J.R.R. Tolkien - The History of Middle-Earth

CONTENTS.

Preface

page x

I THE TALE OF TINUVIEL.

Notes and Commentary.

II TURAMBAR AND THE FOALOKE.

Notes and Commentary.

III THE FALL OF GONDOLIN.

Notes and Commentary.

IV THE NAUGLAFRING.

Notes and Commentary.

V THE TALE OF EARENDEL.

VI THE HISTORY OF ERIOL OR

AELFWINE AND THE END OF THE TALES

AElfwine of England.

Appendix: Names in the Lost Tales -- Part II

Short Glossary of Obsolete, Archaic, and Rare Words

Index.

PREFACE.

This second part of The Book of Lost Tales is arranged on the same lines

and with the same intentions as the first part, as described in the

Foreword to it, pages to -- i t. References to the first part are given in the

form 'I. 240', to the second as 'p. 240', except where a reference is made to

both, e.g. 'I. 222, II. 292'.

As before, I have adopted a consistent (if not necessarily 'correct')

system of accentuation for names; and in the cases of Mim and Niniel,

written thus throughout, I give Mim and Niniel.

The two pages from the original manuscripts are reproduced with the

permission of the Bodleian Library, Oxford, and I wish to express my

thanks to the staff of the Department of Western Manuscripts at the

Bodleian for their assistance. The correspondence of the original pages

to the printed text in this book is as follows:

(i) The page from the manuscript of The Tale of Tinuviel. Upper

part: printed text page 24 (7 lines up, the sorest dread) to page 25 (line 3,

so swiftly."). Lower part: printed text page 25 (iilines up, the harsh

voice) to page 26 (line 7, but Tevildo).

(2) The page from the manuscript of The Fall of Condolin. Upper

part: printed text page 189 (line 12, "Now," therefore said Galdor to

line 20 if no further."). Lower part: printed text page 189 (line 27, But

the others, led by one Legolas Greenleaf) to page 190 (line ii,

leaving the main company to follow he).

For differences in the printed text of The Fall of Gondolin from the

page reproduced see page 201, notes 34 36, and page 203, Bad Uthwen;

some other small differences not referred to in the notes are also due to

later changes made to the text B of the Tale (see pages 146 -- 7).

These pages illustrate the complicated 'jigsaw' of the manuscripts of

the Lost Tales described in the Foreword to Part I, page 10.

I take this opportunity to notice that it has been pointed out to me by

Mr Douglas A. Anderson that the version of the poem Why the Man in

the Moon came down too soon printed in The Book of Lost Tales I is not, as

I supposed, that published in A Northern Venture in 1923, but contains

several subsequent changes.

The third volume in this 'History' will contain the alliterative Lay

of the Children of Hurin (c. 1918 -- 1925) and the Lay of Leithian (1925 --

1931), together with the commentary on a part of the latter by

C. S. Lewis, and the rewriting of the poem that my father embarked on

after the completion of The Lord of the Rings.

I.

THE TALE OF TINUVIEL.

The Tale of Tinuviel was written in 1917, but the earliest extant text is

later, being a manuscript in ink over an erased original in pencil; and in

fact my father's rewriting of this tale seems to have been one of the last

completed elements in the Lost Tales (see I. 203 -- 4).

There is also.a typescript version of the Tale of Tinuviel, later than the

manuscript but belonging to the same 'phase' of the mythology: my

father had the manuscript before him and changed the text as he went

along. Significant differences between the two versions of the tale are

given on pp. 41 ff.

In the manuscript the tale is headed: 'Link to the Tale of Tinuviel, also

the Tale of Tinuviel.' The Link begins with the following passage:

'Great was the power of Melko for ill,' said Eriol, 'if he could indeed

destroy with his cunning the happiness and glory of the Gods and

Elves, darkening the light of their dwelling and bringing all their love

to naught. This must surely be the worst deed that ever he has done.'

'Of a truth never has such evil again been done in Valinor,' said

Lindo, 'but Melko's hand has laboured at worse things in the world,

and the seeds of his evil have waxen since to a great and terrible

growth.'

