按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
before him。
Thus befell the contest of Sauron and Felagund which is renowned。 For Felagund strove with Sauron in songs of
power； ad the power of the King was very great； but Sauron had the mastery； as is told in the Lay of Leithian：
He chanted a song of wizardry；
Of piercing； opening； of treachery；
Revealing； uncovering； betraying。
Then sudden Felagund there swaying；
Sang in a song of staying；
Resisting； battling against power；
Of secrets kept； strength like a tower；
And trust unbroken； freedom； escape；
Of changing and shifting shape；
Of snares eluded； broken traps；
The prison opening； the chain that snaps。
Backwards and forwards swayed their song。
Reeling foundering； as ever more strong
The chanting swelled； Felagund fought；
And all the magic and might he brought
Of Elvenesse into his words。
Softly in the gloom they heard the birds
Singing afar in Nargothrond；
The sighting of the Sea beyond；
Beyond the western world； on sand；
On sand of pearls on Elvenland。
Then in the doom gathered； darkness growing
In Valinor； the red blood flowing
Beside the Sea； where the Noldor slew
The Foamriders； and stealing drew
Their white ships with their white sails
From lamplit havens。 The wind wails；
The wolf howls。 The ravens flee。
The ice mutters in the mouths of the Sea。
The captives sad in Angband mourn。
Thunder rumbles； the fires burn…
And Finrod fell before the throne。
Then Sauron stripped from the their disguise； and they stood before him naked and afraid。 But though their kinds
were revealed； Sauron could not discover their names or their purposes。
He cast them therefore into a deep pit； dark and silent； and threatened to slay them cruel； unless one would betray
the truth to him。 From time to time they saw two eyes kindled in the dark； and a werewolf devoured one of the
panions； but none betrayed their lord。
***
In the time when Sauron cast Beren into the pit a weight of horror came upon Lúthien's heart； and going to
Melian for counsel she learned that Beren lay in the dungeons of Tol…in…Gaurhoth without hope of rescue。 Then Lúthien；
perceiving that no help would e from any other on earth； resolved to fly from Doriath and e herself to him； but
she sought the aid of Daeron； and he betrayed her purpose because he would not deprive Lúthien of the lights of heaven；
lest she fail and fade； and yet would restrain her； he caused a house to be built from which she should not escape。 Not far
from the gates of Menegroth stood the greatest of all the trees in the Forest of Neldoreth； and that was a beech…forest and
the northern half of the kingdom。 This mighty beech was named Hírilorn； and it had three trunks； equal in girth； smooth
in rind； and exceeding tall； no branches grew from them for a great height above the ground。 Far aloft between the shafts
of Hírilorn a wooden house was built； and there Lúthien was made to dwell； and ladders were taken away and guarded；
save only when the servants of Thingol wrought her such things as she needed。
It is told in the Lay of Leithian how she escaped from the house in Hírilorn； for she put forth her arts of
enchantment； and caused her hair to grow to great length； and of it she wove a dark robe that wrapped her beauty like a
shadow； and it was laden with a spell of sleep。 Of the strands that remained she twined a rope； and she let it down from
her window； and as the end swayed above the guards that sat beneath the house they fell into a deep slumber。 Then
Lúthien climbed from her prison； and shrouded in her shadowy cloak she escaped from all eyes； and vanished out of
Doriath。
It chanced that Celegorm and Curufin went on a hunt through the Guarded Plain； and this they did because
Sauron； being filled with suspicion； sent forth many wolves into the Elf…lands。 Therefore they took their hounds and rode
forth； and they thought that ere they returned they might also hear tidings concerning King Felagund。 Now the chief of
the wolf hounds that followed Celegorm was named Huan。 He was not born in Middle…earth； but came from the Blessed
Realm； for Orom？ had given him to Celegorm long ago in Valinor； and there he had followed the horn of his master；
before evil came。 Huan followed Celegorm into exile； and was faithful； and thus he too came under the doom of woe set
upon the Noldor； and it was decreed that he should meet death； but not until he encountered the mightiest wolf that
would ever walk the world。
Huan it was that found Lúthien flying like a shadow surprised by the daylight under the trees； when Celegorm
