A thought for a Sunday

"Gil-galad was an Elven-king.
Of him the harpers sadly sing:
The last whose realm was fair and free
Between the mountains and the sea.




His sword was long, his lance was keen.
His shining helm afar was seen.
The countless stars of heaven's field
Were mirrored in his silver shield.

But long ago he rode away,
And where he dwelleth none can say.
For into darkness fell his star;
In Mordor, where the shadows are."


From The Fall of Gil-Galad,
as translated by Bilbo Baggins and recited by Sam Gamgee just prior to the battle on Weathertop.

The Fellowship of the Ring I 11 'A Knife in the Dark'
by J.R.R Tolkien.

Audio from the 1981 BBC Radio 4 dramatisation of Lord of the Rings with Bill Nighy as Sam (if you haven’t heard this, it's well worth a listen).