The Lays of Beleriand Read Online Free Page B

countless company that quaffed the mead, amid the wine of Dor-Winion that went ungrudged in their golden goblets; and goodly meats
    there burdened the boards, neath the blazing torches set high in.those halls that were hewn of stone.
    There mirth fell on many; . there minstrels clear did sing to them songs of the city of Tun
    neath Tain-Gwethil, towering mountain,
    where the great gods sit and gaze on the world from the guarded shores of the gulf of Faerie.
    Then one sang of the slaying at the Swanships' Haven and the curse that had come on the kindreds since: all silent sat and soundless harkened,
    and waited the words save one alone --
    the Man among Elves that Morwin bore.
    Unheeding he heard or high feasting
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    or lay or laughter, and looked, it seemed,
    to a deep distance in the dark without,
    and strained for sounds in the still spaces,
    for voices that vanished in the veils of night.
    He was lithe and lean, and his locks were wild, and woodland weeds he wore of brown
    and grey and green, and gay jewel
    or golden trinket his garb knew not.
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    An Elf there was -- Orgof -- of the ancient race that was lost in the lands where the long marches from the quiet waters of Cuivienen
    were made in the mirk of the midworld's gloom, ere light was lifted aloft o'er earth;
    but blood of the Gnomes was blent in his veins.
    He was close akin to the King of Doriath --

    a hardy hunter and his heart was brave,
    but loose his laughter and light his tongue,
    and his pride outran his prowess in arms.
    He was fain before all of fine raiment
    and of gems and jewels, and jealous of such
    as found favour before himself.
    Now costly clad in colours gleaming
    he sat on a seat that was set on high
    near the king and queen and close to Turin.
    When those twain were at table he had taunted him oft, lightly with laughter, for his loveless ways, his haggard raiment and hair unshorn;
    but Turin untroubled neither turned his head
    nor wasted words on the wit of Orgof.
    But this day of the feast more deep his gloom than of wont, and his words men won harder;
    for of twelve long years the tale was full
    since on Morwin his mother through a maze of tears he looked the last, and the long shadows
    of the forest had fallen on his fading home;
    and he answered few, and Orgof nought.
    Then the fool's mirth was filled the more,
    to a keener edge was his carping whetted
    at the clothes uncouth and the uncombed hair
    of Turin newcome from the tangled forest.
    He drew forth daintily a dear treasure,
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    a comb of gold that he kept about him,
    and tendered it to Turin; but he turned not his eyes, nor deigned to heed or harken to Orgof,
    who too deep drunken that disdain should quell him:
    'Nay, an thou knowest not thy need of comb,
    nor its use,' quoth he, 'too young thou leftest thy mother's ministry, and 'twere meet to go
    that she teach thee tame thy tangled locks --
    if the women of Hithlum be not wild and loveless, uncouth and unkempt as their cast-off sons.'
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    Then a fierce fury, like a fire blazing,
    was born of bitterness in his bruised heart;
    his white wrath woke at the words of scorn
    for the women of Hithlum washed in tears;
    and a heavy horn to his hand lying,
    with gold adorned for good drinking,
    of his might unmindful thus moved in ire
    he seized and, swinging, swiftly flung it
    in the face of Orgof. 'Thou fool', he said,
    'fill thy mouth therewith, and to me no further thus witless prate by wine bemused' --
    but his face was broken, and he fell backward, and heavy his head there hit upon the stone
    of the floor rock-paved mid flagons and vessels of the o'erturned table that tumbled on him
    as clutching he fell; and carped no more,
    in death silent. There dumb were all
    at bench and board; in blank amaze
    they rose around him, as with ruth of heart
    he gazed aghast on his grievous deed,
    on his wine-stained hand, with wondering eyes half-comprehending. On his heel then he turned