'Nay,' said Eriol, 'yet can my heart not think of other griefs, for

sorrow at the destruction of those most fair Trees and the darkness of

the world.'

This passage was struck out, and is not found in the typescript text,

but it reappears in almost identical form at the end of The Flight of the

Noldoli (I. 169). The reason for this was that my father decided that the

Tale of the Sun and Moon, rather than Tinuviel, should follow The

Darkening of Valinor and The Flight of the Nolduli (see I. 203 -- 4,

where the complex question of the re-ordering of the Tales at this point is

discussed). The opening words of the next part of the Link, 'Now in the

days soon after the telling of this tale', referred, when they were written,

to the tale of The Darkening of Valinor and The Flight of the Noldoli;

but it is never made plain to what tale they were to refer when Tinuviel

had been removed from its earlier position.

The two versions of the Link are at first very close, but when Eriol

speaks of his own past history they diverge. For the earlier part I give

the typescript text alone, and when they diverge I give them both in

succession. All discussion of this story of Eriol's life is postponed to

Chapter VI.

Now in the days soon after the telling of this tale, behold, winter

approached the land of Tol Eressea, for now had Eriol forgetful of

his wandering mood abode some time in old Kortirion. Never in

those months did he fare beyond the good tilth that lay without the

grey walls of that town, but many a hall of the kindreds of the

Inwir and the Teleri received him as their glad guest, and ever

more skilled in the tongues of the Elves did he become, and more

deep in knowledge of their customs, of their tales and songs.

Then was winter come sudden upon the Lonely Isle, and the

lawns and gardens drew on a sparkling mantle of white snows;

their fountains were still, and all their bare trees silent, and the far

sun glinted pale amid the mist or splintered upon facets of long

hanging ice. Still fared Eriol not away, but watched the cold moon

from the frosty skies look down upon Mar Vanwa Tyalieva, and

when above the roofs the stars gleamed blue he would listen, yet

no sound of the flutes of Timpinen heard he now; for the breath of

summer is that sprite, and or ever autumn's secret presence fills

the air he takes his grey magic boat, and the swallows draw him far

away.

Even so Eriol knew laughter and merriment and musics too,

and song, in the dwellings of Kortirion -- even Eriol the wanderer

whose heart before had known no rest. Came now a grey day, and

a wan afternoon, but within was firelight and good warmth and

dancing and merry children's noise, for Eriol was making a great

play with the maids and boys in the Hall of Play Regained. There

at length tired with their mirth they cast themselves down upon

the rugs before the hearth, and a child among them, a little maid,

said: 'Tell me, 0 Eriol, a tale! '

'What then shall I tell, 0 Veanne?' said he, and she, clambering

upon his knee, said: 'A tale of Men and of children in the Great

Lands, or of thy home -- and didst thou have a garden there such as

we, where poppies grew and pansies like those that grow in my

corner by the Arbour of the Thrushes?'

I give now the manuscript version of the remainder of the Link

passage:

Then Eriol told her of his home that was in an old town of Men

girt with a wall now crumbled and broken, and a river ran thereby

over which a castle with a great tower hung. 'A very high tower

indeed,' said he, 'and the moon climbed high or ever he thrust his

face above it.' 'Was it then as high as Ingil's Tirin?' said Veanne,

but Eriol said that that he could not guess, for 'twas very many

years agone since he had seen that castle or its tower, for '0

Veanne,' said he, 'I lived there but a while, and not after I was

grown to be a boy. My father came of a coastward folk, and the

love of the sea that I had never seen was in my bones, and my

father whetted my desire, for he told me tales that his father had

told him before. Now my mother died in a cruel and hungry siege

of that old town, and my father was slain in bitter fight about the

walls, and in the end I Eriol escaped to the shoreland of the

Western Sea, and mostly have lived upon the bosom of the waves

or by its side since those far days.'

Now the children about were filled with sadness at the sorrows

that fell on those dwellers in the Great Lands, and at the wars and

death, and Veanne clung to Eriol, saying: '0 Melinon, go never to

a war -- or hast thou ever yet?'

