Lay of Leithian: Canto Four

Well, I've taken a little blogging hiatus for a family vacation and recovery (it was super fun but non-stop). Canto number four is simply amazing. It picks up just after Beren and Lúthien's first meeting (with Beren quite distraught that she is gone) and ends with Beren leaving Thingol's hall vowing to bring back a Silmaril form Morgoth's crown to win Lúthien's hand in marriage. Such a little price for so fair a maiden says the Man. Thingol feels quite confident he has seen the last of this troublemaker.

Everything in between is intense. The back and forth between Thingol and Beren, Dairon's reveal of Beren's  presence in Doriath, Lúthien's love for Beren. I particularly enjoyed Beren's reveal of the Ring of Barahir. Every line of Canto four is powerful in my opinion--I would encourage you to read it. And I rather feel I am short changing it picking one of the shortest stanzas with in Canto four. But, it encapsulates the story of Beren and Lúthien in just a few lines. It comes from the beginning of Canto four as Beren is still upset that Lúthien has seemingly disappeared:

"And thus in anguish Beren paid

for that great doom upon him laid,

the deathless love of Lúthien, 

too fair for love of mortal Men;

and in his doom was Lúthien snared, 

the deathless in his dying shared;

and Fate them forged a binding chain

of living love and mortal pain" 

(p. 184, The Lays of Beleriand).

I think that is a powerful piece of poetry right there. Think about it--a binding chain of living love and mortal pain. It's was the best of love relationships are really. Sharing the joyous high's of deep love and the valley's of pain together that life throws your way. May you find that in your life.