Lay of Leithian Canto V: Difference between revisions

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This [[Cantos of the Lay of Leithian|Canto]] speaks of [[Lúthien Tinúviel]] after the departure of [[Beren Erchamion|Beren]] and how she went to her mother [[Melian]] and friend [[Dairon]], begging for aid, from the first foresight and from the second music. Melian said that Beren was in the dungeons of [[Thû]], and Dairon refused to play any music. A second time Dairon betrayed her, this time out of love, to her father [[Thingol]], who placed her in a guarded treehouse. But by magic she grew out her hair and made a robe and rope of it "a magic dress / that all was drenched in drowsiness".  Lowering the rope she put to sleep her guards and escaped.
This [[Cantos of the Lay of Leithian|Canto]] speaks of [[Lúthien|Lúthien Tinúviel]] after the departure of [[Beren]] and how she went to her mother [[Melian]] and friend [[Dairon]], begging for aid, from the first foresight and from the second music. Melian said that Beren was in the dungeons of [[Thû]], and Dairon refused to play any music. A second time Dairon betrayed her, this time out of love, to her father [[Thingol]], who placed her in a guarded treehouse. But by magic she grew out her hair and made a robe and rope of it "a magic dress / that all was drenched in drowsiness".  Lowering the rope she put to sleep her guards and escaped.


== The Canto ==
[[File:Ted Nasmith - Lúthien Escapes the Treehouse.jpg|thumb|right|250px|''Lúthien escapes the Treehouse'' by [[Ted Nasmith]]]]
[[Image:Ted Nasmith - Lúthien Escapes the Treehouse.jpg|thumb|right|250px|'''Lúthien Escapes the Treehouse''' by [[Ted Nasmith]]. ''Note:There are several innacuracies; see below'']]
 
<blockquote>So days drew on from the mournful day;<br>
==Concerning the Canto==
After Beren is gone, the forest falls into solemn silence:
 
{{blockquote|So days drew on from the mournful day;<br>
the curse of silence no more lay<br>
the curse of silence no more lay<br>
on [[Doriath]], though [[Dairon]]'s flute<br>
on Doriath, though Dairon's flute<br>
and [[Lúthien]]'s singing both were mute.<br>
and Lúthien's singing both were mute.|vv. 1206-1209}}
The murmurs soft awake once more<br>
 
about the woods, the [[Esgalduin|waters]] roar<br>
Lúthien sings only quietly this medley of mourning:
past the great gates of [[Menegroth|Thingol's halls]];<br>
 
but no dancing step of Lúthien falls<br>
{{blockquote|'Endless roll the waters past!<br>
on turf or leaf.  For she forlorn,<br>
where stumbled once, where bruised and torn,<br>
with longing on him like a dream,<br>
had [[Beren Erchamion|Beren]] sat by shrouded stream<br>
[[Esgalduin]] the dark and strong,<br>
she sat and mourned in a low song:<br>
"Endless roll the waters past!<br>
To this my love hath come at last,<br>
To this my love hath come at last,<br>
enchanted waters pitiless,<br>
enchanted waters pitiless,<br>
a heartache and a loneliness."</blockquote>
a heartache and a loneliness.'|vv. 1220-1223}}
 
<blockquote>The summer turns. In branches tall<br>
she hears the pattering raindrops fall,<br>
the windy tide in leafy seas,<br>
the creaking of the countless trees;<br>
and longs unceasing and in vain<br>
to hear one calling once again<br>
the tender name that [[nightingales]]<br>
were called of old.  Echo fails.<br>
"[[Tinúviel]]!  Tinúviel!"<br>
the memory is like a knell,<br>
a faint and far-off tolling bell:<br>
"Tinúviel!  Tinúviel!"</blockquote>


<blockquote>"O mother [[Melian]], tell to me<br>
After learning from Melian of Beren's fate, she seeks comfort in Dairon, begging him to make her music to aid her heart.
some part of what thy dark eyes see!<br>
Tell of thy magic where his feet<br>
are wandering! What foes him meet?<br>
O mother, tell me, lives he still<br>
treading the desert and the hill?<br>
Do sun and moon above him shine,<br>
do the rains fall on him, mother mine?"</blockquote>