'Aye, often enough,' said Eriol, 'but not to the great wars of the

earthly kings and mighty nations which are cruel and bitter, and

many fair lands and lovely things and even women and sweet

maids such as thou Veanne Melinir are whelmed by them in ruin;

yet gallant affrays have I seen wherein small bands of brave men

do sometimes meet and swift blows are dealt. But behold, why

speak we of these things, little one; wouldst not hear rather of my

first ventures on the sea?'

Then was there much eagerness alight, and Eriol told them of

his wanderings about the western havens, of the comrades he

made and the ports he knew, of how he was wrecked upon far

western islands until at last upon one lonely one he came on an

ancient sailor who gave him shelter, and over a fire within his

lonely cabin told him strange tales of things beyond the Western

Seas, of the Magic Isles and that most lonely one that lay beyond.

Long ago had he once sighted it shining afar off, and after had he

sought it many a day in vain.

'Ever after,' said Eriol, 'did I sail more curiously about the

western isles seeking more stories of the kind, and thus it is indeed

that after many great voyages I came myself by the blessing of the

Gods to Tol Eressea in the end -- wherefore I now sit here talking

to thee, Veanne, till my words have run dry.'

Then nonetheless did a boy, Ausir, beg him to tell more of ships

and the sea, but Eriol said: 'Nay -- still is there time ere Ilfiniol ring

the gong for evening meat: come, one of you children, tell me a

tale that you have heard!' Then Veanne sat up and clapped her

hands, saying: 'I will tell you the Tale of Tinuviel.'

The typescript version of this passage reads as follows:

Then Eriol told of his home of long ago, that was in an ancient

town of Men girt with a wall now crumbled and broken, for the

folk that dwelt there had long known days of rich and easy peace.

A river ran thereby, o'er which a castle with a great tower hung.

'There dwelt a mighty duke,' said he, 'and did he gaze from the

topmost battlements never might he see the bounds of his wide

domain, save where far to east the blue shapes of the great moun-

tains lay -- yet was that tower held the most lofty that stood in the

lands of Men.' 'Was it as high as great Ingil's Tirin?' said Veanne,

but said Eriol: 'A very high tower indeed was it, and the moon

climbed far or ever he thrust his face above it, yet may I not now

guess how high, 0 Veanne, for 'tis many years agone since last I saw

that castle or its steep tower. War fell suddenly on that town amid

its slumbrous peace, nor were its crumbled walls able to withstand

the onslaught of the wild men from the Mountains of the East.

There perished my mother in that cruel and hungry siege, and my

father was slain fighting bitterly about the walls in the last sack. In

those far days was I not yet war-high, and a bondslave was I made.

'Know then that my father was come of a coastward folk ere he

wandered to that place, and the longing for the sea that I had never

seen was in my bones; which often had my father whetted, telling

me tales of the wide waters and recalling lore that he had learned of

his father aforetime. Small need to tell of my travail thereafter in

thraldom, for in the end I brake my bonds and got me to the

shoreland of the Western Sea -- and mostly have I lived upon the

bosom of its waves or by its side since those old days.'

Now hearing of the sorrows that fell upon the dwellers in the

Great Lands, the wars and death, the children were filled with

sadness, and Veanne clung to Eriol, saying: 'O Melinon, go thou

never to a war -- or hast thou ever yet?'

'Aye, often enough,' said Eriol, 'yet not to the great wars of the

earthly kings and mighty nations, which are cruel and bitter,

whelming in their ruin all the beauty both of the earth and of those

fair things that men fashion with their hands in times of peace --

nay, they spare not sweet women and tender maids, such as thou,

Veanne Melinir, for then are men drunk with wrath and the lust of

blood, and Melko fares abroad. But gallant affrays have I seen

wherein brave men did sometimes meet, and swift blows were

dealt, and strength of body and of heart was proven -- but, behold,

why speak we of these things, little one? Wouldst not hear rather

of my ventures on the sea?'

