he must essay the burning waste,
and doubtless death and torment taste.
125This Felagund in wonder heard, and heavily spoke at last this word:
‘It seems that Thingol doth desire
thy death. The everlasting fire
of those enchanted jewels all know
130is cursed with an oath of endless woe, and F?anor’s sons alone by right
are lords and masters of their light.
He cannot hope within his hoard
to keep this gem, nor is he lord
135of all the folk of Elfinesse.
And yet thou saist for nothing less
can thy return to Doriath
be purchased? Many a dreadful path
in sooth there lies before thy feet—
140and after Morgoth, still a fleet untiring hate, as I know well,
would hunt thee from heaven unto hell.
F?anor’s sons would, if they could,
slay thee or ever thou reached his wood
145or laid in Thingol’s lap that fire, or gained at least thy sweet desire.
Lo! Celegorm and Curufin
here dwell this very realm within,
and even though I, Finrod’s son,
150am king, a mighty power have won and many of their own folk lead.
Friendship to me in every need
they yet have shown, but much I fear
that to Beren son of Barahir
155mercy or love they will not show if once thy dreadful quest they know.’
True words he spoke. For when the king
to all his people told this thing,
and spake of the oath to Barahir,
160and how that mortal shield and spear had saved them from Morgoth and from woe on Northern battlefields long ago,
then many were kindled in their hearts
once more to battle. But up there starts 165amid the throng, and loudly cries for hearing, one with flaming eyes,
proud Celegorm with gleaming hair
and shining sword. Then all men stare
upon his stern unyielding face,
170and a great hush falls upon that place.
‘Be he friend or foe, or demon wild
of Morgoth, Elf, or mortal child,
or any that here on earth may dwell,
no law, nor love, nor league of hell,
175no might of Gods, no binding spell, shall him defend from hatred fell
of F?anor’s sons, whoso take or steal
or finding keep a Silmaril.
These we alone do claim by right,
180our thrice enchanted jewels bright.’
Many wild and potent words he spoke,
and as before in T?n awoke
his father’s voice their hearts to fire, so now dark fear and brooding ire
185he cast on them, foreboding war of friend with friend; and pools of gore their minds imagined lying red
in Nargothrond about the dead,
did Narog’s host with Beren go;
190or haply battle, ruin, and woe in Doriath where great Thingol reigned,
if F?anor’s fatal jewel he gained.
And even such as were most true
to Felagund his oath did rue,
195and thought with terror and despair of seeking Morgoth in his lair
with force or guile. This Curufin
when his brother ceased did then begin
more to impress upon their minds;
200and such a spell he on them binds that never again till Túrin’s day
would Gnome of Narog in array
of open battle go to war.
With secrecy, ambush, spies and lore
205of wizardry, with silent leaguer of wild things wary, watchful, eager,
of phantom hunters, venomed darts,
and unseen stealthy creeping arts,
with padding hatred that its prey
210with feet of velvet all the day followed remorseless out of sight
and slew it unawares at night—
thus they defended Nargothrond,
and forgot their kin and solemn bond
215for dread of Morgoth that the art of Curufin set within their heart.
So would they not that angry day
King Felagund their lord obey,
but sullen murmured that Finrod
220nor yet his son were as a god.
Then Felagund took off his crown
and at his feet he cast it down,
the silver helm of Nargothrond:
‘Yours ye may break, but I my bond
225must keep, and kingdom here forsake.
If hearts here were that did not quake,
or that to Finrod’s son were true,
then I at least should find a few
to go with me, not like a poor
230rejected beggar scorn endure, turned from my gates to leave my town,
my people, and my realm and crown!’
Hearing these words there swiftly stood beside him ten tried warriors good,
235men of his house who had ever fought wherever his banners had been brought.
One stooped and lifted up his crown,
and said: ‘O king, to leave this town
is now our fate, but not to lose
240thy rightful lordship. Thou shalt choose one to be steward in thy stead.’
Then Felagund upon the head
of Orodreth set it: ‘Brother mine,
till I return this crown is thine.’
245Then Celegorm no more would stay, and Curufin smiled and turned away.
******
Thus twelve alone there ventured forth
from Nargothrond, and to the North
they turned their silent secret way,
250and vanished in the fading day.
No trumpet sounds, no voice there sings, as robed in mail of cunning rings
now blackened dark with helmets grey
and sombre cloaks they steal away.
255Far-journeying Narog’s leaping course they followed till they found his source, the flickering falls, whose freshets sheer a glimmering goblet glassy-clear
with crystal waters fill that shake
260and quiver down from Ivrin’s lake, from Ivrin’s mere that mirrors dim
the pallid faces bare and grim
of Shadowy Mountains neath the moon.
Now far beyond the realm immune
265from Orc and demon and the dread of Morgoth’s might their ways had led.
In woods o’er shadowed by the heights
they watched and waited many nights,
till on a time when hurrying cloud
270did moon and constellation shroud, and winds of autumn’s wild beginning
soughed in the boughs, and leaves went spinning down the dark eddies rustling soft,
they heard a murmur hoarsely waft
275from far, a croaking laughter coming; now louder; now they heard the drumming
of hideous stamping feet that tramp
the weary earth. Then many a lamp
of sullen red they saw draw near,
280swinging, and glistening on spear and scimitar. There hidden nigh
they saw a band of Orcs go by
with goblin faces swart and foul.
Bats were about them, and the owl,
285the ghostly forsaken night-bird cried from trees above. The voices died,
the laughter like clash of stone and steel passed and faded. At their heel
the Elves and Beren crept more soft
290than foes stealing through a croft in search of prey. Thus to the camp
lit by flickering fire and lamp
they stole, and counted sitting there
full thirty Orcs in the red flare
295of burning wood. Without a sound they one by one stood silent round,
each in the shadow of a tree;
each slowly, grimly, secretly
bent then his bow and drew the string.
300Hark! how they sudden twang and sing, when Felagund lets forth a cry;
and twelve Orcs sudden fall and die.
Then forth they leap casting their bows.
Out their bright swords, and swift their blows!
305The stricken Orcs now shriek and yell as lost things deep in lightless hell.
Battle there is beneath the trees