The Nature of Middle-earth by J. R. R. Tolkien

Author:J. R. R. Tolkien [Tolkien, J.R.R.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2021-07-22T17:00:00+00:00

VII

THE FOUNDING OF NARGOTHROND

This text is extracted from a typescript text among Tolkien’s linguistic papers that he titled “REVISION of Q[uenya] and S[indarin]” and dated 1969. I have omitted here without indication many passages of primarily linguistic and etymological matters.

[The Sindarin stem] philig- is mostly confined to specific places in the old tales of Beleriand. Its chief interest comes from its use in the “title” or by-name of King Finrod Felagund (said traditionally to have meant ‘den-dweller’, or specifically ‘brock, badger’).[fn1] This puzzled the earlier loremasters since the ending -gund could not be interpreted from Eldarin. The Sindarin word fela could be derived from a stem phelga or philga. It was used of minor excavations made by wild animals as dens or lairs, and also as temporary dwellings by wandering folk, Dwarvish or Elvish; it was usually distinguished from the larger caves of geological formation used and extended by stone-workers. It was thus naturally used of the “setts” of badgers (which seem to have existed in great numbers in parts of Beleriand). There were a number of such fili (pl. of fela, < *felȝi < *phelgai) on the west bank of the lower Narog river where it flowed along the feet of the great hills, “the hunters’ Wold”. But they were made or at least long occupied by Dwarves, of the strange and sinister kind known as the Petty Dwarves: in origin, as was later known, descended from Dwarves banished for evil deeds from the great mansions of their kind.

During the Siege of Angband, while Morgoth was (or seemed to be) contained in his fortress by the Elvish armies and most of Beleriand had peace, Finrod was visited by dark forebodings – he was the wisest and most farseeing of the chieftains of the Noldor – that Morgoth was only biding his time, and would break and overwhelm the ring of the besiegers. He therefore made great journeys, exploring the lands, especially in southern and western Beleriand. It is told that when he came upon the Narog rushing down its steep course under the hills’ shadow, he resolved to make there a secret fortress and store-houses against evil days, if he could; but the river could not be crossed at that place, and in the far banks he saw the opening of many caves. The tale of his dealings with the Petty Dwarves who still lingered there, remnant of a once more numerous folk, is told elsewhere. But during the years of peace that still remained Finrod carried out his design, and established the great mansions that were later called Nargothrond (< Narog + ost-rond), the cavernous halls beside the Narog. In this labour he had at first help from the Petty Dwarves and their feigned friendship; for which he rewarded them generously until Mîm their chieftain made an attempt to murder him in his sleep and was driven out into the wild.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.