Then was there much eagerness alight, and Eriol told them of

his first wanderings about the western havens, of the comrades he

made, and the ports he knew; of how he was one time wrecked

upon far western islands and there upon a lonely eyot found an

ancient mariner who dwelt for ever solitary in a cabin on the shore,

that he had fashioned of the timbers of his boat. 'More wise was

he,' said Eriol, 'in all matters of the sea than any other I have met,

and much of wizardry was there in his lore. Strange things he told

me of regions far beyond the Western Sea, of the Magic Isles and

that most lonely one that lies behind. Once long ago, he said, he

had sighted it glimmering afar off, and after had he sought it many

a day in vain. Much lore he.taught me of the hidden seas, and the

dark and trackless waters, and without this never had I found this

sweetest land, or this dear town or the Cottage of Lost Play -- yet it

was not without long and grievous search thereafter, and many a

weary voyage, that I came myself by the blessing of the Gods to

Tol Eressea at the last -- wherefore I now sit here talking to thee,

Veanne, till my words have run dry.'

Then nevertheless did a boy, Ausir, beg him to tell more of

ships and the sea, saying: 'For knowest thou not, 0 Eriol, that that

ancient mariner beside the lonely sea was none other than Ulmo's

self, who appeareth not seldom thus to those voyagers whom he

loves -- yet he who has spoken with Ulmo must have many a tale to

tell that will not be stale in the ears even of those that dwell here in

Kortirion.' But Eriol at that time believed not that saying of

Ausir's, and said: 'Nay, pay me your debt ere Ilfrin ring the gong

for evening meat -- come, one of you shall tell me a tale that you

have heard.'

Then did Veanne sit up and clap her hands, crying: 'I will tell

thee the Tale of Tinuviel.'

*

The Tale of Tinuviel

I give now the text of the Tale of Tinuviel as it appears in the manuscript.

The Link is not in fact distinguished or separated in any way from the tale

proper, and Veanne makes no formal opening to it.

'Who was then Tinuviel?' said Eriol. 'Know you not?' said

Ausir; 'Tinuviel was the daughter of Tinwe Linto.' 'Tinwelint',

said Veanne, but said the other: "Tis all one, but the Elves of this

house who love the tale do say Tinwe Linto, though Vaire hath

said that Tinwe alone is his right name ere he wandered in the

woods.'

'Hush thee, Ausir,' said Veanne, 'for it is my tale and I will tell it

to Eriol. Did I not see Gwendeling and Tinuviel once with my

own eyes when journeying by the Way of Dreams in long past

days?"

'What was Queen Wendelin like (for so do the Elves call her),' 0

Veanne, if thou sawest her?' said Ausir.

'Slender and very dark of hair,' said Veanne, 'and her skin was

white and pale, but her eyes shone and seemed deep, and she

was clad in filmy garments most lovely yet of black, jet-spangled

and girt with silver. If ever she sang, or if she danced, dreams and

slumbers passed over your head and made it heavy. Indeed she

was a sprite that escaped from Lorien's gardens before even Kor

was built, and she wandered in the wooded places of the world,

and nightingales went with her and often sang about her. It

was the song of these birds that smote the ears of Tinwelint,

leader of that tribe of the Eldar that after were the Solosimpi

the pipers of the shore, as he fared with his companions behind the

horse of Orome from Palisor. Iluvatar had set a seed of music in

the hearts of all that kindred, or so Vaire saith, and she is of them,

and it blossomed after very wondrously, but now the song of

Gwendeling's nightingales was the most beautiful music that

Tinwelint had ever heard, and he strayed aside for a moment, as

he thought, from the host, seeking in the dark trees whence it

might come.

