
⸤¶as the red
⸤¶but Aeluin was
⸤¶red were the
⸤¶Black in the
⸤¶the raven and
⸤¶wet were their
⸤¶that dripped beneath
⸤¶One croaked: ‘Ha,
⸤¶‘Ha, ha!’ they
⸤¶There Beren laid
⸤¶in haste beneath
⸤¶no graven rune
⸤¶o’er Barahir, but
⸤¶the topmost stone,
⸤¶he cried his
⸤¶‘I will avenge.
⸤¶should lead at
⸤¶And then he
⸤¶too dark his
p342
⸤¶Out into night,
⸤¶loveless, friendless, he
⸤¶Of hunter’s lore
⸤¶the trail to
⸤¶his ruthless foe,
⸤¶marched north away
⸤¶of brazen horns
⸤¶trampling the earth
⸤¶Behind them bold
⸤¶now Beren, swift
⸤¶until beside a
⸤¶where Rivil rises
⸤¶down into Serech’s
⸤¶he found the
⸤¶From hiding on
⸤¶he marked them
⸤¶too many for
⸤¶to slay alone.
⸤¶as snake in
⸤¶There many weary
⸤¶but captains, sprawling
⸤¶drank and from
⸤¶their booty, grudging
⸤¶raped from dead
⸤¶held up, and
⸤¶‘here’s mine! And
⸤¶though few be
⸤¶For I ’twas
⸤¶of that same
⸤¶the robber-knave. If
⸤¶he had it
⸤¶for the rogue-service
⸤¶No help it
⸤¶They’re parlous, elvish
⸤¶still for the
⸤¶and so eke
⸤¶Old Sauron bade
⸤¶and yet, methinks,
⸤¶of weightier treasures
⸤¶the greater the
⸤¶So mark ye,
p343
⸤¶the hand of
⸤¶And as he
⸤¶from tree behind,
⸤¶choking he fell
⸤¶with leering face
⸤¶Forth, then as
⸤¶Beren among them.
⸤¶aside with sword;
⸤¶slew one who
⸤¶back into shadow
⸤¶before their yells
⸤¶of ambush in
⸤¶Then after him
⸤¶howling and cursing,
⸤¶hewing and bursting
⸤¶shooting wild arrows,
⸤¶at trembling shade
⸤¶In fateful hour
⸤¶he laughed at
⸤¶fleetest of foot
⸤¶tireless on fell
⸤¶elf-wise in wood,
⸤¶defended by his
⸤¶of dwarvish craft
⸤¶where hammers rang
⸤¶As fearless Beren
⸤¶when men most
⸤¶were reckoned folk
⸤¶foretelling that his
⸤¶would even golden
⸤¶or Barahir and
⸤¶but sorrow now
⸤¶to fierce despair,
⸤¶in hope of
⸤¶but seeking so
⸤¶only that Morgoth
⸤¶the sting of
⸤¶ere death he
⸤¶his only fear
⸤¶Danger he sought
⸤¶and thus escaped
p344
⸤¶and deeds of
⸤¶alone, of which
⸤¶new hope to
⸤¶They whispered ‘Beren’,
⸤¶in secret swords
⸤¶by shrouded hearths
⸤¶songs they would
⸤¶of Dagmor his
⸤¶silent to camps
⸤¶or trapped in
⸤¶would slip away,
⸤¶by mist or
⸤¶of open day
⸤¶Of hunters hunted,
⸤¶they sang, of
⸤¶of ambush in
⸤¶of thirty in
⸤¶of wolves that
⸤¶yea, Sauron himself
⸤¶Thus one alone
⸤¶with fear and
⸤¶his comrades were
⸤¶who failed him
⸤¶with fur and
⸤¶that silent wander,
⸤¶in hill and
⸤¶watched o’er his
⸤¶Yet seldom well
⸤¶and Morgoth was
⸤¶than all the
⸤¶recorded: dark athwart
⸤¶reached out the
⸤¶at each recoil
⸤¶two more were
⸤¶New hope was
⸤¶quenched were the
⸤¶tree felled, heath
⸤¶marched the black
⸤¶Almost they closed
⸤¶round Beren; hard
⸤¶now trod their
p345
⸤¶of all aid
⸤¶of death at
⸤¶and knew that
⸤¶or flee the
⸤¶his land beloved.
⸤¶beneath a heap
⸤¶must crumble those
⸤¶forsaken by both
⸤¶bewailed by reeds
⸤¶In winter’s night
⸤¶he left behind,
⸤¶the leaguer of
⸤¶he passed –
⸤¶a swirl of
⸤¶the ruin of
⸤¶Tarn Aeluin and
⸤¶never again to
⸤¶No more shall
⸤¶no more his
⸤¶no more his
⸤¶upon the heath
⸤¶The Northern stars,
⸤¶of old Men
⸤¶were set behind
⸤¶o’er land forsaken:
⸤¶Southward he turned,
⸤¶his long and
⸤¶while ever loomed
⸤¶the dreadful peaks
⸤¶Never had foot
⸤¶yet trod those
⸤¶nor climbed upon
⸤¶whence, sickened, eyes
⸤¶to see their
⸤¶in rocky pinnacle
⸤¶down into shadows
⸤¶before the sun
⸤¶In valleys woven
⸤¶and washed with
⸤¶dark magic lurked
⸤¶but out away
p346
⸤¶of mortal sight
⸤¶from dizzy towers
⸤¶might grey and
⸤¶as sheen on
⸤¶Beleriand, Beleriand,¶⸥⸤⸥
⸤¶the borders of
{}
4. OF THE
⸤¶There long ago
⸤¶ere voice was
⸤¶the haunt of
⸤¶in starlit dusk
⸤¶In Elder-days that
⸤¶a light amid
⸤¶a voice was
⸤¶the sudden singing
⸤¶There Melian came,
⸤¶and dark and
⸤¶beneath her silver
⸤¶and down unto
⸤¶The nightingales with
⸤¶to whom their
⸤¶who sweet upon
⸤¶had sung in
⸤¶Thence wayward wandering
⸤¶from Lórien she
⸤¶the everlasting mountain-wall¶⸥⸤⸥
⸤¶of Valinor, at
⸤¶the surges of
⸤¶Out away she
⸤¶to gardens of
⸤¶returning, but on
⸤¶a glimmer ere
⸤¶singing her spells
⸤¶A bird in
⸤¶trilled, and to
⸤¶amazed; then far
p347
⸤¶a voice more
⸤¶a voice as
⸤¶as thread of
Here the manuscript
⸤¶Of folk and
⸤¶of errand that
⸤¶from Cuiviénen far
⸤¶of lands beyond
⸤¶no more he
⸤¶drawn only by
⸤¶till deep in
⸤¶lost and beyond
⸤¶And there he
⸤¶Ar-Melian, the Lady
⸤¶as silent as
⸤¶standing with mist
⸤¶and in her
⸤¶of Lórien glimmered
⸤¶No word she
⸤¶a halting shadow,
⸤¶forth walked the
⸤¶tall Elu Thingol.
⸤¶of waiting trees
⸤¶One moment face
⸤¶alone, beneath the
⸤¶while starlit years
⸤¶and in Nan
⸤¶grow dark and
⸤¶rising and falling
⸤¶and Ulmo’s horn
⸤¶But long his
⸤¶their lord, till
⸤¶and then in
⸤¶leaving the woods.
⸤¶upon the western
⸤¶long shore of
⸤¶and thence were
p348
⸤¶in Aman, the
⸤¶by evergreen Ezellohar¶⸥⸤⸥
⸤¶in Valinor, in