Beren and Lúthien Quotes

“...there lay they sheltered from the wind
under mighty beeches silken-skinned,
and sang of love that still shall be,
though earth be foundered under sea,
and sundered here for evermore
shall meet upon the Western Shore.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, Beren and Lúthien

“The misty morning crawleth grey from dusk to the reluctant day.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, Beren and Lúthien

“Then Beren woke and opened eyes,
and rose and cried: 'Neath other skies,
in lands more awful and unknown,
I wandered long, methought, alone
to the deep shadow where the dead dwell;
but ever a voice that I knew well,
like bells, like viols, like harps, like birds,
like music moving without words,
called me, called me through the night,
enchanted drew me back to light!”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, Beren and Lúthien

“Thus Huan spake, who never before
had uttered words, and but twice more
did speak in elven tongue again;
'Lady beloved, whom all Men,
who Elfinesse, and whom all things
with fur and fell and feathered wings
should serve and love - arise! away!
Put on thy cloak! Before the day
comes over Nargothrond we fly
to Northern perils, thou and I.'
And ere he ceased he counsel wrought
for achievement of the thing they sought.
There Lúthien listened in amaze,
and softly on Huan did she gaze.
Her arms about his neck she cast -
In friendship that to death should last.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien , Beren and Lúthien

“Rivers of fire at dead of night
in winter lying cold and white
upon the plain burst forth, and high
the red was mirrored in the sky.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, Beren and Lúthien

“Thou smellest of dog, and what news of good came ever to a cat from a fairy that had had dealings with the dogs?”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, Beren and Lúthien

“Not thus do those of elven race
forsake the love that they embrace.
A love is mine, as great a power
as thine, to shake the gate and tower
of death with challenge weak and frail
that yet endures, and will not fail
nor yield, unvanquished were it hurled
beneath the foundations of the world.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, Beren and Lúthien

“Too swift for thought his onset came,
too swift for any spell to tame;
and Beren desperate then aside
thrust Lúthien, and forth did stride
unarmed, defenceless to defend
Tinúviel until the end.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, Beren and Lúthien

“...recalling Lúthien dancing fair
with wild white roses in her hair,
remembering her elven voice that rung
while stars in twilight round her hung.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, Beren and Lúthien

“...and over all the silver fire
that once Men named the Burning Briar,
the Seven Stars that Varda set
about the North, were burning yet,
a light in darkness, hope in woe,
the emblem vast of Morgoth’s foe.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, Beren and Lúthien

“There Lúthien listened in amaze,
and softly on Huan did she gaze.
Her arms about his neck she cast—
in friendship that to death should last.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, Beren and Lúthien

“The slow time passed. Then in the gloom
two eyes there glowed. He saw his doom,
Beren, silent, as his bonds he strained
beyond mortal might enchained.
Lo! sudden there was rending sound
of chains that parted and unwound,
of meshes broken. Forth there leaped
upon the wolvish thing that crept
in shadow faithful Felagund,
careless of fang or mortal wound.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, Beren and Lúthien

“He chanted a song of wizardry, of piercing, opening, of treachery, 490 revealing, uncovering, betraying. Then sudden Felagund there swaying sang in answer a song of staying, resisting, battling against power, of secrets kept, strength like a tower, 500 and trust unbroken, freedom, escape; of changing and of shifting shape, of snares eluded, broken traps, the prison opening, the chain that snaps.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, Beren and Lúthien

“But this book does not offer a single page of original and unpublished work. What then is the need, now, for such a book?”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, Beren and Lúthien

“... but there lies a pain and longing in his eyes, a look of horror as he sees a batlike form crawl to its knees and drag its creased and creaking wings.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, Beren and Lúthien

“And what more can hobbits do? They can be comic, but their comedy is suburban unless it is set against things more elemental.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, Beren and Lúthien

“His blade he lifted high in hand,
and challenging alone did stand
before the treat of Morgoth's power;
and dauntless cursed him, hall and tower,
o'ershadowing hand and grinding foot,
beginning, end, and crown and root;
then turned to strike forth down the slope
abandoning fear, forsaking hope.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, Beren and Lúthien

“what song can sing the marvel of that deed, or the wrath and humiliation of Morgoth, for even the Orcs laugh in secret when they remember it, telling how Morgoth fell from his chair and his iron crown rolled upon the floor.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, Beren and Lúthien

“But the story has gone crooked, and I am left, and I cannot plead before the inexorable Mandos.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, Beren and Lúthien

“In pigri giardini, molti fiori come te gli dèi innamorati sono soliti baciare d'un bacio che assomiglia al miele; e poi li buttano via, sciupati, e li calpestano, mentre emanano il profumo loro. [...] E chi non vorrebbe gustare la dolcezza del miele sfiorando labbra, o calpestar coi piedi il morbido, fresco tessuto dei pallidi fiori, alleggerendo, come gli dèi, le ore che si trascinano?”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, Beren und Luthien

“Una mattina, mentr'ella giaceva addormentata sul muschio, e pareva che troppo amaro fosse il giorno perché s'aprisse un fiore gentile in un'ora senza sole, Beren si levò e le baciò i capelli e pianse e dolcemente là la lasciò.
"Buon Huan," disse, "proteggila! Non sboccia in un campo privo di foglie un asfodelo, non una rosa solitaria in un boschetto pieno di rovi che al pari di lei sia fragile e fragrante. Difendila dal vento e dal gelo e nascondila dalle mani che afferrano e distruggono; impedisci che vaghi e impedisci che soffra, perché l'orgoglio e il destino mi spingono ora ad andare".”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, Beren und Luthien

“Why laughs he not to think of his lord 455 crushing a maiden in his hoard, that foul should be what once was clean, that dark should be where light has been?”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, Beren and Lúthien

“Sindar, the Grey Elves. Their high king was Thingol (which means ‘Grey-cloak’), who ruled from Menegroth, the Thousand Caves in Doriath (Artanor).”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, Beren and Lúthien

“And then he turned, and did not weep:
too dark his heart, the wound too deep.”
― Christopher Tolkien, Beren and Lúthien

“Thus was it that they eluded the host of their enemies, but had nonetheless many an encounter afterward with wandering things of evil, and Beren slew an Orc that came nigh to dragging off Tinúviel, and that was a good deed.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, Beren and Lúthien

“There were lights in the dale and the sound of rugged song. Then Felagund marvelled, for the tongue of those songs was not the tongue of Eldar or of Dwarves. Nor was it the tongue of Orcs, though this at first he feared.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, Beren and Lúthien

“Now doth Tinúviel put forth her skill and fairy-magic, and she sews Beren into this fell and makes him to the likeness of a great cat,”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, Beren and Lúthien

“that was the kindred of the Dogs. Many indeed of these were neither friends nor foes of the Cats, for they had become subject to Melko and were as savage and cruel as any of his animals; indeed from the most cruel and most savage he bred the race of wolves, and they were very dear indeed to him.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, Beren and Lúthien

“...from dolour long in clinging night
beyond all hope set free to light.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, Beren and Lúthien

“Indeed afterward Melko heard all and he cursed Tevildo and his folk and banished them, nor have they since that day had lord or master or any friend, and their voices wail and screech for their hearts are very lonely and bitter and full of loss, yet there is only darkness therein and no kindliness.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, Beren and Lúthien