Shadows grew long afore the dimmed dawn
while men awoke to muted horns;
hearty men green-cloaked and ironclad.
Far they had ridden on well-trained steeds,
passing over river, mound and dale;
heavy hoofs broke ground well-traveled,
resting now on cold and dewy grass.
Still their fires burned and embers flew;
birds singing and crickets playing
in the misted morning, while the sun rose
behind mountains white-enclouded.
Sword and shield the men took forth,
held by strong and calloused hands,
and cheery voices sang to the morn
that greeted them with sun and sky:
while men awoke to muted horns;
hearty men green-cloaked and ironclad.
Far they had ridden on well-trained steeds,
passing over river, mound and dale;
heavy hoofs broke ground well-traveled,
resting now on cold and dewy grass.
Still their fires burned and embers flew;
birds singing and crickets playing
in the misted morning, while the sun rose
behind mountains white-enclouded.
Sword and shield the men took forth,
held by strong and calloused hands,
and cheery voices sang to the morn
that greeted them with sun and sky:
Bring to me a sword well forged;
may the steel be ever-slaying!
Bring to me a shield unbroken;
may the wood be ever-lasting!
Bring to me a cup of silver;
may the mead be never-ending!
Bring to me a heart of courage;
may my blood be ever-flowing!
Bring to me a life of victory;
May my foes be ever-falling!
may the steel be ever-slaying!
Bring to me a shield unbroken;
may the wood be ever-lasting!
Bring to me a cup of silver;
may the mead be never-ending!
Bring to me a heart of courage;
may my blood be ever-flowing!
Bring to me a life of victory;
May my foes be ever-falling!
Cruel winds howled beyond the hills
while steeds thundered, hearty men rode them:
they halted not for stone, rock or stream.
In thoughts the men remembered,
Knowing well their wives and sisters,
knowing well their sons and daughters,
knowing well their brothers at their side
and remembered those that came before.
Battle called them, courage filled their hearts:
Death they faced at every turn of heavy hoof.
Darkness took many a ill-fortuned man,
yet his steel slew a hundred more in turn.
Sang they did, their voices booming;
sang of what they loved and cherished,
fearing not what waits beyond the veil.
while steeds thundered, hearty men rode them:
they halted not for stone, rock or stream.
In thoughts the men remembered,
Knowing well their wives and sisters,
knowing well their sons and daughters,
knowing well their brothers at their side
and remembered those that came before.
Battle called them, courage filled their hearts:
Death they faced at every turn of heavy hoof.
Darkness took many a ill-fortuned man,
yet his steel slew a hundred more in turn.
Sang they did, their voices booming;
sang of what they loved and cherished,
fearing not what waits beyond the veil.
I have a blade now shattered;
may cold steel become my end!
I have a shield now broken;
may this wood become my shroud!
I have a bloodied cup of silver;
may this mead of honey be my last!
I have a heart that beats no more;
may now my blood stop flowing!
I had a hearty life of victories;
may I be in song remembered!
may cold steel become my end!
I have a shield now broken;
may this wood become my shroud!
I have a bloodied cup of silver;
may this mead of honey be my last!
I have a heart that beats no more;
may now my blood stop flowing!
I had a hearty life of victories;
may I be in song remembered!
- Unknown bard of Rohan singing of the great battles of the late third age.
