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User talk:Mith/2021

2021-10-17T19:10:53Z

Otciberta: /* Merge Articles */ new section

{{talkarchive|2006|2007|2008|2009|2010|2011|2012|2013|2014|2015|2016|2017|2018|2019|2020}}
<table style="border: 1px solid #c0c090; background-color: #f8eaba; width:80%; margin-left: auto; margin-right:auto;"><tr><td rowspan="2">[[Image:Nuvola apps edu languages.png|none|50px|link=]]</td><td><div id="talk" style="text-align: center; padding: 5px; clear: both;><big>'''''Welcome to [[User:Mith|Mith]]'s talk page.'''''</big></div></td></tr><tr><td><ul><li>Please [{{SERVER}}{{localurl:{{NAMESPACE}}:{{PAGENAME}}|action=edit&section=new}} post your new topic at the ''bottom''] of this page, including a '''<nowiki>==Descriptive heading==</nowiki>'''.</li><li>You should sign and date your posts by inserting "'''<nowiki>~~</nowiki>~~'''" at the end of them.</li><li>Please indent your posts with "''':'''" if replying to an existing topic (or "'''::'''" if replying to a reply, etc.).</li><li>I will generally respond ''here'' to comments that are posted here, rather than replying via your talk page (or the article talk page, if you are writing to me about an article), so you may want to [{{SERVER}}{{localurl:{{NAMESPACE}}:{{PAGENAME}}|action=watch}} watch this page].</li><li>If I have left a message on ''your'' talk page, please continue the discussion there; '''DO NOT''' reply here. This is ensure that discussions do not become fragmented over several talk pages.</li></ul>[{{SERVER}}{{localurl:{{NAMESPACE}}:{{PAGENAME}}|action=edit&section=new}} '''⇒ Start a new talk topic.''']</td></tr></table>


==Maps drawn by J.R.R. Tolkien==
Since you prefer maps over a description of what is on those maps, why don't you act in a constructive manner by obtaining the permission of the Tolkien Estate and uploading the maps on the Tolkien Estate Website behind the door to Moria and the First Map of The Lord of the Rings on the thetolkienist website and obtaining the permission of the copyright holder of the redrawn maps of the Second Map of The Lord of the Rings before acting in a destructive manner and deleting a description of what is on The First Map of The Lord of the Rings, which is not available as a file on the Tolkien Gateway? --[[User:Akhorahil|Akhorahil]] 11:34, 2 January 2021 (UTC)

:The issue is less that you've described the map, but more that it wasn't really providing a lot of useful information for the reader. This is an encyclopaedia, not a repository of trivia. --{{User:Mith/sig}} 11:39, 2 January 2021 (UTC)

::Is [[:File:Christopher Tolkien - The First Map (composite).gif|this the image you say isn't on the wiki]]? --{{User:Mith/sig}} 11:44, 2 January 2021 (UTC)

::That "it is not providing a lot of useful information for the reader" and that it is "trivia" is merely your subjective opinion as one individual reader. Your personal opinion is not representative for the opinion of all the readers of this wiki and frankly I do not write content to please you, but content that could be interesting and not considered to be "trivia" for a lot of other readers. Christopher Tolkien wrote extensively in the History of The Lord of the Rings series books about how the geography of Middle-earth changed when one compares the various maps, so he certainly did not consider changes in geography to be "trivia". There are Tolkien fans that are enthusiastic about Tolkien's maps and map making as can be seen in the Other Minds Magazine or in the posts on the Other Minds facebook group Facebook page. --[[User:Akhorahil|Akhorahil]] 19:28, 2 January 2021 (UTC)

:::Do you have access to a copy of The History of The Lord of the Rings, Part 2, The Treason of Isengard? Have you ever looked at the First Map of the Lord of the Rings? If you look at page 299 to page 301, page 302, page 303, page 305 page 309 and compare it with the map that you asked me about, you can see that the map you asked my about is a combination of the maps on page 302, page 303, page 305 and page 309 and that those are merely redrawn maps that Christopher Tolkien redrew from The First Map of the Lord of the Rings and if you have looked on the First Map of the Lord of the Rings includes lots of details, which are not included on the redrawn maps. And no, the First Map of the Lord of the Rings has not been uploaded to the Tolkien Gateway wiki. The First Map of the Lord of the Rings can be found with the following URL https://thetolkienist.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/first-map-of-Lord-of-the-Rings_web.jpg The maps on the Tolkien Estate website can be found with the following URL https://www.tolkienestate.com/en/painting/maps/maps.html --[[User:Akhorahil|Akhorahil]] 19:28, 2 January 2021 (UTC)

::::Yes. What is wrong with the redrawn map by Christopher Tolkien? It has the same detail, does it not? What about that image lacks the detail you need for the Umbar article? I am enthusiastic about maps, too, and I can assure you I am ''extremely'' knowledgeable about Tolkien fandom, but what is the actual analysis or information you are providing here? You are describing the changes referred to by Christopher above, you are literally just describing a static object. Talking about the changes and what they mean would be genuinely useful information.
::::Also, can you please include more punctuation in your sentences. I think it is contributing to your messages sounding rude, which I hope isn't your intention. Thanks. --{{User:Mith/sig}} 19:37, 2 January 2021 (UTC)

==Artwork which I uploaded==
I was wondering, is there any specific reason why you deleted all artwork by A-denn, and others which I clearly provided evidence of consent on the part of the authors?

Also - what about [[:Category:Images by Eva Zahradníková|Eva Zahradníková]], whose artwork is still featured on this site, yet a number of it was deleted by you? -- [[User:IvarTheBoneless|IvarTheBoneless]] 12:40, 23 January 2021 (UTC)

:It was three months ago so I honestly cannot recall. Undoubtedly there was a reason for removing those ones. --{{User:Mith/sig}} 13:27, 23 January 2021 (UTC)

::About A-denn's artwork (for example, 'Makar and Measse') specifically, perhaps it was the fact that I uploaded it under 'A-Denn' instead of 'A-denn'. Can you check it out, if you find time? -- [[User:IvarTheBoneless|IvarTheBoneless]] 18:09, 23 January 2021 (UTC)

: P.S. What's up with the font? Is it just me, or has there been a change? -- [[User:IvarTheBoneless|IvarTheBoneless]] 12:42, 23 January 2021 (UTC)

