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and high upon a hill hoar and treeless
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the guest beheld they: gold was shining
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in his hair, in hand the harp he bore;
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at his feet they saw the fallow-golden
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cornsheaf lying. Then clear his voice
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|
|
a song began, sweet, unearthly,
|
70
|
|
words in music woven strangely,
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in tongue unknown. Trees stood silent
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|
and men unmoving marvelling hearkened.
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Middle-earth had known for many ages
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neither song nor singer; no sight so fair
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had eyes of mortal, since the earth was young,
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|
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seen when waking in that sad country
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long forsaken. No lord they had,
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|
no king nor counsel, but the cold terror
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|
|
that dwelt in the desert, the dark shadow
|
80
|
|
that haunted the hills and the hoar forest.
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|
|
Dread was their master. Dark and silent,
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|
|
long years forlorn, lonely waited
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|
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the hall of kings, house forsaken
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without fire or food.
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Forth men hastened
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from their dim houses. Doors were opened
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and gates unbarred. Gladness wakened.
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To the hill they thronged, and their heads lifting
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|
on the guest they gazed. Greybearded men
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|
|
bowed before him and blessed his coming
|
90
|
|
their years to heal; youths and maidens,
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|
|
wives and children welcome gave him.
|
|
|
His song was ended. Silent standing
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|
|
he looked upon them. Lord they called him;
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king they made him, crowned with golden
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wheaten garland, white his raiment,
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his harp his sceptre. In his house was fire,
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|
|
food and wisdom; there fear came not.
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|
|
To manhood he grew, might and wisdom.
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|
|
Sheave they called him, whom the ship brought them,
|
100
|
|
a name renowned in the North countries
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|
|
ever since in song. For a secret hidden
|
|
|
his true name was, in tongue unknown
|
|
|
of far countries where the falling seas
|
|
|
wash western shores beyond the ways of men
|
|
|
since the world worsened. The word is forgotten
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|
|
and the name perished.
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|
Their need he healed,
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|
|
and laws renewed long forsaken.
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|
|
Words he taught them wise and lovely –
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|
|
their tongue ripened in the time of Sheave
|
110
|
|
to song and music. Secrets he opened
|
|
|
runes revealing. Riches he gave them,
|
|
|
reward of labour, wealth and comfort
|
|
|
from the earth calling, acres ploughing,
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|
|
sowing in season seed of plenty,
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|
|
hoarding in garner golden harvest
|
|
|
for the help of men. The hoar forests
|
|
|
in his days drew back to the dark mountains;
|
|
|
the shadow receded, and shining corn,
|
|
|
white ears of wheat, whispered in the breezes
|
120
|
|
where waste had been. The woods trembled.
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|
|
Halls and houses hewn of timber,
|
|
|
strong towers of stone steep and lofty,
|
|
|
golden-gabled, in his guarded city
|
|
|
they raised and roofed. In his royal dwelling
|
|
|
of wood well-carven the walls were wrought;
|
|
|
fair-hued figures filled with silver,
|
|
|
gold and scarlet, gleaming hung there,
|
|
|
stories boding of strange countries,
|
|
|
were one wise in wit the woven legends
|
130
|
|
to thread with thought. At his throne men found
|
|
|
counsel and comfort and care’s healing,
|
|
|
justice in judgement. Generous-handed
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|
his gifts he gave. Glory was uplifted.
|
|
|
Far sprang his fame over fallow water,
|
|
СКАЧАТЬ
