The Lays of Beleriand (37 page)

brown and brindled, swift and true

as arrow from a bow of yew;

their voices like the deeptoned bells

that ring in Valmar's citadels,

their eyes like living jewels, their teeth 2260

like ruel-bone. As sword from sheath

they flashed and fled from leash to scent

for Tavros' joy and merriment.

In Tavros' friths and pastures green

had Huan once a young whelp been. 2265

He grew the swiftest of the swift,

and Orome gave him as a gift

to Celegorm, who loved to follow

the great God's horn o'er hill and hollow.

Alone of hounds of the Land of Light, 2270

when sons of Feanor took to flight

and came into the North, he stayed

beside his master. Every raid

and every foray wild he shared,

and into mortal battle dared. 2275

Often he saved his Gnomish lord

from Orc and wolf and leaping sword.

A wolf-hound, tireless, grey and fierce

he grew; his gleaming eyes would pierce

all shadows and all mist, the scent 2280

moons old he found through fen and bent,

through rustling leaves and dusty sand;

all paths of wide Beleriand

he knew. But wolves, he loved them best;

he loved to find their throats and wrest 2285

their snarling lives and evil breath.

The packs of Thu him feared as Death.

No wizardry, nor spell, nor dart,

no fang, nor venom devil's art

could brew had harmed him; for his weird 2290

was woven. Yet he little feared

that fate decreed and known to all:

before the mightiest he should fall,

before the mightiest wolf alone

that ever was whelped in cave of stone. 2295

Hark! afar in Nargothrond,

far over Sirion and beyond,

there are dim cries and horns blowing,

and barking hounds through the trees going.

The hunt is up, the woods are stirred. 2300

Who rides to-day? Ye have not heard

that Celegorm and Curufin

have loosed their dogs? With merry din

they mounted ere the sun arose,

and took their spears and took their bows. 2305

The wolves of Thu of late have dared

both far and wide. Their eyes have glared

by night across the roaring stream

of Narog. Doth their master dream,

perchance, of plots and counsels deep, 2310

of secrets that the Elf-lords keep,

of movements in the Gnomish realm

and errands under beech and elm?

Curufin spake: 'Good brother mine,

I like it not. What dark design 2315

doth this portend? These evil things,

we swift must end their wanderings!

And more, 'twould please my heart full well

to hunt a while and wolves to fell.'

And then he leaned and whispered low 2320

that Orodreth was a dullard slow;

long time it was since the king had gone,

and rumour or tidings came there none.

'At least thy profit it would be

to know whether dead he is or free; 2325

to gather thy men and thy array.

"I go to hunt" then thou wilt say,

and men will think that Narog's good

ever thou heedest. But in the wood

things may be learned; and if by grace, 2330

by some blind fortune he retrace

his footsteps mad, and if he bear

a Silmaril - I need declare

no more in words; but one by right

is thine (and ours), the jewel of light; 2335

another may be won - a throne.

The eldest blood our house doth own.'

Celegorm listened. Nought he said,

but forth a mighty host he led;

and Huan leaped at the glad sounds, 2340

the chief and captain of his hounds.

Three days they ride by holt and hill

the wolves of Thu to hunt and kill,

and many a head and fell of grey

they take, and many drive away, 2345

till nigh to the borders in the West

of Doriath a while they rest.

There were dim cries and horns blowing,

and barking dogs through the woods going.

The hunt was up. The woods were stirred, 2350

and one there fled like startled bird,

and fear was in her dancing feet.

She knew not who the woods did beat.

Far from her home, forwandered, pale,

she flitted ghostlike through the vale; 2355

ever her heart bade her up and on,

but her limbs were worn, her eyes were wan.

The eyes of Huan saw a shade

wavering, darting down a glade

like a mist of evening snared by day 2360

and hasting fearfully away.

He bayed, and sprang with sinewy limb

to chase the shy thing strange and dim.

On terror's wings, like a butterfly

pursued by a sweeping bird on high, 2365

she fluttered hither, darted there,

now poised, now flying through the air -

in vain. At last against a tree

she leaned and panted. Up leaped he.

No word of magic gasped with woe, 2370

no elvish mystery she did know

or had entwined in raiment dark

availed against that hunter stark,

whose old immortal race and kind

no spells could ever turn or bind. 2375

Huan alone that she ever met

she never in enchantment set

nor bound with spells. But loveliness

and gentle voice and pale distress

and eyes like starlight dimmed with tears 2380

tamed him that death nor monster fears.

Lightly he lifted her, light he bore

his trembling burden. Never before

had Celegorm beheld such prey:

'What hast thou brought, good Huan say! 2385

Dark-elvish maid, or wraith, or fay?

Not such to hunt we came today.'

"Tis Luthien of Doriath,'

the maiden spake. 'A wandering path

far from the Wood-'Elves' sunny glades 2390

she sadly winds, where courage fades

and hope grows faint.' And as she spoke

down she let slip her shadowy cloak,

and there she stood in silver and white.

Her starry jewels twinkled bright 2395

in the risen sun like morning dew;

the lilies gold on mantle blue

gleamed and glistened. Who could gaze

on that fair face without amaze?

Long did Curufin look and stare. 2400

The perfume of her flower-twined hair,

her lissom limbs, her elvish face,

smote to his heart, and in that place

enchained he stood. '0 maiden royal,

0 lady fair, wherefore in toil 2405

and lonely journey dost thou go?

