Translations of Tolkiens English poems into Elvish: In Western Lands
Galadriels Warning ~ The Last Ship~ Words of the Seer
Note: This is "Neo-Sindarin". That is, while I am using Tolkien's language and grammar as much as is known, I am resorting to reconstructions such as those in the movies, some of which are subject to debate by Tolkien scholars. Where, for instance, JRRT did not show us how to change the tense of one verb, we guess that it follows the pattern of a similar verb. Sometimes we go back to his etymological notes to create new words based on roots and stems he has provided (e.g. making a compound from the words for "day" and "singer" to create a word for "rooster"). There are a number of spelling mutations and pronouns, in particular, that widely-respected scholars like D. Salo, Fauskager, and Derdzinski have posted on their websites based on years of research which are, however, merely educated guesses not attested forms.
Naergon an Thinnuel (a Tinw)
Lament for Evenstar (and the little star)
Ne minuial tôl lû
Ir tirich er-'îl gelair awarthannen
Ir in-elenath gwennin.
I 'îl thinna, i amar ú-dhartha.
At starfade a time comes
When you see one brilliant star left behind
When the starry host has departed.
The star fades, the world does not wait.
Am man darthon a linnon
Nu galad hen fireb?
Why do I linger and sing
Under this fading/mortal light?
Eirien vi elenyr
Enni e bain.
Brethil nui mellyrn
Enni e bain.
Gwilwileth or alph
Enni e bain.
Tinnu aphada Chelluin
Enni e bain.
There is a daisy among the elanor blossoms
To me it is fair.
There is a birch tree under the mallorn trees
To me it is fair.
There is a butterfly above the swan
To me it is fair.
A spark/small star follows Sirius
To me it is fair.
I laiss e-mallorn ernediaid.
El-lass dithen, el-lass fíreb
Gâr chinnen. Ir dannatha?The leaves of the mallorn are numberless
One tiny leaf, one fading leaf
Holds my eyes. When will it fall?
I-'îl gelair fîr.
Si e gwanna Menel.
Si gwannathon i amar
Garel lass vi cammen.The brilliant star is fading
Now it departs the heavens
Now I will depart the world
Holding a leaf in my hand.In Ithilien
The leaves of the beeches breathe
The sparkling air of day's awakening.
The birches spread the buds of leaves
For the small singing birds to linger there.
In Ithilien, land of the tuneful waterfalls
Wandering-together heals my beloved.I laiss i-ferin thuiar
I 'wilith lim echui aur.
I mrethil peliar duiw laiss
Af filig linnol der' ennas.
Vi Ithilien, dôr lenthir lind
Gorain nesta velethril nín.
A! Tollen gûr na Balannor Nu goll dhúath e nathron dhonn Onethelais panna i nôr Gelaidh gelaid go linnod an Nestad. Ai nae úamdir dâr.
| O! Come is death to Valinor Under shadowy cloak of the dark weaver. Yavanna fills the place of the Trees of Light with a chant for Healing. Ah alas, no hope remains.
|
Harnannin athan nestad bân Telperion a Laurelin. In edhil sí awarthar Dhûn Farol i viriath corin E galad vedui o Aman.
| Wounded beyond all healing Are Telperion and Laurelin. The elves there depart the west Seeking the jewels made From the last light of Aman.
|
I aear dholl. Saer dîn vanadh. Aphadar 'lîn e-fast i chîn Finarfin. Athradar athrad Chelegnen. Sí falas thrúnen. I ithil eria. Romru cân.
| The sea is dark. Bitter their fate. They follow the gleam of the hair of the children Of Finarfin. They cross the icy Passage. There is the eastern shore. The moon rises. Trumpets ring out. |
In western lands beneath the Sun In spring, flowers rise, The trees bud, waters run,* And the merry little birds sing.
| Vi dýr ennui nu Anor Ned echuir lyth eriar I yrn ethuiwar, nin nurar Ar aew verin linnar.
|
There it is cloudless night And shuddering beeches hold The starry host, the white jewels, On their branching hair.
| Ennas dû alfanui A ferin 'irith gerir I elenath, viriath fain, Vi finnel gelfib dîn.
|
Here at my path's end I am lingering In deep darkness buried. Beyond towers strong and high Beyond all mountains steep
| Sí na veth bâden im derel Vi dúath dofn tummen. Atham meraid velig a tynd Athan eryd bain beraidh
|
Above all shadows rides the Sun And stars always dwell. I will not say 'The day is done' Or to the stars 'farewell'.
| Or 'waith bain nura Anor A panlû elin cuinar Ú-pedithon 'i-aur gwann' Egor nai îl 'namarië'. |
Al Legolas aun beth hen:
"Dorthol ui nu 'aladh Legolas
|
To Legolas she sent this word:
"Legolas Greenleaf long under tree |
When stars faded, Fíriel looked out: The gray night was going. The dawn-singer, reddish-gold bird, from afar Crowed its cry clear and shrill. The trees were dark, the dawn pale, The yellowhammers were singing. A wind passed, which cool and frail Across the dim leaves strayed.
| Ir geil thinner Fíriel tirn-ed: I fuin thind gwannol. I orlinn, aew goll, palan- Nallant gaun lim a maeg. Gelaidh dhuir, minuial ael In emlin gliriel. Gwaew athrant, i ring a lain Trî laiss dhyll reniant. |
At the window she watched the gleam growing Until the long light [was] glimmering On land and leaf; on the grass there The gray dew [was] glittering. Over the floorboards her white feet crossed And down the staircase twinkled, They sailed leaping through all the grass Which was holding drops of dew.
| Na chenneth tirn i lîn alol Al lû calad and ael Bo talf a lass; bo thâr ennas I vîdh vith hilivren. Or phain tail thín fain athranner A dad bendrath tinner, Revianner cabel trî thâr Bân i garel wing mîdh.
|
The edge of her garment held jewels; She ran down to the river. Holding the stem of a willow as a prop She watched the glinting water. A kingfisher dropped down like a stone Falling in a blue flash...
| Taeg hammad thín gâr viriath; Norn e dad i hîr, Be dulu garel delch dathren E tirn i nen thinnol. Heledir dannant dad be harn Vi aglar thlûn dannol...
|
Pent Malbeth i Diriel:
Erin ennor pelia gwathand, | Spoke Malbeth the Seer:
Over the land there spreads a long shadow, |
Dedicated with thanks to all my teachers and friends who have answered the eager questions of a "Tinw". This page is a collection of works-in-progress, my Sindarin poetry in various stages of polish. Corrections, comments, and suggestions are welcome Original poems © 2003, E. Brundige.