A Elbereth Gilthoniel
From Tolkien Gateway
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. Variations of this hymn are sung throughout the book, such as the very last one written down:
[ Frodo Baggins has just sung a song]
..And as if in answer, from down below, coming up the road out of the valley, voices sang:
- A! Elbereth Gilthoniel!
- silivren penna míriel
- o menel aglar elenath,
- Gilthoniel, A! Elbereth!
- We still remember, we who dwell
- In this far land beneath the trees
- The starlight on the Western Seas