Seek for the Sword that was broken

Seek for the Sword that was broken is a rhyme that appeared in dreams to Faramir and later his brother Boromir.

Rhyme

"In that dream I thought the eastern sky grew dark and there was a growing thunder, but in the West a pale light lingered, and out of it I heard a voice, remote but clear, crying:

 Seek for the Sword that was broken:
 In Imladris it dwells;
 There shall be counsels taken
 Stronger than Morgul-spells.
 There shall be shown a token
 That Doom is near at hand,
 For Isildur's Bane shall waken,
 And the Halfling forth shall stand.

"

― Boromir, The Council of Elrond

History

When Faramir had the dream, he did not speak of it. He had the dream twice again, and his brother had it once. Neither knew what exactly the "Doom" and "Isildur's Bane" referred to, nor where "Imladris" was. Their father told Boromir that Imladris was where Lord Elrond dwelt, and the road being too dangerous, Boromir took it upon himself to follow this lead.

Deus ex machina

This dream is a moment when intervention from the Valar can be seen - the dream would be a construction of Irmo Lórien, who has the power to create dreams. It is often discussed but rarely agreed upon what would have happened when the Valar got their way - what would have happened if Faramir went to Imladris, and Boromir guarded Ithilien.

Portrayal in adaptations

The song is sung by Matthew Vine in a high-pitched voice in 1981 radio series of The Lord of the Rings. It is the reason for Boromir's coming to Rivendell, and is explained by Aragorn, Gandalf and Elrond.