Verse of the ring
Old English Version (Anglo-Saxon)
Hringas þríe þéodnum Ælfa, allra ældestum, ofer eormengrunde.
Hringas seofun innan sele stænnum Dwergdryhtnum. Derc heara hús.
Hringas nigon néote Moncynn, hláfordas méra mégas déaðfæge.
Heolstres Hearra hring ánne weardað in dryhtsele dimmum on dercan
Þrymmsetle þér licgað scedwa in londe Mordores.
Hring án gewalde, hring án gefinde,
Hring án gebringe, hring án gebinde þéoda swá þéowas
In þéostrum tógedere þér licgað scedwa in londe Mordores.
English literal translationRings three for the Rulers of Elves, eldest of all, above the mighty-ground.
Rings seven, in halls of stone, for the Dwarf-leaders. Dark their houses.
Rings nine (may) Mankind use/enjoy, masters of horses, kinsmen fated-to-die.
Dark's Lord wards one ring in dim/gloomy lender-hall on dark majesty-seat,
Where lie shadows in Mordor's land.
Ring one (may) rule, Ring one (may) find,
Ring one (may) bring, Ring one (may) bind
Nations as slaves in darkness together where lie shadows in Mordor's land.
Glosary
Eormengrunde : Mighty-ground. Wide World. It is related with Jörmungandr , the World-Snake, in
Icelandic Cosmogony and with the Irminsul (the pole of the world), of the Germanic Miths.
Derc, Deorc : Dark
Þéoden : Lit. Lord of the People, Chief of the Folk
Mordor : It may be translated in Old English with the word "Morðor" (murder) g.sg. morðres,
m. pl. morðras deed of violence, homicide, manslaughter, mortal sin, crime
Heora : g. Pl. of hé, héo, hit (he, she, it, pl, they
Hring, sg., Hringas pl.: ring/s
Þéoda : Peoples, nations, it is related with the old Irish word "Tuatha"
Ðrymm : glory, m ajesty, splendour, multitude, host, troop
Ðrym-seld/-setl : seat of honour, throne
Dryhten : Þéoden . See the next word.
Dryhtsele : The Hall of the Leader = sele, Icelandic, salr; similar to Spanish sala, salón
Hearra : Related to German Herr , The Lord"
Londe, lond : Land
Stænnum : Related to stán sg., stánas pl., stánum gen.pl. stone
Hláfordas pl. : Lords = hláf "loaf, bread", weard "guardian", weardere "keeper"
Méra : Mare/s - mearh, g. Sg. Méares (horse, steed = mearg )
Mæg m. sg. : male kinsman, parent, son, brother, nephew, cousin - n.a. p. Mágas
Néotan : to use, have the use of, enjoy, employ
Déaðfæge : doomed to death
Dimm : dim, dark, gloomy, obscure
Ðéow : servant, slave = Old Norse þráll
Ðéostru, Ðeostre (often in pl.): darkness, gloom.
Sceadu g.sg. scead(u)we, sceade: shade, shadow, darkness, shady place, shelter
Ánne,án, þríe, þréo, seofun, seofon, nigon: one, three, seven, nine,
The other numerals: twá, féower, fíf, siex, eahta, tíen.JEB 07/11/03