::I enlarged it at the request of [[User:LorenzoCB]] who said that it is too small. --{{User:Mith/sig}} 13:27, 23 January 2021 (UTC)

==Capitalization==
Hi, the subcategories in [[:Category:Titles]] remain wrongly capitalized. Can you move them, please? --[[User:LorenzoCB|LorenzoCB]] 13:50, 1 February 2021 (UTC)

:Unfortunately not. In our version of the software it is not possible to move a category. --{{User:Mith/sig}} 19:37, 2 February 2021 (UTC)

::Oh, I thought categories could be edited with the bot. I'll see if I do it manually then and revise things by the way. --[[User:LorenzoCB|LorenzoCB]] 09:43, 3 February 2021 (UTC)

:::The bot can be used to change the categories on an article, but can't be used to change the category pages themselves. I can bot the former part of this, if you like? --{{User:Mith/sig}} 18:22, 3 February 2021 (UTC)

::::That's what I meant with moving them. Just change the categories in the articles with the correct one and delete the former ones. Sorry, I assumed this was the usual. No hurry at all, but if I don't point this now I would forget it. --[[User:LorenzoCB|LorenzoCB]] 19:12, 3 February 2021 (UTC)

:::::OK, so Cloudfare is stopping the bot from working properly so I did this manually. But in the process spotted that this is a total mess between [[:C:Titles]], [[:C:Rulers]], and [[:Category:Positions and Occupations]]. So this needs work! --{{User:Mith/sig}} 09:35, 21 February 2021 (UTC)

::::::Nice work! Holly molly, I had never spotted those categories. In a first sight I'd suggest to remove "Rulers", as it is redundant and "Titles" is more properly applied; and to change "Positions and occupations" to simply "Occupations". And we also have [[:Category:Epithets]], which I wished to revise at some point. --[[User:LorenzoCB|LorenzoCB]] 10:10, 21 February 2021 (UTC)

== Info boxes ==

I have a simple, stupid question. How do you create an info box for a personal user page?
Many thanks! --[[User:Erónèhire|Erónèhire]] 16:58, 23 February 2021 (UTC)
:You use [[Template:User infobox]]. --{{User:Mith/sig}} 18:16, 27 February 2021 (UTC)

== TolkienGateway Chat ==

I was curious about this application, but I am having difficulty accessing it. Could you help direct me?--[[User:Erónèhire|Erónèhire]] 17:42, 9 March 2021 (UTC)

:Seems it is fallen since long ago. Mith, it would be nice to delete that page, it also confused me when I first saw it. --[[User:LorenzoCB|LorenzoCB]] 08:21, 10 March 2021 (UTC)

::Why don't we reboot it? give it a kick and get it running? We could have meetings where even those too inexperienced to format new pages could give suggestions. I have a few, and I might as well suggest them now; 1. Get rid of the J.R.R. Tolkien IQ when replying to a message. 2. Add more questions to the Tolkien IQ for editors (Preferably ones that only people who have read his works could answer). 3. And, this is kind of frivolous, but we could design a 'Tolkien's Works' quiz page and a leader-board.--[[User:Erónèhire|Erónèhire]] 15:57, 10 March 2021 (UTC)

== Melko ==

I've noticed that many articles have the word 'Melko' in them. I am assuming that it means Melkor, but nowhere that I have read in Tolkien's books does he name him as 'Melko.' What's up with this? Is it a spelling error?--[[User:Erónèhire|Erónèhire]] 03:59, 10 March 2021 (UTC)

:''Melko'' is the early [[Qenya]] name used by Tolkien in earlier versions of the [[Legendarium]]. You may notice that this and other spellings (like ''Earendel'' instead of ''Earendil'') are used in articles or sections dealing with ''[[The Book of Lost Tales]]'' or other earlier texts. --[[User:LorenzoCB|LorenzoCB]] 08:21, 10 March 2021 (UTC)

:: Ah, thank you! I had forgotten about the Quenyan roots.--[[User:Erónèhire|Erónèhire]] 15:34, 10 March 2021 (UTC)

== Proof of artists' consent ==
A-denn (https://imgur.com/a/xcGqYWY) and

Artigas (https://imgur.com/a/BOggA8r). [[User:IvarTheBoneless|IvarTheBoneless]] 20:02, 1 July 2021 (UTC)

== Merge Articles ==

==Isildus's Bane & the One ring==
I looked in "To Do" page and I found that Isildur's Bane needed to be merged with the One ring article. The problem is that I am new in Tolkien Gateway and I don't know how to merge articles. How can I do it?
[[User:Otciberta|Otciberta]] 19:10, 17 October 2021 (UTC)

The One Ring

2021-10-17T19:01:29Z

Otciberta:

{{cleanup}}
{{disambig-more|The One Ring|[[The One Ring (disambiguation)]]}}
{{object infobox
| name=The One Ring
| image=[[File:John Howe - The One Ring 03.jpg|250px]]
| caption="The One Ring" by [[John Howe]]
| pronun=
| othernames=Ruling Ring, Master-ring, Great Ring, the One, Ring of Rings, Ring of Power, Ring of Doom, Isildur's Bane, the Burden, Precious
| location=
| owner=Primarily: [[Sauron]], [[Isildur]], [[Gollum]], [[Bilbo Baggins|Bilbo]] and [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]]
| type=Weapon/item of jewellery
| appearance=Plain gold ring with [[Black Speech]] inscription made visible by heat
| creator=[[Sauron]]
| created=c. {{SA|1600}}
| createdlocation=[[Mount Doom]]
| destroyer=[[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]]/[[Gollum]]
| destroyed={{TA|3019}}
| destroyedlocation=[[Mount Doom]]
| notablefor=
| gallery=the One Ring
}}
{{quote|Now the Elves made many rings; but secretly Sauron made One Ring to rule all the others, and their power was bound up with it, to be subject wholly to it and to last only so long as it too should last.|''[[The Silmarillion]]'', "[[Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age]]"}}

The '''One Ring''' was an ancient artifact created by the [[Dark Lord]] [[Sauron]] in the [[Second Age]] for the purpose of ruling over the [[Free peoples]] of [[Middle-earth]], mainly the [[Elves]].