<blockquote>"Nay, Lúthien my child, I fear<br>
{{blockquote|On earth she cast her at his side.<br>
he lives indeed in bondage drear.<br>
'O Dairon, Dairon, my tears,' she cried,<br>
The [[Sauron|Lord of wolves]] hath [[Tol-in-Gaurhoth|prisons]] dark,<br>
'now pity for our old days' sake!<br>
chains and enchantments cruel and stark,<br>
for heart's despair, and for heart's dread<br>
there trapped and bound and languishing<br>
for light gone dark and laughter dead!'|vv. 1262-1267}}
now Beren dreams that thou dost sing."</blockquote>


<blockquote>"Then I alone must go to him<br>
But "for music dead there is no note", replies Dairon, though he plays a wailing melody that causes all creatures, birds and elves, to forget their happiness. Though Lúthien entreats him then to come with her to seek Beren, he replies firmly
and dare the dread in dungeons dim;<br>
for none there be that will him aid<br>
in all the world, save elven-maid<br>
whose only skill were joy and song,<br>
and both have failed and left her long."<br>
The nought said Melian thereto,<br>
though wild the words. She wept anew,<br>
and ran through the woods like hunted deer<br>
with her hair streaming and eyes of fear.<br>
Dairon she found with ferny crown<br>
silently sitting on beech-leaves brown.<br>
On the earth she cast her at his side.<br>
"O Dairon, Dairon, my tears," she cried,<br>
"now pity for our old days' sake!<br>
Make me a music for heart's ache,<br>
for heart's despair, and for heart's dread,<br>
for light gone dark and laughter dead!"</blockquote>


<blockquote>"But for music dead there is no note,"<br>
{{blockquote|'Wherefore,' said he, 'should Dairon go<br>
Dairon answered, and at his throat<br>
his fingers clutched. Yet his pipe he took,<br>
and sadly trembling the music shook;<br>
and all things stayed while that piping went<br>
wailing in the hollows, and there intent<br>
they listened, their business and mirth,<br>
their hearts' gladness and the light of earth<br>
forgotten; and bird-voices failed<br>
while Dairon's flute in Doriath wailed.<br>
Lúthien wept not for very pain,<br>
and when he ceased she spoke again:<br>
"My friend, I have a need of friends,<br>
as he who a long dark journey wends,<br>
and fears the road, yet dare not turn<br>
and look back where the candles burn<br>
in windows he has left.  The night<br>
in front, he doubts to find the light<br>
that far beyond the hills he seeks."<br>
And thus of Melian's words she speaks,<br>
and of her doom and her desire<br>
to climb the [[Iron Mountains|mountains]], and the fire<br>
and ruin of the [[Angband|Northern realm]]<br>
to dare, a maiden without helm<br>
or sword, or strength of hardy limb,<br>
where magic founders and grows dim.<br>
His aid she sought to guide her forth<br>
and find the pathways to the North,<br>
if he would not for love of her<br>
go by her side a wanderer.<br>
"Wherefor," said he, "Should Dairon go<br>
into direst peril earth doth know<br>
into direst peril earth doth know<br>
for the sake of mortal who did steal<br>
for the sake of mortal who did steal<br>
his laughter and joy? No love I feel<br>
his laughter and joy? No love I feel<br>
for Beren son of [[Barahir son of Bregor|Barahir]],<br>
for Beren son of Barahir,<br>
nor weep for him in dungeons drear,<br>
nor weep for him in dungeons drear,<br>
who in this wood have chains enow,<br>
who in this wood have chains enow,<br>
heavy and dark. But thee, I vow,<br>
heavy and dark. But thee, I vow,<br>
I will defend from perils fell<br>
I will defend from perils fell<br>
and deadly wandering into [[Angband|hell]]."</blockquote>
and deadly wandering into hell.'|vv. 1298-1307}}
 
