Elven Hymn to Elbereth

From Tolkien Gateway
Revision as of 19:14, 2 March 2010 by Mith (talk | contribs) (Re-linked)
This article describes a concept which is mentioned in J.R.R. Tolkien's works, but was never given a definite name.

The Elven Hymn to Elbereth is a song which was sung by a company of Elves, lead by Gildor Inglorion, as they passed through the Shire in the late Third Age. It was overheard by Frodo Baggins, Samwise Gamgee and Peregrin Took. Although the elves would have been singing in Sindarin, of which Frodo knew only a little, he was still able to intepret the meaning of the song. Its content is surprisngly similar to A Elbereth Gilthoniel.

Song

 
Snow-white! Snow-white! O Lady clear!
O Queen beyond the Western Seas!
O light to us that wander here
Amid the world of woven trees!
Gilthoniel! O Elbereth!
Clear are thy eyes and bright thy breath!
Snow-white! Snow-white! We sing to thee
In a far land beyond the sea.

O Stars that in the Sunless Year
With shining hand by her were sown,
In windy fields now bright and clear
We see you silver blossom blown!

O Elbereth! Gilthoniel!
We still remember, we who well
In this far land beneath the trees,
Thy starlight on the Western Seas.

References