It was also known as the '''Ruling Ring''', '''Great Ring of Power''' and '''Isildur's Bane''' (due to it causing the death of [[Isildur]]). In the [[Ring Verse]] it is referred to as '''Ash Nazg''' in [[Black Speech]].<ref name=council/>

== History ==
===Origin and creation===
[[Image:Ted Nasmith - The Forging of the One.jpg|thumb|left|''The Forging of the One'' by [[Ted Nasmith]]]]
During the [[Second Age]], the Dark Lord [[Sauron]] persuaded [[Celebrimbor]] and his people, the [[Elves|Elven]] smiths of [[Eregion]], to forge the [[Rings of Power]]. Secretly, Sauron returned to [[Orodruin]] and forged the One Ring in its fires.<ref name=RoP>{{S|Rings}}</ref>

It was made as the Master Ring, the One Ring which would control all the others, and dominate their bearers. Sauron allowed much of his will and power to go into it.<ref name=shadow/><ref>{{RK|Debate}}</ref> Thus, he was at his most powerful when wearing the Ring; and although his power did not diminish if he was not in possession of it,<ref name=L131/> he could lose the ability to have a physical form once it was destroyed.<ref>{{L|200}}</ref>

Although it appeared to be made of simple gold, the Ring was virtually impervious to damage, and could only be destroyed in the very fires where it had originally been forged - [[Orodruin]].<ref name=council>{{FR|Council}}</ref>

===The Dark Years===
When Celebrimbor and the other Ring-bearers realized Sauron's treachery, they took off their Rings, as while they were wearing them, Sauron knew where they were, and went to war with him. This war, the [[War of the Elves and Sauron]] destroyed Eregion and devastated much of Eriador. Sauron conquered and was able to claim all the Rings of Power (except the [[Three Rings|Three]]) and distribute them.<ref name=RoP/> During the era known as the [[Dark Years]], Sauron became master of almost all of Middle-earth beyond the coasts and was known as the [[Dark Lord]] of [[Mordor]]. He raised [[Barad-dûr]] near [[Mount Doom]], constructed the [[Black Gate]] of Mordor to prevent invasion, and raised massive armies of [[Orcs]], [[Trolls]], and Men, chiefly [[Easterlings]] and [[Haradrim|Southrons]].

The power of the Ring allowed Sauron to link it with some of his works, such as [[Barad-dûr]].<ref name=council/> With the Ring he controlled the [[Nine Rings]] that were given to nine mortal Men, who were corrupted and turned into the [[Nazgûl]], his chief servants. However, he was unable to control the [[Seven Rings]] of the [[Dwarves|Dwarf-lords]], because of their different, more hearty nature, and natural resistance against domination by others.<ref name=RoP />

Sauron's rise offended the arrogant [[Númenóreans]], who attacked him with great force of arms. The forces of Sauron fled the onslaught, and Sauron realized that he could not overcome the Númenòreans through military might. Sauron allowed himself to be taken as a hostage to Númenor by King [[Ar-Pharazôn]]. There, he quickly grew from captive to adviser and was known as '''Tar-Mairon'''. The King obviously knew nothing about the Ring and its significance<ref name=L211/> and Sauron corrupted many Númenóreans using the power of the Ring<ref name=L211>{{L|211}}</ref> and eventually convinced the king to rebel against the [[Valar]]. This resulted in the [[Downfall of Númenor]]. Sauron was diminished in the destruction and his spirit (presumably with the Ring<ref name=L211/>) fled back to Mordor, where he slowly rebuilt his strength.

===Last Alliance and first defeat of Sauron===
When the [[Faithful]] Númenóreans founded the [[Realms in Exile]], Sauron began an offence against [[Gondor]], which was one of those realms; the Elves and the Númenóreans formed the [[Last Alliance of Elves and Men|Last Alliance]] against Sauron, who was vanquished by [[Elendil]] and [[Gil-galad]]. Prince [[Isildur]] then cut the ring from his fingers and took it for himself.

[[File:Anke Eißmann - The Ring has moved on.jpg|thumb|''The Ring has moved on'' by [[Anke Eißmann]]]]
Isildur was corrupted by a great desire for the Ring, and he took it for his own, instead of destroying it as should have been done. Though he bought it "with great pain", Isildur considered the Ring a most precious heirloom of his house, and documented its properties upon the [[Scroll of Isildur|scroll he wrote]] in [[Minas Tirith]].<ref name=council/> He kept it around his neck as he travelled back to [[Arnor]]; but his party was attacked by a group of [[Orcs]] during the [[Disaster of the Gladden Fields]]. Isildur jumped into the [[Gladden River]] to escape, but the Ring betrayed him, and in an attempt to return to its master, it slipped off his finger,<ref name=shadow/> Isildur was revealed to the Orcs when he climbed out of the river, and he was shot. Although this happened as an attempt to return to Sauron,<ref name=shadow/> the Orcs didn't find the Ring, as it was lost in the [[Gladden River]].

===Finding of the One Ring===

The Ring remained hidden in the riverbed for over two millennia, despite [[Saruman]] and his many attempts to locate the ring, until it was discovered on a fishing trip by a [[Stoors|Stoor]] named [[Déagol]]. Once again, the Ring's evil powers acted upon Déagol's friend and relative, [[Sméagol]], who murdered Déagol and took the Ring for himself. Over many ages, Sméagol was changed by the Ring's influence into the creature called [[Gollum]] (which is what he called himself, as it was similar to a sound he made). The Ring manipulated Gollum into settling in the [[Misty Mountains]] near [[Mirkwood]], near a [[Orcs of the Misty Mountains|colony of Orcs]], where Sauron was beginning to resurface. But Gollum was too small and never left his deep pool so the Ring stayed with him for centuries. It was 500 years later when the "Necromancer" was awake once more in Mirkwood, sending his dark thoughts, and the Ring, wishing to be discovered by a new keeper, and so thus find its way back to its Master, fell off Gollum's finger<ref name=shadow/> as he was returning from hunting a [[Orcs#Orcs and Goblins|Goblin]].
[[File:David T. Wenzel - Bilbo finds the One Ring.jpg|thumb|''Bilbo finds the One Ring'' by [[David T. Wenzel]]]]
[[File:Darrell Sweet - The Riddle Game.jpg|left|thumb|''The Riddle-game'' by [[Darrell Sweet]]]]
The Ring was discovered in the [[Third Age]] by a hobbit, [[Bilbo Baggins]], who had been separated from his party of Dwarves and become lost in the caverns of the Misty Mountains, near Gollum's lair. After losing the [[Riddle-game]] to Bilbo, Gollum sneaked off to fetch his "[[Precious]]" (as he always called the One Ring), so that he could kill Bilbo and eat him. But when Gollum arrived at his island, he found that the Ring was missing, and he let out a great wail. Deducing from Bilbo's last question--"What have I got in my pocket?"--that Bilbo had taken it, Gollum chased the hobbit through the caves, not knowing that Bilbo had discovered the Ring's powers of invisibility and was following him to the cave's exit. Bilbo escaped Gollum and the Orcs who inhabited the Misty Mountains by remaining invisible (although he lost a few of his nice brass buttons.) But it seems that the Ring once more tried to betray its new master and slipped from his finger, allowing the pursuing goblins to see him.<ref name=Riddles>{{H|5}}</ref>