<blockquote>No more they spake that day, and she<br>
perceived not his meaning.  Sorrowfully<br>
she thanked him, and he left him there.<br>
A tree she climbed, till the bright air<br>
above the woods her dark hair blew,<br>
and straining afar her eyes could view<br>
the outline grey and faint and low<br>
of dizzy towers where the clouds go,<br>
the southern faces mounting sheer<br>
in rocky pinnacle and pier<br>
of [[Mountains of Terror|Shadowy Mountains]] pale and cold;<br>
and wide the lands before them rolled.<br>
But straightway Dairon sought the king<br>
and told him his daughter's pondering<br>
and how her madness might her lead<br>
to ruin, unless the king gave heed.<br>
Thingol was wroth, and yet amazed;<br>
in wonder and half fear he gazed<br>
on Dairon, and said: 'True hast thou been.<br>
Now ever shall love be us between,<br>
while Doriath lasts; within this realm<br>
thou art a prince of beech and elm!'<br>
He sent for Lúthien, and said:<br>
'O maiden fair, what hath thee led<br>
to ponder madness and despair<br>
to wander to ruin, and to fare<br>
from Doriath against my will<br>
stealing like a wild thing men would kill<br>
into the emptiness outside?'<br>
'The wisdom, father,' she replied;<br>
nor would she promise to forget,<br>
nor would she vow for love or threat<br>
her folly to forsake and meek<br>
in Doriath her father's will to seek.<br>
This only vowed she, if go she must,<br>
that none but herself would she now trust,<br>
no folk of her father's would persuade<br>
to break his will or lend her aid;<br>
if go she must, she would go alone<br>
and friendless dare the walls of stone.</blockquote>


<blockquote>In angry love and half in fear<br>
This indeed does Dairon do, for he warns the King of Lúthien's apparent madness. Thingol "in angry love and half in fear" locks her up in a treehouse, not wanting to bind her in his caverns. Lúthien, though forgiving Dairon, pines for Beren.
Thingol took counsel his most dear<br>
to guard and keep.  He would not bind<br>
in caverns deep and intertwined<br>
sweet Lúthien, his lovely maid,<br>
who robbed of air must wane and fade,<br>
who ever must look upon the sky<br>
and see the sun and moon go by.<br>
But close unto his mounded seat<br>
and grassy throne there ran the feet<br>
of [[Hirilorn]], the beechen queen.<br>
Upon her triple boles were seen<br>
no break nor branch, until aloft<br>
in a greener glimmer, distant, soft,<br>
the mightiest vault of leaf and bough<br>
from world's beginning until now<br>
was flung above Esgalduin's shores<br>
and the long slopes of Thingol's doors.<br>
Grey was the rind of pillars tall<br>
and silken-smooth, and far and small<br>
to squirrels' eyes were those who went<br>
at her grey feet upon the bent.<br>
Now Thingol made men in the beech,<br>
in that great tree, as far as reach<br>
their longest ladders, there to build<br>
an airy house; and as he willed<br>
a little dwelling of fair wood<br>
was made, and veiled in leaves it stood<br>
above the first branches.  Corners three<br>
it had and windows faint to see,<br>
and by three shafts of Hirilorn<br>
in the corners standing was upborne.<br>
There Lúthien was bidden dwell,<br>
until she was wiser and the spell<br>
of madness left her.  Up she clomb<br>
the long ladders to her new home<br>
among the leaves, among the [[birds]];<br>
she sang no song, she wpoke no words.<br>
White glimmering in the tree she rose,<br>
and her little door they heard her close.<br>
The ladders were taken and no more<br>
her feet might tread Esgalduin's shore.</blockquote>


