Chapter IV
Treebeard
The Ent and the Ent-wife
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‘There was an Elvish song that spoke of this, or at least
so I understand it. It used to be sung up and down the Great River. It was
never an Entish song, mark you: it would have been a very long song in Entish!
But we know it by heart, and hum it now and again. This is how it runs in your
tongue:
THE ENT. | When Spring unfolds the beechen leaf, and sap is in the bough; When light is on the wild-wood stream, and wind is on the brow; When stride is long, and breath is deep, and keen the mountain-air, Come back to me! Come back to me, and say my land is fair! |
THE ENTWIFE. | When Spring is come to garth and field, and corn is in the blade; When blossom like a shining snow is on the orchard laid; When shower and Sun upon the Earth with fragrance fill the air, I’ll linger here, and will not come, because my land is fair. |
THE ENT. | When Summer lies upon the world, and in a noon of gold Beneath the roof of sleeping leaves the dreams of trees unfold; When woodland halls are green and cool, and wind is in the West, Come back to me! Come back to me, and say my land is best! |
THE ENTWIFE. | When Summer warms the hanging fruit and burns the berry brown; When straw is gold, and ear is white, and harvest comes to town; When honey spills, and apple swells, though wind be in the West, I’ll linger here beneath the Sun, because my land is best! |
THE ENT. | When Winter comes, the winter wild that hill and wood shall slay; When trees shall fall and starless night devour the sunless day; When wind is in the deadly East, then in the bitter rain I’ll look for thee, and call to thee; I’ll come to thee again! |
THE ENTWIFE. | When Winter comes, and singing ends; when darkness falls at last; When broken is the barren bough, and light and labour past; I’ll look for thee, and wait for thee, until we meet again: Together we will take the road beneath the bitter rain! |
BOTH. | Together we will take the road that leads into the West, And far away will find a land where both our hearts may rest.’ |