When he told the story to the [[Dwarves]] and Gandalf, however, he left the Ring out of the story. But Bilbo was aware that Gandalf suspected the presence of his magic Ring. Later on Bilbo was forced to tell the Dwarves about the Ring, to preserve their lives and continue their journey to Erebor.

Gollum, meanwhile, eventually left the Misty Mountains to track down and reclaim the Ring. He wandered for decades, only to be captured and interrogated by Sauron himself, to whom he revealed the existence of Bilbo and the Shire.
[[File:Paul Rivoche - Frodo and Gandalf.jpg|thumb|''Frodo and Gandalf'' by [[Paul Rivoche]]]]

===Frodo's quest and destruction of the Ring===

In {{TA|3001}}, following Gandalf's counsel, Bilbo gave the Ring to his nephew and adopted heir [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]]. This first willing renunciation of the Ring in its history sparked the chain of events which eventually led to its unmaking. Gandalf was suspicious about the effect it had on Bilbo and went to [[Minas Tirith]] and found Isildur's account on the Ring, being lost since his death. He returned to [[Hobbiton]] and tested Frodo's Ring in fire, only to confirm his fears since the letters described by Isildur appeared upon it.

By this time Sauron had begun to regain his power, and the [[Barad-dûr|Dark Tower]] in Mordor had been rebuilt. The [[War of the Ring]] had begun. Gandalf urged Frodo to carry the Ring to [[Rivendell]] where the Wise would decide their actions. Despite Gandalf's warnings, Frodo did wear the Ring several times during his journey. On [[Weathertop]] he was tempted by the Ring to wear it and evade the Ringwraiths, only to make him more visible to them and to be wounded by a [[Morgul-knife]].

In order to prevent the recapture of the Ring, Frodo and eight other [[Fellowship of the Ring|companions]] set out from [[Rivendell]] for Mordor in an attempt to destroy the Ring in the fires of [[Mount Doom]]. During the quest, Frodo gradually became more and more susceptible to the Ring's power, and feared that it was going to corrupt him. When he and Sam discovered that Gollum was on their trail and "tamed" him into guiding them to Mordor, he began to feel a strange bond with the wretched, treacherous creature, seeing a possible future of himself that he felt he had to save in order to save himself. Gollum gave in to the Ring's temptation, however, and betrayed them to the spider [[Shelob]] who stung Frodo. Believing Frodo to be dead, Sam bore the Ring himself for a short time, and glimpsed its power, although he never gave in to it.

Sam rescued Frodo from a band of Orcs at the Tower of [[Cirith Ungol]] and returned the Ring to him, but feared that the toll it was taking was too great. It nearly was: although Frodo and Sam, followed by Gollum, eventually arrived at Mount Doom, Frodo decided to keep the Ring for himself rather than destroy it, evincing its corruptive nature. However, he was attacked by Gollum, who bit off the finger holding the Ring before falling into the fires of Mount Doom, finally destroying the Ring, resulting in the disembodiment of Sauron

==Isildur's bane==
[[File:Anke Eißmann - The Ring has moved on.jpg|thumb|''The Ring has moved on'' by [[Anke Eißmann]]]]

{{quote|For Isildur's Bane shall waken,And the Halfling forth shall stand.|Part of [[Boromir]]'s [[Seek for the Sword that was broken|dream]]<ref name="Council">{{FR|II2}}</ref>}}

'''Isildur's Bane''' was a name for [[the One Ring]]. After [[Sauron]]'s defeat in the [[War of the Last Alliance]], [[Isildur]], [[Elendil]]'s son took the Ring, and later journeyed northward with it to his kingdom of [[Arnor]]. On [[5 October]] {{TA|2}} his small party was ambushed by [[Orcs]]. Isildur's small force was cut down and he fled the battle wearing the Ring. It slipped from his finger, though, and so both Isildur and the Ring were lost.<ref>{{UT|Gladden}}</ref>

On [[20 June]] {{TA|3018|n}}, Sauron attacked [[Osgiliath]].<ref name="TA">{{App|Great}}</ref> On the eve of this assault a dream came to [[Faramir]], Boromir's brother, that warned of the awakening of Isildur's Bane. Faramir had the dream often and Boromir had it once. After consulting with [[Denethor]], Boromir journeyed for one hundred and ten days to seek advice from [[Elrond]]. Finally on [[25 October]]<ref name="TA"/> Boromir received the answers to his questions at the Council of Elrond, where [[Frodo Baggins]] brought out the Ring and Elrond proclaimed, "Behold Isildur's Bane!"<ref name="Council"/>

{{references}}
[[Category:Objects]]
[[fi:Isildurin turma]]

== Appearance ==
Physically the Ring resembled a geometrically perfect circle of pure gold, this perfection and purity being part of its allure. Unlike the lesser Rings, it bore no gem. It seems to have been able to expand and contract, in order to fit its wearer's finger or slip from it treacherously. Its identity could be determined by a simple (though little-known) test: when heated in fire, fine lines of fire, forming a script, would appear running along on the inside and outside of the Ring.<ref name=shadow>{{FR|Shadow}}</ref> The letters were an [[Ring Verse|inscription]] in [[Tengwar]] of the [[Black Speech]] of Mordor, citing a section of poetry from part of its lore:
[[Image:One ring.png|right|300px]]

{{blockquote|Ash nazg durbatulûk, ash nazg gimbatul, ash nazg thrakatulûk, agh burzum-ishi krimpatul.}}

Which translates to:

{{blockquote|One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them.}}

==Effects==
[[Image:Roger Thomasson - The One Ring.jpg|thumb|left|''The One Ring'' by [[Roger Thomasson]]]]