<blockquote>Thither at whiles they climbed and brought<br>
{{blockquote|Yet long the hours when she must sit<br>
all things she needed or besought;<br>
but death was his, whoso should dare<br>
a ladder leave, or creeping there<br>
should set one by the tree at night;<br>
a guard was held from dusk to light<br>
about the grey feet of Hirilorn<br>
and Lúthien in prison and forlorn.<br>
There Dairon grieving often stood<br>
in sorrow for the captive of wood,<br>
and melodies made upon his flute<br>
leaning against the grey tree-root.<br>
Lúthien would from her windows stare<br>
and see him far under piping there,<br>
and she forgave his betraying word<br>
for the music and the grief she heard,<br>
and only Dairon would she let<br>
across her threshold foot to set.<br>
Yet long the hours when she must sit<br>
and see the sunbeams dance and flit<br>
and see the sunbeams dance and flit<br>
in beechen leaves, or watch the stars<br>
in beechen leaves, or watch the stars<br>
peep on clear night between the bars<br>
peep on clear nights between the bars<br>
of beechen branches. And one night<br>
of beechen branches. And one night<br>
just ere the changing of the light<br>
just ere the changing of the light<br>
a dream there came, from the [[Gods]], maybe,<br>
a dream there came, from the Gods, maybe,<br>
of [[Melian]]'s magic. She dreamed that she<br>
or Melian's magic. She dreamed that she<br>
heard Beren's voice o'er hill and fell<br>
heard Beren's voice o'er hill and fell<br>
'Tinúviel' call, 'Tinúviel.'<br>
'Tinúviel' call, 'Tinúviel.'<br>
And her heart answered: 'Let me be gone<br>
And her heart answered 'Let me be gone<br>
to seek him no others think upon!'<br>
to seek him no others think upon!'|vv. 1408-1419}}
She woke and saw the moonlight pale<br>
through the slim leaves. It trembled frail<br>
upon her arms, as these she spread<br>
and there in longing bowed her head,<br>
and yearned for freedom and escape.</blockquote>
 
<blockquote>Now Lúthien doth her counsel shape;<br>
and Melian's daughter of deep lore<br>
knew many things, yea, magics more<br>
than then or now know elven-maids<br>
that glint and shimmer in the glades.<br>
She pondered long, while the moon sank<br>
and faded, and the starlight shrank,<br>
and the dawn opened.  At last a smile<br>
on her face flickered.  She mused a while,<br>
and watched the morning sunlight grow,<br>
then called to those that walked below.<br>
And when one climbed to her she prayed<br>
that he would in the dark pools wade<br>
of cold [[Esgalduin]], water clear,<br>
the clearest water cold and sheer<br>
to draw for her.  'At middle night,'<br>
she said, 'in bowl of silver white<br>
it must be drawn and brought to me<br>
with no word spoken, silently.'<br>
Another she begged to bring her wine<br>
in a jar of [[gold]] where flowers twine—<br>
'and singing let him come to me<br>
at high noon, singing merrily.'<br>
Again she spake: 'Now go, I pray,<br>
to Melian the queen, and say:<br>
"thy daughter many a weary hour<br>
slow passing watches in her bower;<br>
a spinning-wheel she begs thee send."'<br>
then Dairon she called: 'I prithee, friend,<br>
climb up and talk to Lúthien!'<br>
And sitting at her window then,<br>
she said: 'My Dairon, thou hast craft,<br>
beside thy music, many a shaft<br>
and many a tool of carven wood<br>
to fashion with cuning.  It were good,<br>
if thou wouldst make a little loom<br>
to stand in the corner of my room.<br>
My idle fingers would spin and weave<br>
a pattern of colours, of morn and eve,<br>
of sun and moon and changing light<br>
amid the beech-leaves waving bright.'<br>
This Dairon did and asked her then:<br>
'O Lúthien, O Lúthien,<br>
What wilt thou weave?  What wilt thou spin?'<br>
'A marvellous thread, and wind therein<br>
a potent magic, and a spell<br>
I will weave within my web that hell<br>
nor all the powers of Dread shall break.'<br>
Then Dairon wondered, but he spake<br>
no word to Thingol, though his heart<br>
feared the dark purpose of her art.</blockquote>
 