and Curufin rested a while near to the western eaves of Doriath； for nothing could escape the sight and scent of Huan；
nor could any enchantment stay him； and he slept not； neither by night nor day。 He brought her to Celegorm； and
Lúthien； learning that he was a prince of the Noldor and a foe of Morgoth； was glad； and she declared herself； casting
aside her cloak。 So great was her sudden beauty revealed beneath the sun that Celegorm became enamoured of her； but
he spoke her fair； and promised that she would find help in her need； if she returned with him now to Nargothrond。 By
no sign did he reveal that he knew already of Beren and the quest； of which she told； nor that it was a matter which
touched him near。
Thus they broke off the hunt and returned to Nargothrond； and Lúthien was betrayed； for they held her fast； and
took away her cloak； and she was not permitted to pass the gates or to speak with any save the brothers； Celegorm and
Curufin。 For now； believing that Beren and Felagund were prisoners beyond hope of aid； they purposed to let the King
perish； and to keep Lúthien ； and force Thingol to give her the mightiest of princes of the Noldor。 And they did not
purpose to seek the Silmarils by craft or war； or to suffer any others to do so； until they had all the might of the Elf…
kingdoms under their hands。 Orodreth had no power to withstand them； for they swayed the hearts of the people of
Nargothrond； and Celegorm sent messengers to Thingol urging his suit。
But Huan the hound was true of heart； and the love of Lúthien had fallen upon him in the first hour of their
meeting； and he grieved at her captivity。 Therefore he came often to her chamber； and at night he lay before her door； for
he felt that evil had e to Nargothrond。 Lúthien spoke often to Huan in her loneliness； telling of Beren； who was the
friend of all birds and beasts that did not serve Morgoth； ad Huan understood all that was said。 For he prehended the
speech of all things with voice； but it was permitted to him thrice only ere his death to speak with words。
Now Huan devised a plan for the aid of Lúthien； and ing at a time of night he brought her cloak； and for the
first time he spoke； giving her counsel。 Then he led her by secret ways out of Nargothrond； and they fled north together；
and he humbled his pride and suffered her to ride upon him in the fashion of a steed； even as the Orcs did at times upon
great wolves。 Thus they made great speed； for Huan was swift and tireless。
In the pits of Sauron Beren and Felagund lay； and all their panions were now dead； but Sauron purposed to
keep Felagund to the last； for he perceived that he was a Noldo of great might and wisdom； and he deemed that in him
lay the secret of their errand。 But when the wolf came for Beren； Felagund put forth all his power； and burst his bonds；
and he wrestled with the werewolf； and slew it with his hands and teeth； yet he himself was wounded to the death。 Then
he spoke to Beren； saying： 'I go now to my long rest in the timeless halls beyond the seas and the Mountains of Aman。 It
will be long ere I am seen among the Noldor again； and it may be that we shall not meet a second time in death or life；
for the fates of our kindreds are apart。 Farewell！' He died then in the dark； in Tol…in…Gaurhoth； whose great tower he
himself had built。 Thus King Finrod Felagund； fairest and most beloved of the house of Finw？； redeemed his oath； but
Beren mourned beside him in despair。
In that hour Lúthien came； and standing upon the bridge that led to Sauron's isle she sang a song that no walls of
stone could hinder。 Beren heard； and he thought that he dreamed； for the stars shone above him； and in the trees
nightingales were singing。 And in answer he sang a song of challenge that he had made in praise of the Seven Stars； the
Sickle of the Valar that Varda hung above the North as a sign for the fall of Morgoth。 Then all strength left him and he
fell down into darkness。
But Lúthien heard his answering voice； and she sang then a song of greater power。 The wolves howled； and the
isle trembled。 Sauron stood in the high tower； wrapped in his black thought ；but he smiled hearing her voice； for he
knew that it was the daughter of Melian。 The fame of the beauty of Lúthien and the wonder of her song had long gone
forth from Doriath； and he thought to make her captive and hand her over to the power of Morgoth； for his reward would
be great。 Therefore he sent a wolf to the bridge。 But Huan slew it silently。 Still Saur