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‘And why do you call him Dúnadan？' asked Frodo。
‘_The_ Dúnadan；' said Bilbo。 ‘He is often called that here。 But I thoughtyou knew enough Elvish at least to know _dún…udan_： Man of the West；
Númenorean。 But this is not the time for lessons！' He turned to Strider。
‘Where have you been； my friend？ Why weren't you at the feast？ The LadyArwen was there。'
Strider looked down at Bilbo gravely。 ‘I know；' he said。 'But often Imust put mirth aside。 Elladan and Elrohir have returned out of the Wildunlooked…for； and they had tidings that I wished to hear at once。'
‘Well； my dear fellow；' said Bilbo； ‘now you've heard the news； can't youspare me a moment？ I want your help in something urgent。 Elrond says this songof mine is to be finished before the end of the evening； and I am stuck。 Let'sgo off into a corner and polish it up！'
Strider smiled。 ‘e then！' he said。 ‘Let me hear it！'
Frodo was left to himself for a while。 for Sam had fallen asleep。 He wasalone and felt rather forlorn‘ although all about him the folk of Rivendellwere gathered。 But those near him were silent； intent upon the music of thevoices and the instruments。 and they gave no heed to anything else。 Frodobegan to listen。
At first the beauty of the melodies and of the interwoven words in elventongues；
even though he understood them little‘ held him in a spell； as soonas he began to attend to them。 Almost it seemed that the words took shape； andvisions of far lands and bright things that he had never yet imagined openedout before him； and the firelit hall became like a golden mist above seas offoam that sighed upon the margins of the world。 Then the enchantment becamemore and more dreamlike； until he felt that an endless river of swelling goldand silver was flowing over him； too multitudinous for its pattern to beprehended； it became part of the throbbing air about him； and it drenched
and drowned him。 Swiftly he sank under its shining weight into a deep realm ofsleep。
There he wandered long in a dream of music that turned into runningwater； and then suddenly into a voice。 It seemed to be the voice of Bilbochanting verses。 Faint at first and then clearer ran the words。
E。rendil was a mariner
that tarried in Arvernien；
he built a boat of timber felled
in Nimbrethil to journey in；
her sails he wove of silver fair；
of silver were her lanterns made；
her prow was fashioned like a swan；
and light upon her banners laid。
In panoply of ancient kings；
in chainéd rings he armoured him；
his shining shield was scored with runes
to ward all wounds and harm from him；
his bow was made of dragon…horn；
his arrows shorn of ebony；
of silver was his habergeon；
his scabbard of chalcedony；
his sword of steel was valiant；
of adamant his helmet tall；
an eagle…plume upon his crest；
upon his breast an emerald。
Beneath the Moon and under star
he wandered far from northern strands；
bewildered on enchanted ways
beyond the days of mortal lands。
From gnashing of the Narrow Ice
where shadow lies on frozen hills；
from nether heats and burning waste
he turned in haste； and roving still
on starless waters far astray
at last he came to Night of Naught；
and passed； and never sight he saw
of shining shore nor light he sought。
The winds of wrath came driving him；
and blindly in the foam he fled
from west to east and errandless；
unheralded he homeward sped。
There flying Elwing came to him；
and flame was in the darkness lit；
more bright than light of diamond
the fire upon her carcanet。
The Silmaril she bound on him
and crowned him with the living light
and dauntless then with burning brow
he turned his prow； and in the night
from Otherworld beyond the Sea
there strong and free a storm arose；
a wind of power in Tarmenel；
by paths that seldom mortal goes
his boat it bore with biting breath
as might of death across the grey
and long…forsaken seas distressed：
from east to west he passed away。
Through Evernight he back was borneon black and roaring waves that rano'er leagues unlit and foundered shoresthat drowned before the Days began；
until he heard on strands of pearlwhen ends the world the music long；
where ever foaming billows rollthe yellow gold and jewels wan。
He saw the Mountain silent rise
where twilight lies upon the kneesof Valinor； and Eldamarbeheld afar beyond the seas。
A wanderer escaped from nightto haven white he came at last；
to Elvenhome the green and fairwhere keen the air； where pale as glassbeneath the Hill of Ilmarin
a…glimmer in a valley sheerthe lamplit towers of Tirionare mirrored on the Shadowmere。
