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As Beren went, still like a knell<br />
resounded in his heart that word,<br />
the last of his father that he heard.<br />
Through moor and fen, by tree and briar<br />
he wandered far: he saw the fire<br />
of Sauron’s camp, he heard the howl<br />
of hunting Orc and wolf a-prowl,<br />
and turning back, for long the way,<br />
benighted in the forest lay.<br />
In weariness he then must sleep,<br />
fain in a badger-hole to creep,<br />
and yet he heard (or dreamed it so)<br />
nearby a marching legion go<br />
with clink of mail and clash of shields<br />
up towards the stony mountain-fields.<br />
He slipped then into darkness down,<br />
until, as man that waters drown<br />
strives upwards gasping, it seemed to him<br />
he rose through slime beside the brim<br />
of sullen pool beneath dead trees.<br />
Their livid boughs in a cold breeze<br />
trembled, and all their black leaves stirred:<br />
each leaf a black and croaking bird,<br />
whose neb a gout of blood let fall.<br />
He shuddered, struggling thence to crawl<br />
through winding weeds, when far away<br />
he saw a shadow faint and grey<br />
gliding across the dreary lake.<br />
Slowly it came, and softly spake:<br />
‘Gorlim I was, but now a wraith<br />
of will defeated, broken faith,<br />
traitor betrayed. Go! Stay not here!<br />
Awaken, son of Barahir,<br />
and haste! For Morgoth’s fingers close<br />
upon thy father’s throat; he knows<br />
your trysts, your paths, your secret lair.’<br />
Then he revealed the devil’s snare<br />
in which he fell, and failed; and last<br />
begging forgiveness, wept, and passed<br />
out into darkness. Beren woke,<br />
leapt up as one by sudden stroke<br />
with fire of anger filled. His bow<br />
and sword he seized, and like the roe<br />
hotfoot o’er rock and heath he sped<br />
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