Like all Rings of Power, the One Ring enhanced the natural powers of its bearer, and it could also be used to decelerate decay and change in the world.<ref name=L131>{{L|131}}</ref> But unlike the other rings, the One Ring was forged by Sauron alone without any Elvish assistance<ref name=RoP /> and was entirely evil. A person who bore the Ring could more easily dominate and command others; for instance, Sauron used this power to help convince the Númenóreans to attack [[Valinor]],<ref>{{L|211}}</ref> and Boromir desired to use this power to gain loyal subjects who would attack Mordor.<ref>{{FR|Breaking}}</ref> The Ring also allowed its bearer to see and control the thoughts of anyone who wore any other Ring of Power.<ref name=RoP />

When [[Men]] wore the Ring, they would be partly "shifted" out of the physical realm into the [[wraith-world]]. A side effect (but usually the first noticed) of the Ring was that it made the wearer invisible to most inhabitants of the physical realm (but highly visible to the [[Nazgûl]]), it dimmed the wearer's sight, and it sharpened his hearing. When Men wore the ring, only their faint and shaky shadow could be seen, and only in the full light of the sun.<ref name=Riddles></ref> This "shadow world" was the world which Wraiths inhabited, but also where the [[Calaquendi]] (Elves of Light) lived at the same time as the normal world and held great power, as was evidenced by [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] viewing [[Glorfindel]] at the Ford of [[Bruinen]] near [[Rivendell]]<ref>{{FR|Flight}}</ref> and later explained by [[Gandalf]].<ref>{{FR|Meetings}}</ref> If a bearer managed to consciously subdue the Ring's will with his own, he could wield the powers that Sauron had before he lost the Ring; notably, he could control the will of others.

Part of the nature of the Ring was that it slowly and inevitably corrupted its wearer, regardless of any intentions to the contrary. Whether this was specifically designed into the Ring's magic or was simply an artefact of its evil origins is unknown. (Sauron might be expected to endow his One Ring with such a property, but he probably never intended anyone besides himself to wear it. It may be a side-effect of the portion of Sauron's will that lies within the Ring, influencing the wearer.) Part of its essential deceit was filling minds with imaginations of supreme power<ref>{{L|246}}</ref> For this reason, the Wise, including [[Gandalf]], [[Elrond]] and [[Galadriel]], refused to wield it in their own defence, but instead determined that it must be destroyed.

It appears that Hobbits, being more pure of heart than Men and far less powerful than Elves, were the ideal vessels to resist its seductive power; this explains why Frodo and Bilbo bore it for long periods of time with very little ill effect; while Sam wore it, his mind was filed with heroic images, but he rejected them;<ref>{{TT|IV1}}</ref> even Gollum had not turned into a Wraith after 500 years of bearing the Ring.

Its power to lust was so great that it was impossible for anyone (even Sauron) to try to injure it<ref name=L131/> although unbreakable by itself.

The enigmatic [[Tom Bombadil]] was unaffected by the Ring, or rather, the Ring had no effect on him. This may be explained in many ways. (See the [[Tom Bombadil/Nature|article on Tom Bombadil]], which includes some theories.)

==Inspiration==

Tolkien scholar [[John D. Rateliff]] has at length discussed five different rings of invisibility which occur in works that predate Tolkien's:
*Plato's [[Wikipedia:Ring of Gyges|Ring of Gyges]] (ca. 390 BC),
*the magic ring in [[Wikipedia:Chrétien de Troyes|Chrétien de Troyes]]' ''[[Wikipedia:Yvain, the Knight of the Lion|Yvain, the Knight of the Lion]]'' (ca. 1177);
*[[Wikipedia:Angelica (character)|Angelica]]'s ring, of French Renaissance literature;
*the Fairy's ring appearing in the tale "The Enchanted Ring" (by [[Wikipedia:François Fénelon|François Fénelon]]) in [[Wikipedia:Andrew Lang|Andrew Lang]]'s ''[[Wikipedia:Andrew Lang's Fairy Books|The Green Fairy Book]]'' (a collection of fairy-tales referred to by Tolkien in his [[On Fairy-Stories|Andrew Lang lecture]]);<ref group=note>The "Fairy's ring" was first noted by [[Douglas A. Anderson]]. Cf. {{HM|AH}}, p. 133.</ref>
*the witch-maiden's ring in an Estonian folktale (ca. 1866) from the ''[[Wikipedia:Kalevipoeg|Kalevipoeg]]'', translated as "[[Wikipedia:The Dragon of the North|The Dragon of the North]]" in ''[[Wikipedia:Andrew Lang's Fairy Books|The Yellow Fairy Book]]'' (1894).

Rateliff's proposes that the ring most likely to have provided an inspiration for Tolkien is a version of Chrétien's tale, namely Owein's ring in the [[Welsh]] ''[[Wikipedia:Three Welsh Romances#Owain, or the Lady of the Fountain|Owain, or the Lady of the Fountain]]''. He also regards the rings in Fénelon's and Plato's stories as possible influences, but concludes that: "''the primary influence on Frodo's ring is in fact'' The Hobbit ''itself: here, as so often, Tolkien is his own main source''".<ref>{{HM|HHO}}, pp. 176-182</ref>

It has also been suggested that the One Ring may have been inspired by the [[Wikipedia:Ring of Silvianus|Ring of Silvianus]] and its inscribed curse. The hypothesis is based on Tolkien gaining knowledge about the Ring of Silvianus through the archaeologist [[Wikipedia:Mortimer Wheeler|Mortimer Wheeler]], for whom Tolkien wrote the text "[[The Name 'Nodens']]".<ref>{{webcite|author=|articleurl=http://www.lotrplaza.com/showthread.php?55657-A-Ring-with-a-Curse&p=563861#post563861|articlename=A Ring with a Curse|dated=|website=Plaza|accessed=10 April 2013}}</ref> However, Tolkien scholars [[Wayne G. Hammond]] and [[Christina Scull]] have pointed out that there is no "''evidence, or good reason to believe, that Tolkien was inspired by the Roman ring''".<ref>{{webcite|author=[[Wayne G. Hammond]], [[Christina Scull]]|articleurl=http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/mythsoc/conversations/topics/24198|articlename=Re:Tolkien and Nodens in the news this morning (message 24198)|dated=9 April 2013|website=Mythsoc|accessed=23 November 2013}}</ref>

