[Elvellon]

Originally Posted by Findegil

Sorry for the late later answer. For the couple it selfit would work but in the line before we have: "the chain Angaionr that ere Doom" This Doom must be the War of Wrath not the War of the Powers I would think. That makes some statement for the future necessary in the next line (if we do not alter the couple above the fires in Angband's gloom;/the chain Angainor that ere Doom).

Respectfully
Findegil

For reference, here's my proposed rewording:

above the fires in Angband’s gloom;
the chain Angainor that ere Doom
for Morgoth was by Valar wrought
of steel and torment. Names she sought,

Maybe I'm missing something, but that doesn't strike my ear/eye as a problem.

Angainor was wrought before the War of the Powers, which was before the War of Wrath. The Lay doesn't specify that it shall be wrought immediately prior to Morgoth's Doom, so I don't see it as necessary to put the line in future tense.

This rewording does less harm to Tolkien's text, and what's more, allows it to be read in multiple ways: Angainor was wrought before "Doom for Morgoth", the judgment delivered by Manwe in the Ring of Doom after the War of Powers, and it was thus also wrought before Morgoth's ultimate Doom, where it was used again after the War of Wrath. Indeed, Angainor proved to be the Oppressor that followed Melkor from doom to Doom.