Fíriel's song: Difference between revisions

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'''''Fíriel's song''''' is a [[Qenya]]/[[Quenya]] poem (with English translation) by [[J.R.R. Tolkien]], originally included in the unfinished novel ''[[The Lost Road]]'' (published in ''[[The Lost Road and Other Writings]]''). Although Tolkien didn't provided an official title, in the narrative is sung by a woman called [[Fíriel of Númenor|Fíriel]], therefore it is universally referred to as ''Fíriel's Song''.
'''''Fíriel's song''''' is a [[Qenya]]/[[Quenya]] poem (with English translation) by [[J.R.R. Tolkien]], originally included in the unfinished novel ''[[The Lost Road]]'' (published in ''[[The Lost Road and Other Writings]]''). Although Tolkien didn't provided an official title, in the narrative it is sung by a woman called [[Fíriel of Númenor|Fíriel]], therefore it is universally referred to as ''Fíriel's Song''.


==History==
==History==
Within the narrative, only the two first lines are given. They are sung by Fíriel, a servant of [[Elendil]] and daughter of [[Orontor]]. While Elendil and his son [[Herendil]] are approaching their house, they heared Fíriel until her voice fell in the question "''O Ilúvatar, give me in that day beyond the end, when my Sun faileth?''" Then Elendil said "''E man antaváro? What will he give indeed?''" Herendil complainted saying that she shouldn't be sing those things, as people in Númenor now sang that [[Melko]] will come back and give them the Sun forever, but his father despised those words.<ref name=Firiel>{{LR|P1III2}}</ref>{{rp|62-63}}
Within the narrative, only the two first lines are given. They are sung by Fíriel, a servant of [[Elendil]] and daughter of [[Orontor]]. While Elendil and his son [[Herendil]] are approaching their house, they heard Fíriel until her voice fell in the question "''O Ilúvatar, give me in that day beyond the end, when my Sun faileth?''" Then Elendil said "''E man antaváro? What will he give indeed?''" Herendil complained, saying that she should not be singing such things, as people in Númenor were now singing that [[Melko]] would come back and give them the Sun forever, but his father despised those words.<ref name=Firiel>{{LR|P1III2}}</ref>{{rp|62-63}}


The first manuscript of the narrative gives the whole poem and the English translation, while in the revision Tolkien decided to omit most part and leave only the two first lines.<ref name=Firiel></ref>{{rp|71-72}} [[Helge Fauskanger]] explains that the language of this song could be called "near-LotR-style" Quenya, or late "Qenya".<ref>{{webcite|author=[[Helge Fauskanger]]|articleurl=http://folk.uib.no/hnohf/firiel.htm|articlename=Fíriel's song|dated=|website=[[Ardalambion]]|accessed=29 September 2019}}</ref>
The first manuscript of the narrative gives the whole poem and the English translation, while in the revision Tolkien decided to omit most part and leave only the two first lines.<ref name=Firiel></ref>{{rp|71-72}} [[Helge Fauskanger]] explains that the language of this song could be called "near-LotR-style" Quenya, or late "Qenya".<ref>{{webcite|author=[[Helge Fauskanger]]|articleurl=http://folk.uib.no/hnohf/firiel.htm|articlename=Fíriel's song|dated=|website=[[Ardalambion]]|accessed=29 September 2019}}</ref>

Revision as of 13:26, 29 September 2019

Fíriel's song is a Qenya/Quenya poem (with English translation) by J.R.R. Tolkien, originally included in the unfinished novel The Lost Road (published in The Lost Road and Other Writings). Although Tolkien didn't provided an official title, in the narrative it is sung by a woman called Fíriel, therefore it is universally referred to as Fíriel's Song.

History

Within the narrative, only the two first lines are given. They are sung by Fíriel, a servant of Elendil and daughter of Orontor. While Elendil and his son Herendil are approaching their house, they heard Fíriel until her voice fell in the question "O Ilúvatar, give me in that day beyond the end, when my Sun faileth?" Then Elendil said "E man antaváro? What will he give indeed?" Herendil complained, saying that she should not be singing such things, as people in Númenor were now singing that Melko would come back and give them the Sun forever, but his father despised those words.[1]:62-63

The first manuscript of the narrative gives the whole poem and the English translation, while in the revision Tolkien decided to omit most part and leave only the two first lines.[1]:71-72 Helge Fauskanger explains that the language of this song could be called "near-LotR-style" Quenya, or late "Qenya".[2]

The poem

Quenya text

Ilu Ilúvatar en káre eldain a fírimoin
ar antaróta mannar Valion: númessier.
Toi aina, mána, meldielto - enga morion:
talantie. Melko Mardello lende: márie.
En kárielto eldain Isil, hildin Úr-anar.
Toi írimar. Ilyain antalto annar lestanen
Ilúvatáren. Ilu vanya, fanya, eari,
i-mar, ar ilqa ímen. Írima ye Númenor.
Nan úye sére indo-ninya símen, ullume;
ten sí ye tyelma, yéva tyel ar i narqelion,
íre ilqa yéva nótina, hostainiéva, yallume:
ananta úva táre fárea, ufárea!
Man táre antáva nin Ilúvatar, Ilúvatar
enyáre tar i tyel, íre Anarinya qeluva?

English translation

The Father made the World for Elves and Mortals
and he gave it into the hands of the Lords. They are in the West.
They are holy, blessed, and beloved: save the dark one.
He is fallen. Melko [Melkor] has gone from Earth: it is good.
For Elves they made the Moon, but for Men the red Sun;
which are beautiful. To all they gave in measure the gifts
of Ilúvatar. The World is fair, the sky, the seas,
the earth, and all that is in them. Lovely is Númenor.
But my hearth resteth not here for ever,
for here is ending, and there will be an end and the Fading,
when all is counted, and all numbered at last,
but yet it will not be enough, not enough.
What will the Father, O Father, give me
in that day beyond the end when my Sun faileth?

See also

External links

References