Читать книгу The Lays of Beleriand онлайн | страница 11

To the throne of Thingol the three were come,and their speech sped them; for he spake them fair,and held in honour Húrin the steadfast,Beren Ermabwed’s brother-in-arms.Remembering Morwin, of mortals fairest,250he turned not Túrin in contempt away;said: ‘O son of Húrin, here shalt sojournin my cavernous court for thy kindred’s sake.Nor as slave or servant, but a second king’s sonthou shalt dwell in dear love, till thou deem’st it time255to remember thy mother Morwin’s loneliness.Thou wisdom shalt win unwist of Menand weapons shalt wield as the warrior Elves,and Thalion’s son no thrall shall be.’

There tarried the twain that had tended the child,260till their limbs were lightened and they longed to farethrough dread and danger to their dear lady.But Gumlin was gone in greater yearsthan Halog, and hoped not to home again.Then sickness took him, and he stayed by Túrin,265while Halog hardened his heart to go.An Elfin escort to his aid was givenand magics of Melian, and a meed of gold.In his mouth a message to Morwin was set,words of the king’s will, how her wish was granted;270how Thingol called her to the Thousand Cavesto fare unfearing with his folk again,there to sojourn in solace, till her son be grown;for Húrin the hero was held in mind,and no might had Morgoth where Melian dwelt.275

Of the errand of the Elves and that other Halogthe tale tells not, save in time they cameto the threshold of Morwin, and Thingol’s messagewas said where she sate in her solitary hall.But she dared not do as was dearly bidden,280for Nienor her nestling was not yet weaned.More, the pride of her people, princes of Men,had suffered her send her son to Thingolwhen despair sped her, but to spend her daysas alms-guest of others, even Elfin kings,285it liked her little; and there lived e’en nowa hope in her heart that Húrin would come,and the dwelling was dear where he dwelt of old.At night she would listen for a knock at the doors,or a footstep falling that she fondly knew;290so she fared not forth, and her fate was woven.Yet the thanes of Thingol she thanked nobly,and her shame she showed not, how shorn of gloryto reward their wending she had wealth too scant;but gave them in gift her golden things295that last lingered, and they led awaya helm of Húrin that was hewn in warwhen he battled with Beren his brother-in-armsagainst ogres and Orcs and evil foemen;’twas o’erwritten with runes by wrights of old.300She bade Thingol receive it and think of her.