The Lay of Leithian: Prologue

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Prologue

Among the tales of sorrow and of ruin that come down to us from the darkness of those days there are yet some in which amid weeping there is joy and under the shadow of death light that endures. And of these histories most fair still in the ears of the Elves is the tale of Beren and Lúthien. Of their lives was made the Lay of Leithian, Release from Bondage, which is the longest save one of the songs concerning the world of old. Here follows their tale and what remains of the Lay.

End Notes

The text is taken from the first paragraph, chapter nineteen of The Silmarillion, p. 158. The last sentence is altered slightly. The paragraph originally read:

Among the tales of sorrow and of ruin that come down to us from the darkness of those days there are yet some in which amid weeping there is joy and under the shadow of death light that endures. And of these histories most fair still in the ears of the Elves is the tale of Beren and Lúthien. Of their lives was made the Lay of Leithian, Release from Bondage, which is the longest save one of the songs concerning the world of old; but here the tale is told in fewer words and without song.

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Concerning the Text

I give here in full the tale of Beren & Lúthien, omitting only their small part in the Tale of the Nauglamír. The text is taken from the later, recommenced version of the poem integrated with the original. Where the fragment ends the remainder of the tale is filled in from the Silmarillion. The poem is slightly altered to bring it into accord with the later mythology. All modifications are noted. All text © 1985 The Tolkien Estate, except where noted. All other text © 2010, 2011, 2012 Jon Koriagin.

When I write á, é, í, ó, ú, I hope you see the vowels a, e, i, o, u with an accent on your screen. Similarly, I hope you see the same vowels with a circumflex when I write â, ê, î, ô, û (e.g. in Barad-dûr). When I write ä, ë, ö I hope you see a, e, o with a diaeresis (two dots over): Manwë, Eärendil, Eönwë. If some other weird characters turn up instead, at least you know what it should have read!

Many thanks to the Ardalambion web-site, from which the above note has been ruthlessly plagiarized.

Contents

Preface

'I would draw some of the great tales in fullness, and leave many only placed in the scheme, and sketched. The cycles should be linked to a majestic whole, and yet leave scope for other minds and hands, wielding paint and music and drama...'

Prologue

Among the tales of sorrow and of ruin that come down to us from the darkness of those days there are yet some in which amid weeping there is joy and under the shadow of death light that endures. And of these histories most fair still in the ears of the Elves is the tale of Beren and Lúthien.

Canto I

A king there was in days of old:
ere Men yet walked upon the mould
his power was reared in caverns' shade,
his hand was over glen and glade.

Canto II

Far in the Northern hills of stone
in caverns black there was a throne
by flame encircled; there the smoke
in coiling columns rose to choke

Canto III

Dark from the North now blew the cloud;
the winds of autumn cold and loud
hissed in the heather; sad and grey
Aeluin's mournful water lay.

Canto IV

There long ago in Elder-days
ere voice was heard or trod were ways,
the haunt of silent shadows stood
in starlit dusk, Nan Elmoth wood.

Canto V

He lay upon the leafy mould,
his head upon earth's bosom cold,
adrift in mingled grief and bliss,
enchanted by an elvish kiss,

Canto VI

So days drew on from that mournful day;
the curse of silence no more lay
on Doriath, though Daeron's flute
and Lúthien's singing both were mute.

Canto VII

When Morgoth in that day of doom
had slain the Trees and filled with gloom
the shining land of Valinor,
there Fëanor and his sons then swore

Canto VIII

Thus twelve alone there ventured forth
from Nargothrond, and to the North
they turned their silent secret way,
and vanished in the fading day.

Canto IX

Hounds there were in Valinor
with silver collars. Hart and boar,
the fox and hare and nimble roe
there in the forests green did go.

Canto X

In Wizard's Isle still lay, forgot,
enmeshed and tortured in that grot
cold, evil, doorless, without light,
and blank-eyed stared at endless night

Canto XI

Songs have recalled, by harpers sung
long years ago in elven tongue,
how Lúthien and Beren strayed
in Sirion's vale; and many a glade

Canto XII

Once wide and smooth a plain was spread,
where King Fingolfin proudly led
his silver armies on the green,
his horses white, his lances keen;

Canto XIII

In that vast shadow once of yore
Fingolfin stood: his shield he bore
with filed of heaven's blue and star
of crystal shining pale afar.

Canto XIV

Into the vast and echoing gloom
more dread than many-tunnelled tomb
in labyrinthine pyramid
where everlasting death is hid,

Canto XV

Up through the dark and echoing gloom
as ghosts from many-tunnelled tomb,
up from the mountains' roots profound
and the vast menace underground,

The Lost Cantos

Here the fragment of the Lay of Leithian ends, and the poem is now lost to us. But the rest of the tale, as told elsewhere, remains intact. Here follows the tale to its end:

Epilogue

It is said that Beren and Lúthien returned to the northern lands of Middle-earth, and dwelt together for a time as living man and woman; and they took up again their mortal form in Doriath.

The Lay of Leithian

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Prologue

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Concerning the Text

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