==Other versions of the legendarium==
In order to counter the notion that ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' was inspired from [[wikipedia:World War II|World War II]], Tolkien himself provided a "what if" scenario in the Foreword to ''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'' that shows what would happen should the Ring be used against [[Sauron]]. Tolkien explained that if he had WWII in mind, then the [[Free peoples]] would enslave Sauron with the power of the Ring against him, and occupy [[Mordor]]. [[Saruman]] (whose treachery would remain secret) would then use the Ring-lore found in Mordor to create a Great Ring of his own with which to challenge the self-styled Ruler of [[Middle-earth]].<ref>{{FR|Foreword}}</ref>

==Portrayal in adaptations==
{{Gallery
|title=The One Ring in adaptations
|height=150
|width=200
|lines=3
|Image:LOTR-vol2-ring1.png|The One Ring in ''[[The Lord of the Rings, Vol. II: The Two Towers]]''
|File:The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring (video game) - Frodo Baggins and the One Ring.JPG|The One Ring in [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]
|File:The Lord of the Rings - The Return of the King - Frodo fingering the One Ring.jpg|The One Ring in [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (film series)]]
|Image:The Hobbit (2003) One Ring.JPG|The One Ring in [[The Hobbit (2003 video game)|''The Hobbit'' (2003 video game)]]
|Image:The Lord of the Rings War in the North - One Ring3.jpg|The One Ring in ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]''
|Image:Lego One Ring.png|The One Ring as a ''[[Lego]] mini figure''
}}

'''[[1977]]: ''[[The Hobbit (1977 film)|The Hobbit]]'':'''
:In accordance with the novel, [[Bilbo Baggins|Bilbo]] finds the One Ring in [[Gollum]]'s cave. However, in a departure from the book, [[Gandalf]] reveals that he knows of Bilbo's ownership of the Ring and that it is indeed the One, thus setting the scene for an adaptation of ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]''. For some reason, a loud "vwoop!" sound is heard whenever the Ring is put on.<ref>''The Hobbit (1977 film)''</ref>

'''[[1980]]: ''[[The Return of the King (1980 film)|The Return of the King]]'':'''

:The One Ring is unchanged from its appearance in the Rankin/Bass adaptation of ''[[The Hobbit]]''. In the [[Mount Doom (chapter)|Mount Doom scene]], oddly enough, the Ring itself can be seen even when [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] is invisible, allowing it to be easily located by Gollum with the result of him biting it off of Frodo's finger almost immediately.<ref>''The Return of the King (1980 film)''</ref>

'''[[2001]]-[[2003|3]]: [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (film series)]]:'''

:The One Ring is voiced by [[Alan Howard]]. It is first mentioned in the Prologue narrated by [[Galadriel]] as the Ring that would rule all of the other [[Rings of Power]], and is portrayed, in accordance with the book, as a simple gold band which gains [[Ring Verse|firey letters]] on the surface when exposed to fire (these letters being identical to those illustrated in the book). In the sequence of the [[Siege of Barad-dûr]], Sauron channels the power of the Ring into his mace, sending many [[Last Alliance]] soldiers flying with every swing. It seems to have the ability to grow or shrink to fit the finger of whomever its master is, a trait touched upon in the novel, and is able to speak, albeit unintelligibly, into the mind of its bearer.<ref>''The Lord of the Rings (film series)</ref>

'''[[2011]]: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]'':'''
:The One Ring is shown in the introduction of the game. In [[the Prancing Pony]] [[Aragorn]] refers to Frodo and the Ring as a "Hobbit with an important burden".<ref>[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Prologue''</ref>

'''[[2012]]-[[2014|14]]: [[The Hobbit (film series)|''The Hobbit'' (film series)]]:'''
:The One Ring is first seen by Bilbo when it falls out of Gollum's pocket while the former is strangling a small [[Goblin]]. It is consistent in its appearance in the 2001-3 film series as a simple gold band.<ref>''The Hobbit (film series)</ref>

==See also==
* [[Gwaith-i-Mírdain]]
* [[Rings of Power]]
* [[War of the Elves and Sauron]]
* [[Disaster of the Gladden Fields]]
* ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]''

{{references|n}}

{{rings}}
{{ringbearers}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:One Ring, The}}
[[Category:Evil]]
[[Category:Rings and jewels]]
[[de:Der Eine Ring]]
[[fr:encyclo/artefacts/bijoux/anneaux/anneau_unique]]
[[fi:Sormusten Sormus]]

Lay of Leithian Canto I

2021-10-16T16:48:32Z

Otciberta: /* The Canto */

{{lolcantos}}
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 and consists of 587 words, the shortest canto save the last, unfinished one.

== Concerning the Canto ==
This canto starts out with one of the more popular paragraphs, concerning Thingol.
{{blockquote|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.
{{blockquote|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.
{{blockquote|To North there lay the Land of Dread 
whence only evil pathways led 
... 
to South the wide earth unexplored 
to West the ancient [[Belegaer|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.
{{blockquote|''[[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.
{{blockquote|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.
{{blockquote|...until a day beneath the [[sun]], 
when many marvels were begun.|vv. 97-98}}

==The Canto==
<poem style="font-style:italic; margin-left:20px;">
A king there was in days of old:
ere Men yet walked upon the mould
his power was reared in caverns' shade,
his hand was over glen and glade.
Of leaves his crown, his mantle green,
his silver lances long and keen;
the starlight in his shield was caught,
ere moon was made or sun was wrought.

In after-days, when to the shore
of Middle-earth from Valinor
the Elven-hosts in might returned,
and banners flew and beacons burned,
when kings of Eldamar went by
in strength of war, beneath the sky
then still his silver trumpets blew
when sun was young and moon was new.
Afar then in Beleriand,
in Doriath's beleaguered land,
King Thingol sat on guarded throne
in many-pillared halls of stone:
there beryl, pearl, and opal pale,
and metal wrought like fishes' mail,
buckler and corslet, axe and sword,
and gleaming spears were laid in hoard:
all these he had and counted small,
for dearer than all wealth in hall,
and fairer than are born to Men,
a daughter had he, Lúthien.