What tidings dread of war and woe

In Doriath have betid? Come tell!

For fortune thee hath guided well;

friends thou hast found,' said Celegorm, 2410

and gazed upon her elvish form.

In his heart him thought her tale unsaid

he knew in part, but nought she read

of guile upon his smiling face.

'Who are ye then, the lordly chase 2415

that follow in this perilous wood?'

she asked; and answer seeming-good

they gave. 'Thy servants, lady sweet,

lords of Nargothrond thee greet,

and beg that thou wouldst with them go 2420

back to their hills, forgetting woe

a season, seeking hope and rest.

And now to hear thy tale were best.'

So Luthien tells of Beren's deeds

in northern lands, how fate him leads 2425

to Doriath, of Thingol's ire,

the dreadful errand that her sire

decreed for Beren.. Sign nor word

the brothers gave that aught they heard

that touched them near. Of her escape 2430

and the marvellous mantle she did shape

she lightly tells, but words her fail

recalling sunlight in the vale,

moonlight, starlight in Doriath,

ere Beren took the perilous path. 2435

'Need, too, my lords, there is of haste!

No time in ease and rest to waste.

For days are gone now since the queen,

Melian whose heart hath vision keen,

looking afar me said in fear 2440

that Beren lived in bondage drear.

The Lord of Wolves hath prisons dark,

chains and enchantments cruel and stark,

and there entrapped and languishing

doth Beren lie - if direr thing 2445

hath not brought death or wish for death':

than gasping woe bereft her breath.

To Celegorm said Curufin

apart and low: 'Now news we win

of Felagund, and now we know 2450

wherefore Thu's creatures prowling go',

and other whispered counsels spake,

and showed him what answer he should make.

'Lady,' said Celegorm, 'thou seest

we go a-hunting roaming beast, 2455

and though our host is great and bold,

'tis ill prepared the wizard's hold

and island fortress to assault.

Deem not our hearts or wills at fault.

Lo I here our chase we now forsake 2460

and home our swiftest road we take,

counsel and aid there to devise

for Beren that in anguish lies.'

To Nargothrond they with them bore

Luthien, whose heart misgave her sore. 2465

Delay she feared; each moment pressed

upon her spirit, yet she guessed

they rode not as swiftly as they might.

Ahead leaped Huan day and night,

and ever looking back his thought 2470

was troubled. What his master sought,

and why he rode not like the fire,

why Curufin looked with hot desire

on Luthien, he pondered deep,

and felt some evil shadow creep 2475

of ancient curse o'er Elfinesse.

His heart was torn for the distress

of Beren bold, and Luthien dear,

and Felagund who knew no fear.

In Nargothrond the torches flared 2480

and feast and music were prepared.

Luthien feasted not but wept.

Her ways were trammelled; closely kept

she might not fly. Her magic cloak

was hidden, and no prayer she spoke 2485

was heeded, nor did answer find

her eager questions. Out of mind,

it seemed, were those afar that pined

in anguish and in dungeons blind

in prison and in misery. 2490

Too late she knew their treachery.

It was not hid in Nargothrond

that Feanor's sons her held in bond,

who Beren heeded not, and who

had little cause to wrest from Thu 2495

the king they loved not and whose quest

old vows of hatred in their breast

had roused from sleep. Orodreth knew

the purpose dark they would pursue:

King Felagund to leave to die, 2500

and with King Thingol's blood ally

the house of Feanor by force

or treaty. But to stay their course

he had no power, for all his folk

the brothers had yet beneath their yoke, 2505

and all yet listened to their word.

Orodreth's counsel no man heard;

their shame they crushed, and would not heed

the tale of Felagund's dire need.

At Luthien's feet there day by day 2510

and at night beside her couch would stay

Huan the hound of Nargothrond;

and words she spoke to him soft and fond:

'0 Huan, Huan, swiftest hound

that ever ran on mortal ground, 2515

what evil doth thy lords possess

to heed no tears nor my distress?

Once Barahir all men above

good hounds did cherish and did love;

once Beren in the friendless North, 2520

when outlaw wild he wandered forth,

had friends unfailing among things

with fur and fell and feathered wings,

and among the spirits that in stone

in mountains old and wastes alone 2525

still dwell. But now nor Elf nor Man,

none save the child of Melian,

remembers him who Morgoth fought

and never to thraldom base was brought.'

Nought said Huan; but Curufin 2530

thereafter never near might win

to Luthien, nor touch that maid,

but shrank from Huan's fangs afraid.

Then on a night when autumn damp

was swathed about the glimmering lamp 2535

of the wan moon, and fitful stars

were flying seen between the bars

of racing cloud, when winter's horn

already wound in trees forlorn,

lo! Huan was gone. Then Luthien lay 2540

fearing new wrong, till just ere day,

when all is dead and breathless still

and shapeless fears the sleepless fill,

a shadow came along the wall.

Then something let there softly fall 2545

her magic cloak beside her couch.

Trembling she saw the great hound crouch

beside her, heard a deep voice swell

as from a tower a far slow bell.

Thus Huan spake, who never before 2550

had uttered words, and but twice more

did speak in elven tongue again:

'Lady beloved, whom all Men,

whom Elfinesse, and whom all things

with fur and fell and feathered wings 2555

should serve and love - arise! away!

Put on thy cloak! Before the day

comes over Nargothrond we fly

to Northern perils, thou and 1.'

And ere he ceased he counsel wrought 2560