<blockquote>And Lúthien now was left alone.<br>
A magic song to [[Men]] unknown<br>
she sang, and singing then the wine<br>
with water mingled three times nine;<br>
and as in golden jar they lay<br>
she sang a song of growth and day;<br>
and as they lay in silver white<br>
another song she sang, of night<br>
and darkness without end, of height<br>
uplifted to the stars, and flight<br>
and freedom.  And all names of things<br>
tallest and longest on earth she sings:<br>
the locks of the [[Longbeard]] dwarves; the tail<br>
of [[Draugluin]] the [[werewolf]] pale;<br>
the body of [[Glómund]] the great [[dragons|snake]];<br>
the vast upsoaring peaks that quake<br>
above the fires in [[Angband]]'s gloom;<br>
the chain [[Angainor]] that ere Doom<br>
for [[Morgoth]] shall by Gods be wrought<br>
of steel and torment.  Names she sought,<br>
and sang of [[Glend]] the sword of [[Nan]];<br>
of [[Gilim]] the giant of [[Eruman]];<br>
and last and longest named she then<br>
the endless hair of [[Uinen]],<br>
the Lady of the Sea, that lies<br>
through all the waters under skies.<br>
Then did she lave her head and sing<br>
a theme of sleep and slumbering,<br>
profound and fathomless and dark<br>
as Lúthien's shadowy hair was dark—<br>
each thread was more slender and more fine<br>
than threads of twilight that entwine<br>
in filmy web the fading grass<br>
and closing flowers as day doth pass.<br>
Now long and longer grew her hair,<br>
and fell to her feet, and wandered there<br>
like pools of shadow on the ground.<br>
Then Lúthien in a slumber drowned<br>
was laid upon her bed and slept,<br>
till morning through the windows crept<br>
thinly and faint.  And then she woke,<br>
and the room was filled as with a smoke<br>
and with an evening mist, and deep<br>
she lay thereunder drowsed in sleep.<br>
Behold! her hair from windows blew<br>
in morning airs, and darkly grew<br>
waving about the pillars grey<br>
of Hirilorn at break of day.</blockquote>


<blockquote>Then groping she found her little shears,<br>
Following is a detailed description of her magic art to grow out her hair. Then she weaves them with a borrowed loom
and cut the hair about her ears,<br>
and close she cropped it to her head,<br>
enchanted tresses, thread by thread.<br>
Thereafter grew they slow once more,<br>
yet darker than their wont before.<br>
And now was her labour but begun:<br>
long was she spinning, long she spun;<br>
and though with elvish skill she wrought,<br>
long was her weaving.  If men sought<br>
to call her, crying from below,<br>
'Nothing I need,' she answered, 'go!<br>
I would keep my bed, and only sleep<br>
I now desire, who waking waking weep.'</blockquote>


<blockquote>Then Dairon feared, and in amaze<br>
{{blockquote|...Of cloudy hair<br>
he called from under; but three days<br>
she answered not. Of cloudy hair<br>
she wove a web like misty air<br>
she wove a web like misty air<br>
of moonless night, and thereof made<br>
of moonless night, and thereof made<br>
a robe as fluttering-dark as shade<br>
a robe as fluttering-dark as shade<br>
beneath great trees, a magic dress<br>
beneath great trees, a magic dress<br>
that all was drenched with drowsiness,<br>
that all was drenched with drowsiness.|vv. 1540-1545}}
enchanted with a mightier spell<br>
than Melian's raiment in that dell<br>
wherein of yore did Thingol roam<br>
beneath the dark and starry dome<br>
that hung above the dawning world.<br>
And now this robe she round her furled,<br>
and veiled her garments shimmering white;<br>
her mantle blue with jewels bright<br>
like crystal stars, the lilies gold,<br>
were wrapped and hid; and down there rolled<br>
dim dreams and faint oblivious sleep<br>
falling about her, to softly creep<br>
through all the air. Then swift she takes<br>
the threads unused; of these she makes<br>
a slender rope of twisted strands<br>
yet long and stout, and with her hands<br>
she makes it fast unto the shaft<br>
of Hirilorn.  Now, all her craft<br>
and labout ended, looks she forth<br>
from her little window facing North.</blockquote>


<blockquote>Already the sunlight in the trees<br>
And finally as the sun goes down she causes the guards to fall asleep with the rope, and
is drooping red, and dusk she sees<br>
come softly along the ground below,<br>
and now she murmurs soft and slow.<br>
Now chanting clearer down she cast<br>
her long hair, till it reached at last<br>
from her window to the darkling ground.<br>
Men far beneath her heawrd the sound;<br>
but the slumbrous strand now swung and swayed<br>
above her guards.  Their talking stayed,<br>
they listened to her voice and fell<br>
suddenly beneath a binding spell.</blockquote>


