The Lament of Lúthien, Part I

Updated September 12, 2020

The story of Beren and Lúthien is one of three “Great Tales” from Tolkien’s legendarium. He imagined these tales as foundational to the history and mythology of Middle-earth, passed down through the millenia from the Elder Days. These stories are set against the backdrop of the war waged between the Elves and Morgoth in the First Age, and explores how the Edain—the noble houses of Men—became entangled in the conflicts.

The legend of Beren and Lúthien is probably most well-known in its prose form as published in The Silmarillion, but this version was actually predated by Tolkien’s attempt to render the tale in poetic verse as the Lay of Leithian (the Lay of the Release from Bondage). Tragically, Tolkien abandoned this project, and though he attempted to complete it later in life he only managed to finish thirteen cantos (and part of a fourteenth) out of a proposed seventeen.

Because the Lay of Leithian was written before the version found in The Silmarillion, there are slight differences between the two tellings, as Christopher Tolkien details in the eponymous Beren and Lúthien. The Lay itself is beautifully composed in iambic tetrameter, and it presents not only the tale of Beren and Lúthien, but also includes some of the epic history of the First Age such as the battle between Fingolfin and Morgoth in Canto XII.

As the Lay unfolds, the ballad of Beren and Lúthien becomes intertwined with the struggle for the destiny of Arda. Beren, the last survivor of his father’s band of warriors, is tasked with retrieving a Silmaril from the clutches of Morgoth. King Thingol of Doriath—Lúthien’s father—puts forth this request to dissuade Beren from courting his daughter, but this sets into motion one of the most renowned legends in all of Middle-earth.

Beren travels from Doriath to Nargothrond seeking aid from Finrod Felagund, who owed his life to Beren’s father. After Finrod and some of his warriors join Beren, their journey proves perilous as they are captured by the Morgoth’s chief-lieutenant Thû (later named Sauron), and Beren’s life is only spared by the sacrifice of Finrod and a timely rescue by Lúthien and Huan, the Hound of Valinor.

Still far from their goal, Beren, Lúthien, and Huan continue on to Morgoth’s evil fortress—Angband. Though successful in prying a Silmaril from Morgoth’s crown, their victory is short-lived; the great werewolf Carcharoth devours Beren’s hand as it grasps the gem, and their treasure is lost. The Lay ends at this pivotal moment in the narrative.

Below is my attempt to write a portion of Lúthien’s tale in the style of the Lay. I would never deem myself worthy of “completing” the Lay; ultimately this is my own work—a cheap imitation of the incredible writings of J.R.R. Tolkien.

The story picks up towards the end of the legend, after Beren succumbs to wounds he sustained during the hunt to reclaim the Silmaril from Carcharoth. Lúthien is overcome with sorrow for her lost love, and her body and soul waste away—the only way that the immortal Elves can die apart from physical injuries. When Elves perish on Middle-earth their spirits are sped west to Valinor and find rest in the Halls of Mandos.

This short segment begins with Lúthien’s spirit traversing the oceans to arrive in Aman, and covers history that predates the First Age (the age in which Beren and Lúthien live) by millenia— events that lead up to the Valar inhabiting the westernmost lands of Aman and establishing the realm of Valinor.

In grief did Lúthien’s spirit fade
and through the west-most waters wade,
across the great sea Belegaer,
to mountains strong and valleys fair;
to forests green and halls of light:
the land of holy Valars’ might.
Her mother’s home in days of yore;
to Valinor, O Valinor.

In blessed Aman, the land of gods,
whereupon no mortal sole hath trod.
To which the host of Valar sped
in wake of blackest night, when dread
Melkor scorning Arda’s Spring
did out of darkest caverns sting.
For spite of Illuin’s silver rays,
reviling Ormal’s golden blaze,
two mighty blows didst Melkor smite
against the burning lamps abright.
And casting down the golden tower
he triumphed in that fatal hour,
as silver flames relentless swept
across the lands. The Valar wept
for loss of all creation, wrought
through song and toil and ponderous thought.

As mountains sank and oceans rose
the Spring of Arda’s dying throes
echoed across the sundered realm;
through forests: pine and oak and elm,
through fields of leaf and vine and flower.
But all was crushed beneath the power
of flood and flame, and wretched blight
as darkness overcame the light.
And leaving only nightsky starred,
by Melkor’s hand was Arda marred.

Glossary

Aman and Valinor

Aman—also called the Blessed Realm and the Undying Lands—is the westernmost continent of Arda. Valinor is the realm that the Valar established in Aman and where they dwell alongside the Maiar and the Eldar.

Arda

The created world, originally one circular continent surrounding a central lake and the island of Almaren. At the Destruction of the Lamps, Arda is split into multiple continents including Middle-earth and Aman.

Belegaer

The sea to the west of Middle-earth that separates it from the continent of Aman.

Illuin and Ormal

The great lamps Illuin and Ormal were constructed by the Valar when Arda was still a single landmass. Illuin—the silver—shone in the north; Ormal—the gold—in the south. They shone bright enough to illuminate the entire world of Arda.

Melkor-Morgoth

Melkor was originally counted among the Valar, but he rebelled against Ilúvatar and sought to undo the work of the Valar in Arda. He was the strongest and most proud of the Valar and strove to bring all of Arda under his control through fear and deception. Named Morgoth by the Noldorin Elves for the great evil he brought upon their people.

Valar

The god-like beings that were sent to oversee the creation and formation of Arda in preparation for the Children of Ilúvatar (Elves and Men).