Lay of Leithian Canto I: Difference between revisions

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This first [[Cantos of the Lay of the Leithian|Canto]] of the [[Lay of Leithian]] tells of [[Elu Thingol]], and [[Lúthien Tinúviel]] and [[Doriath]]. It runs to 98 lines, one of the shorter Cantos if not the shortest save the unfinished last one.
{{lolcantos}}
:A king there was in days of old;
This first [[Cantos of the Lay of the Leithian|Canto]] of the [[Lay of Leithian]] tells of [[Thingol|Elu Thingol]], and [[Lúthien|Lúthien Tinúviel]] and [[Doriath]]. It runs to 98 lines, the shortest canto save the last, unfinished one.
:ere Men yet walked upon the mould
 
:his power was reared in cavern’s shad,
== Concerning the Canto ==
:his hand was over glen and glade.
This canto starts out with one of the more popular paragraphs, concerning Thingol.
:His shields were shining as the moon
{{blockquote|A king there was in days of old:<br />
:his lances keen of steel were hewn,
ere [[Men]] yet walked upon the mould...|vv. 1-2}}
:of silver grey his crown was wrought
 
:the starlight in his banners caught;
The descriptions of jewels is contrasted with the love of his daughter, whose description soon follows.
:and silver thrilled his trumpets long
{{blockquote|There beryl, pearl, and opal pale<br />
:beneath the stars in challenge strong;
and metal wrought like fishes' mail<br />
:enchantment did his real enfold,
...<br />
:where might and glory, wealth untold,
all these he had and loved them less<br />
:he wielded from his ivory throne
than a maiden once in Elfinesse;<br />
:in many-pillared halls of stone.
for fairer than are born to Men<br />
:There beryl, pearl, and opal pale,
a daughter had he, Lúthien.|vv. 15-6, 19-22}}
:and metal wrought like fishes’ mail
 
:buckler and corselet, ade and sword
Then it introduces [[Endor]] and orients the reader.
:and gleaming spears were laid in hoard–
{{blockquote|To North there lay the Land of Dread<br />
:all these he had and loved them less
whence only evil pathways led<br />
:than a maiden once in Elfinesse;
...<br />
:for fairer than are born to Men
to South the wide earth unexplored<br />
:a daughter had he, Lúthien
to West the ancient [[Belegaer|Ocean]] roared,<br />
::such lissom limbs no more shall run
unsailed and shoreless, wide and wild<br />
:on the green earth beneath the sun;
to East in peaks of blue were piled...|vv. 49-50, 55-58}}
:so fair a maid no more shall be
 
:from dawn to dusk, from sun to sea.
Note the reference below to fairies, not uncommon in older works. One thing about the Lay is that it commonly connects Beleriand and Faërie.
:Her robe was blue as summer skies
{{blockquote|''[[Esgalduin]] that fairies call<br />
:but gray as evening were here eyes;
in many a tall and torchlit hall|vv. 67-68}}
:‘twas sewn with golden lilies fair
 
:but dark as shadow was her hair.
Note also that the name of '''Dairon''' is spelt here with an "i", as opposed to '''[[Daeron]]''' of later works.
:Her feet were light as bird on wing
{{blockquote|When leaves were long and grass was green<br />
:her laughter lighter than the spring;
then Dairon with his fingers lean,<br />
:the slender willow, the bowing reed
as daylight melted into shade,<br />
:the fragrance of a flowering mead
a wandering music sweetly made...|vv. 79-82}}
:the light upon the leaves of trees
 
:the voice of water, more than these
It ends on a note of change, signifying the end of the introduction and the beginning of the tale.
:her beauty was and blissfulness
{{blockquote|...until a day beneath the [[sun]],<br />
:her glory and her loveliness;
when many marvels were begun.|vv. 97-98}}
:and her the king more dear did prize
:than hand or heart or light of eyes.
:
::They dwelt amid Beleriand
:while Elfin power yet held the land
:in the woven woods of Doriath;
:few ever thither found the path;
:few ever dared the forest-eaves
:to pass, or stir the listening leaves
:with tongue of hounds a-hunting fleet
:with horse, or horn, or mortal feet.
:To North there lay the Land of Dread
:whence only evil pathways led
:o’er hills of shadow bleak and cold
:or Taur-nu-Fuin’s haunted hold
:where Deadly Nightshade lurked and lay
:and never came or moon or day
:to South the wide earth unexplored;
:to West the ancient Ocean roared
:unsailed and shoreless, wide and wild;
:to East in peaks of blue were piled
:in silence folded, mist-enfurled,
:the mountains of the Outer World,
:beyond the tangled woodland shade
:thorn and thicket, grove and glade
:whose brooding boughs with magic hung
:were ancient when the world was young.
:
::There Thingol in the Thousand Caves
:whose portals pale that river laves
:Esgalduin that fairies call
:in many a tall and torchlit hall
:a dark and hidden king did dwell
:lord of the forest and the fell;
:and sharp his sword and high his helm
:the king of beech and oak and elm.
:
::There Lúthien the lissom maid
:would dance in dell and grassy glade
:and music merrily, thin and clear,
:went down the ways , more fair than ear
:of mortal Men at feast hath heard
:and fairer than the song of bird.
:When leaves were long and grass was green
:then Dairon with fingers lean
:as daylight melted into shade
:a wandering music sweetly bade
:enchanted fluting, warbling wild
:for love of Thingol’s elfin child.
:
::There bow was bent and shaft was sped
:the fallow deer as phantoms fled
:and horses proud with branded mane
:with shining bit and silver rein
:went fleeting by on moonlit night
:as swallows arrow-swift in flight;
:a blowing and a sound of bells
:a hidden hunt in hollow dells.
:There songs were made and things of gold
:and silver cups and jewels untold
:and the endless years of Faëry land
:rolled over far Beleriand
:until a day beneath the sun
:when many marvels were begun.

Revision as of 20:19, 10 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 first Canto of the Lay of Leithian tells of Elu Thingol, and Lúthien Tinúviel and Doriath. It runs to 98 lines, the shortest canto save the last, unfinished one.

Concerning the Canto

This canto starts out with one of the more popular paragraphs, concerning Thingol.

A king there was in days of old:
ere Men yet walked upon the mould...
—vv. 1-2

The descriptions of jewels is contrasted with the love of his daughter, whose description soon follows.

There beryl, pearl, and opal pale

and metal wrought like fishes' mail
...
all these he had and loved them less
than a maiden once in Elfinesse;
for fairer than are born to Men

a daughter had he, Lúthien.
—vv. 15-6, 19-22

Then it introduces Endor and orients the reader.

To North there lay the Land of Dread

whence only evil pathways led
...
to South the wide earth unexplored
to West the ancient Ocean roared,
unsailed and shoreless, wide and wild

to East in peaks of blue were piled...
—vv. 49-50, 55-58

Note the reference below to fairies, not uncommon in older works. One thing about the Lay is that it commonly connects Beleriand and Faërie.

Esgalduin that fairies call
in many a tall and torchlit hall
—vv. 67-68

Note also that the name of Dairon is spelt here with an "i", as opposed to Daeron of later works.

When leaves were long and grass was green

then Dairon with his fingers lean,
as daylight melted into shade,

a wandering music sweetly made...
—vv. 79-82

It ends on a note of change, signifying the end of the introduction and the beginning of the tale.

...until a day beneath the sun,
when many marvels were begun.
—vv. 97-98