<blockquote>Now clad as in a cloud she hung;<br>
{{blockquote|Now clad as in a cloud she hung;<br>
now down her ropéd hair she swung<br>
now down her ropéd hair she swung<br>
as light as squirrel, and away,<br>
as light as squirrel, and away,<br>
away, she danced, and who could say<br>
away, she danced, and who could say<br>
what paths she took, whose elvish feet<br>
what paths she took, whose elvish feet<br>
no impress made a-dancing fleet?</blockquote>
no impress made a-dancing fleet?|vv. 1578-1583}}

Latest revision as of 13:07, 11 March 2020

Lay of Leithian cantos
  1. Canto I
  2. Canto II
  3. Canto III
  4. Canto IV
  5. Canto V
  6. Canto VI
  7. Canto VII
  8. Canto VIII
  9. Canto IX
  10. Canto X
  11. Canto XI
  12. Canto XII
  13. Canto XIII
  14. Canto XIV

This Canto speaks of Lúthien Tinúviel after the departure of Beren and how she went to her mother Melian and friend Dairon, begging for aid, from the first foresight and from the second music. Melian said that Beren was in the dungeons of Thû, and Dairon refused to play any music. A second time Dairon betrayed her, this time out of love, to her father Thingol, who placed her in a guarded treehouse. But by magic she grew out her hair and made a robe and rope of it "a magic dress / that all was drenched in drowsiness". Lowering the rope she put to sleep her guards and escaped.

Lúthien escapes the Treehouse by Ted Nasmith

Concerning the Canto[edit | edit source]

After Beren is gone, the forest falls into solemn silence:

So days drew on from the mournful day;

the curse of silence no more lay
on Doriath, though Dairon's flute

and Lúthien's singing both were mute.
—vv. 1206-1209

Lúthien sings only quietly this medley of mourning:

'Endless roll the waters past!

To this my love hath come at last,
enchanted waters pitiless,

a heartache and a loneliness.'
—vv. 1220-1223

After learning from Melian of Beren's fate, she seeks comfort in Dairon, begging him to make her music to aid her heart.

On earth she cast her at his side.

'O Dairon, Dairon, my tears,' she cried,
'now pity for our old days' sake!
for heart's despair, and for heart's dread

for light gone dark and laughter dead!'
—vv. 1262-1267

But "for music dead there is no note", replies Dairon, though he plays a wailing melody that causes all creatures, birds and elves, to forget their happiness. Though Lúthien entreats him then to come with her to seek Beren, he replies firmly

'Wherefore,' said he, 'should Dairon go

into direst peril earth doth know
for the sake of mortal who did steal
his laughter and joy? No love I feel
for Beren son of Barahir,
nor weep for him in dungeons drear,
who in this wood have chains enow,
heavy and dark. But thee, I vow,
I will defend from perils fell

and deadly wandering into hell.'
—vv. 1298-1307

This indeed does Dairon do, for he warns the King of Lúthien's apparent madness. Thingol "in angry love and half in fear" locks her up in a treehouse, not wanting to bind her in his caverns. Lúthien, though forgiving Dairon, pines for Beren.

Yet long the hours when she must sit

and see the sunbeams dance and flit
in beechen leaves, or watch the stars
peep on clear nights between the bars
of beechen branches. And one night
just ere the changing of the light
a dream there came, from the Gods, maybe,
or Melian's magic. She dreamed that she
heard Beren's voice o'er hill and fell
'Tinúviel' call, 'Tinúviel.'
And her heart answered 'Let me be gone

to seek him no others think upon!'
—vv. 1408-1419

Following is a detailed description of her magic art to grow out her hair. Then she weaves them with a borrowed loom

...Of cloudy hair

she wove a web like misty air
of moonless night, and thereof made
a robe as fluttering-dark as shade
beneath great trees, a magic dress

that all was drenched with drowsiness.
—vv. 1540-1545

And finally as the sun goes down she causes the guards to fall asleep with the rope, and

Now clad as in a cloud she hung;

now down her ropéd hair she swung
as light as squirrel, and away,
away, she danced, and who could say
what paths she took, whose elvish feet

no impress made a-dancing fleet?
—vv. 1578-1583