He tarried there from errantry；
and melodies they taught to him；
and sages old him marvels told；
and harps of gold they brought to him。
They clothed him then in elven…white；
and seven lights before him sent；
as through the Calacirianto hidden land forlorn he went。
He came unto the timeless halls
where shining fall the countless years；
and endless reigns theElder Kingin Ilmarin on Mountain sheer；
and words unheard were spoken thenof folk of Men and Elven…kin；
beyond the world were visions showedforbid to those that dwell therein。
A ship then new they built for himof mithril and of elven…glasswith shining prow； no shaven oarnor sail she bore on silver mast：
the Silmaril as lantern lightand banner bright with living flameto gleam thereon by Elberethherself was set； who thither cameand wings immortal made for him；
and laid on him undying doom；
to sail the shoreless skies and e
behind the Sun and light of Moon。
From Evereven's lofty hillswhere softly silver fountains fallhis wings him bore； a wandering light；
beyond the mighty Mountain Wall。
From World's End then he turned awayand yearned again to find afar
his home through shadows journeying；
and burning as an island star
on high above the mists he came；
a distant flame before the Sun；
a wonder ere the waking dawn
where grey the Norland waters run。
And over Middle…earth he passed
and heard at last the weeping sore
of women and of elven…maids
in Elder Days； in years of yore。
gut on him mighty doom was laid；
till Moon should fade； an orbéd star
to pass； and tarry never more
on Hither Shores where mortals are；
for ever still a herald on
an errand that should never rest
to bear his shining lamp afar；
the Flammifer of Westernesse。
The chanting ceased。 Frodo opened his eyes and saw that Bilbo was seatedon his stool in a circle of listeners； who were smiling and applauding。
‘Now we had better have it again；' said an Elf。
Bilbo got up and bowed。 ‘I am flattered； Lindir；' he said。 'But it wouldbe too tiring to repeat it all。'
'Not too tiring for you；' the Elves answered laughing。 'You know you arenever tired of reciting your own verses。 But really we cannot answer yourquestion at one hearing！'
‘What！' cried Bilbo。 'You can't tell which parts were mine； and whichwere the Dúnadan's？'
'It is not easy for us to tell the difference between two mortals' saidthe Elf。
'Nonsense； Lindir；' snorted Bilbo。 'If you can't distinguish between aMan and a Hobbit； your judgement is poorer than I imagined。 They're asdifferent as peas and apples。'
'Maybe。 To sheep other sheep no doubt appear different；' laughed Lindir。
‘Or to shepherds。 But Mortals have not been our study。 We have otherbusiness。'
'I won't argue with you；' said Bilbo。 'I am sleepy after so much musicand singing。 I'll leave you to guess； if you want to。'
He got up and came towards Frodo。 'Well； that's over；' he said in a lowvoice。 ‘It went off better than I expected。 I don't often get asked for asecond hearing。 What did you think of it？'
‘I am not going to try and guess；' said Frodo smiling。
‘You needn't；' said Bilbo。 ‘As a matter of fact it was all mine。 Exceptthat Aragorn insisted on my putting in a green stone。 He seemed to think itimportant。 I don't know why。 Otherwise he obviously thought the whole thingrather above my head； and he said that if I had the cheek to make verses aboutE。rendil in the house of Elrond； it was my affair。 I suppose he was right。'
'I don't know；' said Frodo。 ‘It seemed to me to fit somehow； though Ican't explain。 I was half asleep when you began； and it seemed to follow onfrom something that I was dreaming about。 I didn't understand that it wasreally you speaking until near the end。'
‘It _is_ difficult to keep awake here； until you get used to it；' saidBilbo。 'Not that hobbits would ever acquire quite the elvish appetite formusic and poetry and tales。 They seem to like them as much as food； or more。
They will be going on for a long time yet。 What do you say to slipping off forsome more quiet talk？'
‘Can we？' said Frodo。
‘Of course。 This is merrymaking not business。 e and go as you like； as
long as you don't make a noise。'
They got up and withdrew quietly into the shadows； and made for thedoors。 Sam they left behind； fast asleep still with a smile on his face。 Inspite of his delight in Bilbo's pany Frodo felt a tug of regret as theypassed out of the Hall of Fire。 Even as they stepped over the threshold asingle clear voice rose in song。
A Elbereth Gilthoniel；
silivren penna míriel
o menel ag