The Lays of Beleriand. Christopher Tolkien

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for Morwin’s answer,and the first of his sorrows o’erfilled his soul.

Thus came it to pass in the court of Thingol
that Túrin tarried for twelve long years	330
with Gumlin his guardian, who guided him thither
when but seven summers their sorrows had laid
on the son of Thalion. For the seven first
his lot was lightened, since he learnt at whiles
from faring folk what befell in Hithlum,	335
and tidings were told by trusty Elves,
how Morwin his mother was more at ease;
and they named Nienor that now was growing
to the sweet beauty of a slender maiden.
Thus his heart knew hope, and his hap was fairer.	340
There he waxed wonderly and won him praise
in all lands where Thingol as lord was held
for the strength of his body and stoutness of heart.
Much lore he learned, and loved wisdom,
but fortune followed him in few desires;	345
oft wrong and awry what he wrought turnéd;
what he loved he lost, what he longed for he won not;
and full friendship he found not easily,
nor was lightly loved for his looks were sad.
He was gloomy-hearted, and glad seldom,	350
for the sundering sorrow that seared his youth.

On manhood’s threshold he was mighty holden
in the wielding of weapons; and in weaving song
he had a minstrel’s mastery, but mirth was not in it,
for he mourned the misery of the Men of Hithlum.	355
Yet greater his grief grew thereafter,
when from Hithlum’s hills he heard no more,

and no traveller told him tidings of Morwin.
For those days were drawing to the Doom of the Gnomes,
and the power of the Prince of the People of Hell,	360
of the grim Glamhoth, was grown apace,
till the lands of the North were loud with their noise,
and they fell on the folk with flame and ruin
who bent not to Bauglir, or the borders passed
of dark Dorlómin with its dreary pines	365
that Hithlum unhappy is hight by Men.
There Morgoth shut them, and the Shadowy Mountains
fenced them from Faërie and the folk of the wood.
Even Beleg fared not so far abroad
as once was his wont, and the woods were filled	370
with the armies of Angband and evil deeds,
while murder walked on the marches of Doriath;
only mighty magic of Melian the Queen
yet held their havoc from the Hidden People.

      Two pages from the original manuscript of The Lay of the Children of Húrin

To assuage his sorrow and to sate the rage	375
and hate of his heart for the hurts of his folk
then Húrin’s son took the helm of his sire
and weapons weighty for the wielding of men,
and went to the woods with warlike Elves;
and far in the fight his feet led him,	380
into black battle yet a boy in years.
Ere manhood’s measure he met and slew
the Orcs of Angband and evil things
that roamed and ravened on the realm’s borders.
There hard his life, and hurts he got him,	385
the wounds of shaft and warfain sword,
and his prowess was proven and his praise renowned,
and beyond his years he was yielded honour;
for by him was holden the hand of ruin
from Thingol’s folk, and Thû feared him –	390
Thû who was thronéd as thane most mighty
neath Morgoth Bauglir; whom that mighty one bade
‘Go ravage the realm of the robber Thingol,
and mar the magic of Melian the Queen.’

Only one was there in war greater,	395
higher in honour in the hearts of the Elves,
than Túrin son of Húrin untamed in war –
even the huntsman Beleg of the Hidden People,
the son of the wilderness who wist no sire
(to bend whose bow of the black yew-tree	400
had none the might), unmatched in knowledge
of the wood’s secrets and the weary hills.
He was leader beloved of the light-armed bands,
the scouts that scoured, scorning danger,
afar o’er the fells their foemen’s lairs;	405
and tales and tidings timely won them
of camps and councils, of comings and goings –
all the movements of the might of Morgoth the Terrible.
Thus Túrin, who trusted to targe and sword,
who was fain of fighting with foes well seen,	410
and the banded troops of his brave comrades
were snared seldom and smote unlooked-for.

Then the fame of the fights on the far marches
were carried to the court of the King of Doriath,
and tales of Túrin were told in his halls,	415
and how Beleg the ageless was brother-in-arms
to the black-haired boy from the beaten people.
Then the king called them to come before him
ever and anon when the Orc-raids waned;
to rest them and revel, and to raise awhile	420
the secret songs of the sons of Ing.
On a time was Túrin at the table of Thingol –
there was laughter long and the loud clamour
of a countless company that quaffed the mead,
amid the wine of Dor-Winion that went ungrudged	425
in their golden goblets; and goodly meats
there burdened the boards, neath the blazing torches
set high in those halls that were hewn of stone.
There mirth fell on many; there minstrels clear
did sing to them songs of the city of Tûn	430
neath Tain-Gwethil, towering mountain,
where the great gods sit and gaze on the world
from the guarded shores of the gulf of Faërie.
Then one sang of the slaying at the Swanships’ Haven
and the curse that had come on the kindreds since:	435
all silent sat and soundless harkened,
and waited the words save one alone –
the Man among Elves that Morwin bore.
Unheeding he heard or high feasting
or lay or laughter, and looked, it seemed,	440
to a deep distance in the dark without,
and strained for sounds in the still spaces,
for voices that vanished in the veils of night.
He was lithe and lean, and his locks were wild,
and woodland weeds he wore of brown	445
and grey and green, and gay jewel
or golden trinket his garb knew not.

An Elf there was – Orgof – of the ancient race
that was lost in the lands where the long marches
from the quiet waters of Cuiviénen	450
were made in the mirk of the midworld’s gloom,
ere light was lifted aloft o’er earth;
but blood of the Gnomes was blent in his veins.
He was close akin to the King of Doriath –
a hardy hunter and his heart was brave,	455
but loose his laughter and light his tongue,
and his pride outran his prowess in arms.
He was fain before all of fine raiment
and of gems and jewels, and jealous of such
as found favour before himself.	460
Now costly clad in colours gleaming
he sat on a seat that was set on high
near the king and queen and close to Túrin.
When those twain were at table he had taunted him oft,
lightly with laughter, for his loveless ways,	465
his haggard raiment and hair unshorn;
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