And it is said that it was not a moment he hearkened, but many

years, and vainly his people sought him, until at length they

followed Orome and were borne upon Tol Eressea far away, and

he saw them never again. Yet after a while as it seemed to

him he came upon Gwendeling lying in a bed of leaves gazing

at the stars above her and hearkening also to her birds. Now

Tinwelint stepping softly stooped and looked upon her, thinking

"Lo, here is a fairer being even than the most beautiful of my own

folk" -- for indeed Gwendeling was not elf or woman but of the

children of the Gods; and bending further to touch a tress of her

hair he snapped a twig with his foot. Then Gwendeling was up

and away laughing softly, sometimes singing distantly or dancing

ever just before him, till a swoon of fragrant slumbers fell upon

him and he fell face downward neath the trees and slept a very

great while.

Now when he awoke he thought no more of his people (and

indeed it had been vain, for long now had those reached Valinor)

but desired only to see the twilight-lady; but she was not far, for

she had remained nigh at hand and watched over him. More of

their story I know not, 0 Eriol, save that in the end she became his

wife, for Tinwelint and Gwendeling very long indeed were king

and queen of the Lost Elves of Artanor or the Land Beyond, or so

it is said here.

Long, long after, as thou knowest, Melko brake again into the

world from Valinor, and all the Eldar both those who remained in

the dark or had been lost upon the march from Palisor and those

Noldoli too who fared back into the world after him seeking their

stolen treasury fell beneath his power as thralls. Yet it is told that

many there were who escaped and wandered in the woods and

empty places, and of these many a wild and woodland clan rallied

beneath King Tinwelint. Of those the most were Ilkorindi --

which is to say Eldar that never had beheld Valinor or the Two

Trees or dwelt in Kor -- and eerie they were and strange beings,

knowing little of light or loveliness or of musics save it be dark

songs and chantings of a rugged wonder that faded in the wooded

places or echoed in deep caves. Different indeed did they become

when the Sun arose, and indeed before that already were their

numbers mingled with a many wandering Gnomes, and wayward

sprites too there were of Lorien's host that dwelt in the courts of

Tinwelint, being followers of Gwendeling, and these were not of

the kindreds of the Eldalie.

Now in the days of Sunlight and Moonsheen still dwelt Tinwelint

in Artanor, and nor he nor the most of his folk went to the Battle of

Unnumbered Tears, though that story toucheth not this tale. Yet

was his lordship greatly increased after that unhappy field by

fugitives that fled to his protection. Hidden was his dwelling from

the vision and knowledge of Melko by the magics of Gwendeling

the fay, and she wove spelts about the paths thereto that none

but the Eldar might tread them easily, and so was the king secured

from all dangers save it be treachery alone. Now his halls were

builded in a deep cavern of great size, and they were nonetheless a

kingly and a fair abode. This cavern was in the heart of the mighty

forest of Artanor that is the mightiest of forests, and a stream ran

before its doors, but none could enter that portal save across the

stream, and a bridge spanned it narrow and well-guarded. Those

places were not ill albeit the Iron Mountains were not utterly

distant beyond whom lay Hisilome where dwelt Men, and thrall-

Noldoli laboured, and few free-Eldar went.

Lo, now I will tell you of things that happened in the halls of

Tinwelint after the arising of the Sun indeed but long ere the

unforgotten Battle of Unnumbered Tears. And Melko had not

completed his designs nor had he unveiled his full might and

cruelty.

Two children had Tinwelint then, Dairon and Tinuviel, and

Tinuviel was a maiden, and the most beautiful of all the maidens

of the hidden Elves, and indeed few have been so fair, for her

mother was a fay, a daughter of the Gods; but Dairon was then a

boy strong and merry, and above all things he delighted to play

upon a pipe of reeds or other woodland instruments, and he is

named now among the three most magic players of the Elves, and

the others are Tinfang Warble and Ivare who plays beside the sea.

But Tinuviel's joy was rather in the dance, and no names are set

with hers for the beauty and subtlety of her twinkling feet.

Now it was the delight of Dairon and Tinuviel to fare away from

the cavernous palace of Tinwelint their father and together spend

long times amid the trees. There often would Dairon sit upon a

tussock or a tree-root and make music while Tinuviel danced

thereto, and when she danced to the playing of Dairon more

lissom was she than Gwendeling, more magical than Tinfang

Warble neath the moon, nor may any see such lilting save be it

only in the rose gardens of Valinor where Nessa dances on the

lawns of never-fading green.