Such lissom limbs no more shall run
on the green earth beneath the sun;
so fair a maid no more shall be
from dawn to dusk, from sun to sea.
Her robe was blue as summer skies,
but grey as evening were her eyes;
her mantle sewn with lilies fair,
but dark as shadow was her hair.
Her feet were swift as bird on wing,
her laughter merry as the spring;
the slender willow, the bowing reed,
the fragrance of a flowering mead,
the light upon the leaves of trees,
the voice of water, more than these
her beauty was and blissfulness,
her glory and her loveliness.

She dwelt in the enchanted land
while elven-might yet held in hand
the woven woods of Doriath:
none ever thither found the path
unbidden, none the forest-eaves
dared pass, or stir the listening leaves.
To North there lay a land of dread,
Dungortheb where all ways were dead
in hills of shadow bleak and cold;
beyond was Deadly Nightshade's hold
in Taur-nu-Fuin's fastness grim,
where sun was sick and moon was dim.
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.

Thus Thingol in his dolven hall
amid the Thousand Cavers tall
of Menegroth as king abode:
to him there led no mortal road.
Beside him sat his deathless queen,
fair Melian, and wove unseen
nets of enchantment round his throne,
and spells were laid on tree and stone:
sharp was his sword and high his helm,
the king of beech and oak and elm.
When grass was green and leaves were long,
when finch and mavis sang their song,
there under bough and under sun
in shadow and in light would run
fair Lúthien the elven-maid,
dancing in dell and grassy glade.

When sky was clear and stars were keen,
then Daeron with his fingers lean,
as daylight melted into eve,
a trembling music sweet would weave
of flutes of silver, thin and clear
for Lúthien, the maiden dear.

There mirth there was and voices bright;
there eve was peace and morn was light;
there jewel gleamed and silver wan
and gold on graceful fingers shone,
and elanor and niphredil
bloomed in the grass unfading still,
while the endless years of Elven-land
rolled over far Beleriand,
until a day of doom befell,
as still the elven-harpers tell.
</poem>

Lay of Leithian Canto I

2021-10-16T16:46:47Z

Otciberta:

{{lolcantos}}
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 and consists of 587 words, the shortest canto save the last, unfinished one.

== Concerning the Canto ==
This canto starts out with one of the more popular paragraphs, concerning Thingol.
{{blockquote|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.
{{blockquote|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.
{{blockquote|To North there lay the Land of Dread 
whence only evil pathways led 
... 
to South the wide earth unexplored 
to West the ancient [[Belegaer|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.
{{blockquote|''[[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.
{{blockquote|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.
{{blockquote|...until a day beneath the [[sun]], 
when many marvels were begun.|vv. 97-98}}

==The Canto==
<poem style="font-style:italic; margin-left:20px;">
A king there was in days of old:
ere Men yet walked upon the mould
his power was reared in caverns' shade,
his hand was over glen and glade.
Of leaves his crown, his mantle green,
his silver lances long and keen;
the starlight in his shield was caught,
ere moon was made or sun was wrought.

In after-days, when to the shore
of Middle-earth from Valinor
the Elven-hosts in might returned,
and banners flew and beacons burned,
when kings of Eldamar went by
in strength of war, beneath the sky
then still his silver trumpets blew
when sun was young and moon was new.
Afar then in Beleriand,
in Doriath's beleaguered land,
King Thingol sat on guarded throne
in many-pillared halls of stone:
there beryl, pearl, and opal pale,
and metal wrought like fishes' mail,
buckler and corslet, axe and sword,
and gleaming spears were laid in hoard:
all these he had and counted small,
for dearer than all wealth in hall,
and fairer than are born to Men,
a daughter had he, Lúthien.

Such lissom limbs no more shall run
on the green earth beneath the sun;
so fair a maid no more shall be
from dawn to dusk, from sun to sea.
Her robe was blue as summer skies,
but grey as evening were her eyes;
her mantle sewn with lilies fair,
but dark as shadow was her hair.
Her feet were swift as bird on wing,
her laughter merry as the spring;
the slender willow, the bowing reed,
the fragrance of a flowering mead,
the light upon the leaves of trees,
the voice of water, more than these
her beauty was and blissfulness,
her glory and her loveliness.

She dwelt in the enchanted land
while elven-might yet held in hand
the woven woods of Doriath:
none ever thither found the path
unbidden, none the forest-eaves
dared pass, or stir the listening leaves.
To North there lay a land of dread,
Dungortheb where all ways were dead
in hills of shadow bleak and cold;
beyond was Deadly Nightshade's hold
in Taur-nu-Fuin's fastness grim,
where sun was sick and moon was dim.
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.

Thus Thingol in his dolven hall
amid the Thousand Cavers tall
of Menegroth as king abode:
to him there led no mortal road.
Beside him sat his deathless queen,
fair Melian, and wove unseen
nets of enchantment round his throne,
and spells were laid on tree and stone:
sharp was his sword and high his helm,

the king of beech and oak and elm.
When grass was green and leaves were long,
when finch and mavis sang their song,
there under bough and under sun
in shadow and in light would run
fair Lúthien the elven-maid,
dancing in dell and grassy glade.

When sky was clear and stars were keen,
then Daeron with his fingers lean,
as daylight melted into eve,
a trembling music sweet would weave
of flutes of silver, thin and clear
for Lúthien, the maiden dear.

There mirth there was and voices bright;
there eve was peace and morn was light;
there jewel gleamed and silver wan
and gold on graceful fingers shone,
and elanor and niphredil
bloomed in the grass unfading still,
while the endless years of Elven-land
rolled over far Beleriand,
until a day of doom befell,
as still the elven-harpers tell.
</poem>

Lay of Leithian Canto I

2021-10-16T16:44:15Z

Otciberta: /* The Canto */

{{lolcantos}}
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.

== Concerning the Canto ==
This canto starts out with one of the more popular paragraphs, concerning Thingol.
{{blockquote|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.
{{blockquote|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.
{{blockquote|To North there lay the Land of Dread 
whence only evil pathways led 
... 
to South the wide earth unexplored 
to West the ancient [[Belegaer|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.
{{blockquote|''[[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.
{{blockquote|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.
{{blockquote|...until a day beneath the [[sun]], 
when many marvels were begun.|vv. 97-98}}

==The Canto==
<poem style="font-style:italic; margin-left:20px;">
A king there was in days of old:
ere Men yet walked upon the mould
his power was reared in caverns' shade,
his hand was over glen and glade.
Of leaves his crown, his mantle green,
his silver lances long and keen;
the starlight in his shield was caught,
ere moon was made or sun was wrought.

