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Old 03-21-2003, 07:10 AM   #1
lindil
Seeker of the Straight Path
 
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: a hidden fastness in Big Valley nor cal
Posts: 1,680
lindil has just left Hobbiton.
Sting Gems from the 'Lesser Works' of JRRT

Well as we have Back to School a thread of similar variety that specializes in JRRT's more scholarly musings and opines, and the venerable The most powerful Lines of Ea and Gems from the Letters I thought I would round out the collection with a home for especially moving lines from the likes of:
  • Smith of Wooten Major
  • Farmer Giles oF Ham
  • Leaf by Niggle
  • Imram
  • Lay of Atrou and Atroun
  • The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth Beorthelm's Son
  • Roverandom
  • Mr. Bliss
  • or the
  • Father Christmas Letters

I will lead off with one of the most simple but beautiful lines I think JRRT ever wrote.

Context:

An Elf-King coming among mortals for years for the express purpose of maintaining a spiritual ferment if you will.

When Smith realizes Alf [ the humble and unimposing decades long apprentice cook of the village] is the King of the Elven land he has journeyed in for years, his comment is for me piercingly beautiful, a eucatastrophe.

" The smith looked long at Alf, then suddenly he bowed low.'I understand at last , sir' he said. 'You have done us too much honour'."


An elven foreshadowing of Christ in some ways.


And if anyone has the Lay of Aotrou and Itroun, large healthy quotes would be great if not more [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

I do belive this is completely unavailable, but I would be delighted to be proven wrong!

[ March 30, 2003: Message edited by: lindil ]
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The dwindling Men of the West would often sit up late into the night exchanging lore & wisdom such as they still possessed that they should not fall back into the mean estate of those who never knew or indeed rebelled against the Light.
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