A Elbereth Gilthoniel

From Tolkien Gateway
The printable version is no longer supported and may have rendering errors. Please update your browser bookmarks and please use the default browser print function instead.

A Elbereth Gilthoniel is an aerlinn (poem) of Rivendell addressed to Varda, sung in Sindarin and in iambic tetrameter. The first stanza (the only one known) rhymes aababcc.

A Elbereth Gilthoniel
Silivren penna míriel
o menel aglar elenath!
Na-chaered palan-díriel
o galadhremmin Ennorath,
Fanuilos, le linnathon
nef aear, si nef Aearon.

Which translates as

O Elbereth Starkindler- (white) glittering slants down- sparkling like jewels- from [the] firmament [the] glory [of] the star-host!- To-remote distance far-having gazed - from [the] tree-tangled middle-lands,- Fanuilos, to thee I will chant- on this side of ocean, here on this side of the Great Ocean!

The rest of it is not saved but it is possible that 'Oh Snow-white' is a Westron translation or variation of this aerlinn.