The Fall of Gil-galad
translated into Sindarin by Ryszard Derdzinski
J.R.R. Tolkien's Fall of Gil-galad is a song sung by Samwise near Amon Sûl (see Knife in the Dark in The Ring Sets Out, in The Fellowship of the Ring). Its first Sindarin translation: Lant Gil-galad by Eli Bar-Yahalom was published 11 years ago in Vinyar Tengwar #26 (November 1992), p. 17. My text is based on translation of Eli Bar-Yahalom, but I have introduced few minor changes which are in accordance with Sindarin documents by Tolkien revealed recently in Vinyar Tengwar.
«Man Gil-galad?» mabent Gelir; dan Telcontar ú-dhambent, a e thiant i siriant vi innath. Na-vragol i-lam dofn norr:
O Gil-galad i Edhelchír
dim linnar i thelegain:
Im Belegaer a Hithaeglir
Aran ardh vethed vain a lain.
Gariel maegech Gil-galad,
Thôl palan-gennen, ann-vegil;
A giliath arnoediad
Tann thann dîn be genedril.
Dan io-anann os si gwannant
A mas, ú-bedir ithronath;
An gîl dîn na-dúath di-dhant,
vi Mordor, ennas caeda gwath.
Word-for-word translation:
«Where [is] Gil-galad?» asked Merry; but Strider not-answered, and he seemed that [he] flowed in thoughts. Suddenly the voice low murmured:
About Gil-galad the Elven-king
sad sing [pl.] the harpers:
between Great-sea and Misty-mountains
king [of] reign last fair and free.
Holding sharp-spear [of] Gil-galad,
helm afar-seen, long-sword;
and stars unnumbered
show [the] shield his like [a] mirror.
But ago-long from now [he] passed
and where, not-say [pl.] loremasters;
for star his to-darkness down-fell,
in Mordor, there lays shadow.
Glossary:
*mabent 'asked'.
*dambent 'answered'; cf. dambeth 'answer'.
*na-vragol 'suddenly'; cf. bragol 'sudden' and a pattern seen in adverb na vedui 'at last'.
*norr 'murmured'; cf. *nor- 'murmur', cognate of Quenya nurra-.
*io-anann 'long ago'.
*tann 'showed'; preterite of *tan- 'show' < *TA-N- 'show, indicate'.
*mas 'where?'.