Even at night when the moon shone pale still would they play

and dance, and they were not afraid as I should be, for the rule of

Tinwelint and of Gwendeling held evil from the woods and Melko

troubled them not as yet, and Men were hemmed beyond the hills.

Now the place that they loved the most was a shady spot, and

elms grew there, and beech too, but these were not very tall, and

some chestnut trees there were with white flowers, but the ground

was moist and a great misty growth of hemlocks rose beneath the

trees. On a time of June they were playing there, and the white

umbels of the hemlocks were like a cloud about the boles of the

trees, and there Tinuviel danced until the evening faded late, and

there were many white moths abroad. Tinuviel being a fairy

minded them not as many of the children of Men do, although she

loved not beetles, and spiders will none of the Eldar touch because

of Ungweliante -- but now the white moths flittered about her head

and Dairon trilled an eerie tune, when suddenly that strange thing

befell.

Never have I heard how Beren came thither over the hills; yet

was he braver than most, as thou shalt hear, and 'twas the love of

wandering maybe alone that had sped him through the terrors of

the Iron Mountains until he reached the Lands Beyond.

Now Beren was a Gnome, son of Egnor the forester who hunted

in the darker places' in the north of Hisilome. Dread and suspicion

was between the Eldar and those of their kindred that had tasted

the slavery of Melko, and in this did the evil deeds of the Gnomes

at the Haven of the Swans revenge itself. Now the lies of Melko

ran among Beren's folk so that they believed evil things of the

secret Elves, yet now did he see Tinuviel dancing in the twilight,

and Tinuviel was in a silver-pearly dress, and her bare white feet

were twinkling among the hemlock-stems. Then Beren cared not

whether she were Vala or Elf or child of Men and crept near to

see; and he leant against a young elm that grew upon a mound so

that he might look down into the little glade where she was

dancing, for the enchantment made him faint. So slender was she

and so fair that at length he stood heedlessly in the open the better

to gaze upon her, and at that moment the full moon came brightly

through the boughs and Dairon caught sight of Beren's face.

Straightway did he perceive that he was none of their folk, and

all the Elves of the woodland thought of the Gnomes of Dor

Lomin as treacherous creatures, cruel and faithless, wherefore

Dairon dropped his instrument and crying "Flee, flee, 0 Tinuviel,

an enemy walks this wood" he was gone swiftly through the trees.

Then Tinuviel in her amaze followed not straightway, for she

understood not his words at once, and knowing she could not run

or leap so hardily as her brother she slipped suddenly down among

the white hemlocks and hid herself beneath a very tall flower with

many spreading leaves; and here she looked in her white raiment

like a spatter of moonlight shimmering through the leaves upon

the floor.

Then Beren was sad, for he was lonely and was grieved at their

fright, and he looked for Tinuviel everywhere about, thinking her

not fled. Thus suddenly did he lay his hand upon her slender arm

beneath the leaves, and with a cry she started away from him and

flitted as fast as she could in the wan light, in and about the

tree-trunks and the hemlock-stalks. The tender touch of her arm

made Beren yet more eager than before to find her, and he

followed swiftly and yet not swiftly enough, for in the end she

escaped him, and reached the dwellings of her father in fear; nor

did she dance alone in the woods for many a day after.

This was a great sorrow to Beren, who would not leave those

places, hoping to see that fair elfin maiden dance yet again, and he

wandered in the wood growing wild and lonely for many a day and

searching for Tinuviel. By dawn and dusk he sought her, but ever

more hopefully when the moon shone bright. At last one night he

caught a sparkle afar off, and lo, there she was dancing alone on a

little treeless knoll and Dairon was not there. Often and often she

came there after and danced and sang to herself, and sometimes

Dairon would be nigh, and then Beren watched from the wood's

edge afar, and sometimes he was away and Beren crept then

closer. Indeed for long Tinuviel knew of his coming and feigned

J.R.R. Tolkien - The History of Middle-Earth - 02

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