In after-days, when to the shore
of Middle-earth from Valinor
the Elven-hosts in might returned,
and banners flew and beacons burned,
when kings of Eldamar went by
in strength of war, beneath the sky
then still his silver trumpets blew
when sun was young and moon was new.
Afar then in Beleriand,
in Doriath's beleaguered land,
King Thingol sat on guarded throne
in many-pillared halls of stone:
there beryl, pearl, and opal pale,
and metal wrought like fishes' mail,
buckler and corslet, axe and sword,
and gleaming spears were laid in hoard:
all these he had and counted small,
for dearer than all wealth in hall,
and fairer than are born to Men,
a daughter had he, Lúthien.

Such lissom limbs no more shall run
on the green earth beneath the sun;
so fair a maid no more shall be
from dawn to dusk, from sun to sea.
Her robe was blue as summer skies,
but grey as evening were her eyes;
her mantle sewn with lilies fair,
but dark as shadow was her hair.
Her feet were swift as bird on wing,
her laughter merry as the spring;
the slender willow, the bowing reed,
the fragrance of a flowering mead,
the light upon the leaves of trees,
the voice of water, more than these
her beauty was and blissfulness,
her glory and her loveliness.

She dwelt in the enchanted land
while elven-might yet held in hand
the woven woods of Doriath:
none ever thither found the path
unbidden, none the forest-eaves
dared pass, or stir the listening leaves.
To North there lay a land of dread,
Dungortheb where all ways were dead
in hills of shadow bleak and cold;
beyond was Deadly Nightshade's hold
in Taur-nu-Fuin's fastness grim,
where sun was sick and moon was dim.
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.

Thus Thingol in his dolven hall
amid the Thousand Cavers tall
of Menegroth as king abode:
to him there led no mortal road.
Beside him sat his deathless queen,
fair Melian, and wove unseen
nets of enchantment round his throne,
and spells were laid on tree and stone:
sharp was his sword and high his helm,

the king of beech and oak and elm.
When grass was green and leaves were long,
when finch and mavis sang their song,
there under bough and under sun
in shadow and in light would run
fair Lúthien the elven-maid,
dancing in dell and grassy glade.

When sky was clear and stars were keen,
then Daeron with his fingers lean,
as daylight melted into eve,
a trembling music sweet would weave
of flutes of silver, thin and clear
for Lúthien, the maiden dear.

There mirth there was and voices bright;
there eve was peace and morn was light;
there jewel gleamed and silver wan
and gold on graceful fingers shone,
and elanor and niphredil
bloomed in the grass unfading still,
while the endless years of Elven-land
rolled over far Beleriand,
until a day of doom befell,
as still the elven-harpers tell.
</poem>

Lay of Leithian Canto I

2021-10-16T16:43:05Z

Otciberta:

{{lolcantos}}
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.

== Concerning the Canto ==
This canto starts out with one of the more popular paragraphs, concerning Thingol.
{{blockquote|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.
{{blockquote|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.
{{blockquote|To North there lay the Land of Dread 
whence only evil pathways led 
... 
to South the wide earth unexplored 
to West the ancient [[Belegaer|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.
{{blockquote|''[[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.
{{blockquote|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.
{{blockquote|...until a day beneath the [[sun]], 
when many marvels were begun.|vv. 97-98}}

==The Canto==
<poem style="font-style:italic; margin-left:20px;">
A king there was in days of old:
ere Men yet walked upon the mould
his power was reared in caverns' shade,
his hand was over glen and glade.
Of leaves his crown, his mantle green,
his silver lances long and keen;
the starlight in his shield was caught,
ere moon was made or sun was wrought.

In after-days, when to the shore
of Middle-earth from Valinor
the Elven-hosts in might returned,
and banners flew and beacons burned,
when kings of Eldamar went by
in strength of war, beneath the sky
then still his silver trumpets blew
when sun was young and moon was new.
Afar then in Beleriand,
in Doriath's beleaguered land,
King Thingol sat on guarded throne
in many-pillared halls of stone:
there beryl, pearl, and opal pale,
and metal wrought like fishes' mail,
buckler and corslet, axe and sword,
and gleaming spears were laid in hoard:
all these he had and counted small,
for dearer than all wealth in hall,
and fairer than are born to Men,
a daughter had he, Lúthien.

Such lissom limbs no more shall run
on the green earth beneath the sun;
so fair a maid no more shall be
from dawn to dusk, from sun to sea.
Her robe was blue as summer skies,
but grey as evening were her eyes;
her mantle sewn with lilies fair,
but dark as shadow was her hair.
Her feet were swift as bird on wing,
her laughter merry as the spring;
the slender willow, the bowing reed,
the fragrance of a flowering mead,
the light upon the leaves of trees,
the voice of water, more than these
her beauty was and blissfulness,
her glory and her loveliness.

She dwelt in the enchanted land
while elven-might yet held in hand
the woven woods of Doriath:
none ever thither found the path
unbidden, none the forest-eaves
dared pass, or stir the listening leaves.
To North there lay a land of dread,
Dungortheb where all ways were dead
in hills of shadow bleak and cold;
beyond was Deadly Nightshade's hold
in Taur-nu-Fuin's fastness grim,
where sun was sick and moon was dim.
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.

Thus Thingol in his dolven hall
amid the Thousand Cavers tall
of Menegroth as king abode:
to him there led no mortal road.
Beside him sat his deathless queen,
fair Melian, and wove unseen
nets of enchantment round his throne,
and spells were laid on tree and stone:
sharp was his sword and high his helm,

the king of beech and oak and elm.
When grass was green and leaves were long,
when finch and mavis sang their song,
there under bough and under sun
in shadow and in light would run
fair Lúthien the elven-maid,
dancing in dell and grassy glade.

When sky was clear and stars were keen,
then Daeron with his fingers lean,
as daylight melted into eve,
a trembling music sweet would weave
of flutes of silver, thin and clear
for Lúthien, the maiden dear.

There mirth there was and voices bright;
there eve was peace and morn was light;
there jewel gleamed and silver wan
and gold on graceful fingers shone,
and elanor and niphredil
bloomed in the grass unfading still,
while the endless years of Elven-land
rolled over far Beleriand,
until a day of doom befell,
as still the elven-harpers tell.
</poem>
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