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A SECOND EXTRACT FROM THE LAY OF LEITHIAN
I give now a further passage of The Lay of Leithian (see pp. 91, 93) telling the story that
has just been given in its very compressed form in the Quenta. I take up the poem where the
Siege of Angband was ended in what was later called the Battle of Sudden Flame.
According to the dates that my father wrote on the manuscript the whole passage was
composed in March–April 1928. At line 246 Canto VI of the Lay ends and Canto VII begins.
An end there came, when fortune turned
and flames of Morgoth’s vengeance burned,
and all the might which he prepared
in secret in his fastness flared
and poured across the Thirsty Plain;
and armies black were in his train.
The leaguer of Angband Morgoth broke;
his enemies in fire and smoke
were scattered, and the Orcs there slew,
and slew, until the blood like dew
dripped from each cruel and crooked blade.
Then Barahir the bold did aid
with mighty spear, with shield and men,
Felagund wounded. To the fen
escaping, there they bound their troth,
and Felagund deeply swore an oath
of friendship to his kin and seed
of love and succour in time of need.
But there of Finrod’s children four
were Angrod slain and proud Egnor.
Felagund and Orodreth then
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