[Findegil]

After some sleep I tried again to get hold of the stat of the affairs in this thread. But it was very tangled and thus I decided that it is time to recapitulate it here for all. Thus I have copied Pengolods post and work in the results of the further discussion that were done since. I hope I have fetch all the changes we proposed. I only added very few comments, and only in places were I see still some need of discussion.

VE-01 <Lay Lo! the flame of fire and fierce hatred
engulfed Gondolin and its glory fell,
its tapering towers and its tall rooftops
were laid all low, and its leaping fountains
made no music more on the mount of Gwareth,
and its whitehewn walls were whispering ash.
{But Wade of the Helsings wearyhearted}
{Tûr} [Tuor] the earthborn was tried in battle
from the wrack and ruin a remnant led
women and children and wailing maidens
and wounded men of the withered folk
down the path unproven that pierced the hillside,
neath {Tumladin} [Tumladen] he led them to the leaguer of hills
that rose up rugged as ranged pinnacles
to the north of the vale. There the narrow way
{of Cristhorn was cloven, the Cleft of Eagles,}
[in the cliffs was cloven, Cirith Thoronath,]
through the midmost mountains. And more is told
in lays and in legend and lore of others
of that weary way of the wandering folk;
how the waifs of Gondolin outwitted {Melko} [Morgoth],
vanished o'er the vale and vanquished the hills,
how Glorfindel the golden in the gap of the Eagles
battled with the Balrog and both were slain:
one like flash of fire from fangéd rock,
one like bolted thunder black was smitten
to the dreadful deep digged by {Thornsir} [Thor’nhir].
Of the thirst and hunger of the {thirty moons} [thwarting mazes]
when they sought for Sirion and were sore bestead
by plague and peril; of the Pools of Twilight
and Land of Willows; when their lamentation
was heard in the halls where the high {Gods} [Lords] sate
veiled in Valinor [past] the Vanished {Isles} [Isle];
{all this have others in ancient stories
and songs unfolded, but say I further}
how their lot was lightened, how they laid them down
in long grasses of the Land of Willows.
There sun was softer, [there] the sweet breezes
and whispering winds, there wells of slumber
and the dew enchanted, [drenched then their feet.]
[{all} [All] this have others in ancient stories
and songs unfolded, but say I further[.]]>

The changes of the Lay were discussed already. If we will include it was not jet finally decided.

VE-02 Thus begins the Lay of Eärendil and further it tells that{Yet} by Sirion and the sea there grew up an elven folk, the gleanings of Gondolin and Doriath[.] <AB2 The Silmaril brought blessing upon them and><UT, Elessar Idril wore the Elessar upon her breast><AB2 , and they were healed, and they multiplied><QS77 ; and from Balar the mariners of Círdan came among them>. And VE-03 <PG {Ereinion} [Rodnor] Gil-galad son of Orodreth, who had escaped the fall of Nargothrond {and come} [came] to Sirion's Mouth{,} [and] was <QS77 named> a King of the Noldor there.> {, and} . And they took to the waves and {to the making of fair ships} <QS77 the building of ships><AB2 and built a haven>, dwelling ever nigh unto the shores <QS77 of Arvernien>, <AB2 upon the delta amid the waters> under the shadow of Ulmo's hand. <AB2 Many fugitives gathered unto them.>

I think this paragraph was discussed in full length. I only added a back intorduction for the Lay at the begining.

VE-05 <TE-B Then began the love of <TE-C Elwing> and {Eärendel} [Eärendil] as girl and boy. <TE-E The mermaids>, the VE-06 <TE-D {Oarni} [Earni] >, <TE-E {come} [came] to {Eärendel} [Eärendil]> and <TE-N(ii) {give} [gave] to {Eärendel} [him] a wonderful shining silver coat that {wets} [wetted] not. They loved {Eärendel} [Eärendil], in Ossë's despite, and {teach} taught him the lore of boat-building and of swimming, as he {plays} [played] with them about the shores of Sirion.> <TE-D {Eärendel} [Eärendil] grew to be the fairest of all Men that were or are,> <TE-N(iii) smaller than most men but nimbled-footed and a swift swimmer (but Voronwë could not swim).> <TE-C And there was great love between {Eärendel} [Eärendil] and Tuor.>>

I moved the additional § one § up.
The end of the Oarni discussion was as fare as I could make it out was to retain them as Earni.

VE-04 <QS77 And it is said that in that time Ulmo came to Valinor out of the deep waters, and spoke there to> {In Valinor Ulmo spoke unto} the Valar of the need of the Elves, and he called on them to forgive and send succour unto them and rescue them from the overmastering might of Morgoth, and win back the Silmarils wherein alone now bloomed the light of the days of bliss when the Two Trees still were shining. Or so it is said, among the {Gnomes} [Noldor], who after had tidings of many things from their kinsfolk the {Quendi} [Vanyar], the Light-elves beloved of Manwë, who ever knew something of the mind of the Lord of the {Gods} [Valar]. But as yet Manwë moved not, and the counsels of his heart what tale shall tell? The Quendi have said that the hour was not yet come, and that only one speaking in person for the cause of both Elves and Men, pleading for pardon upon their misdeeds and pity on their woes, might move the counsels of the Powers; and the oath of Fëanor perchance even Manwë could not loose, until it found its end, and the sons of Fëanor relinquished the Silmarils, upon which they had laid their ruthless claim. For the light which lit the Silmarils the {Gods} [Valar] had made.

VE-07 In those days Tuor felt old age creep upon him <TE-C and Ulmo's conches far out west {over the sea} {call} [called] him louder and louder>, and ever a longing for the deeps of the sea grew stronger in his heart. Wherefore he built a great ship {Eärrámë} [Eärámë], Sea-wing, <TE-D with white sails>. <TE-E One evening <TE-D Ulmo beckoned to him> [and] he {calls} [called] {Eärendel} [Eärendil] and they {go} [went] to the shore. There {is a skiff} [was Eärámë]. {Tur} [Tuor and Idril] {bids} [bade] farwell to {Eärendel} [Eärendil] and {bids} [bade] him thrust it off <EL {And} [but] before Idril set sail she said to Eärendil her son: “The Elessar I leave with thee, for there are grievous hurts to Middle-earth which thou maybe shalt heal. But to none other shalt thou deliver it.”> {and with Idril he} [They] set sail <TY [(and some say Voronwë with them)]> into the sunset and the West[.] <TE-E {Eärendel} [Eärendil] {hears} [heard] a great song swelling from the sea as{ Tur's skiff dips over the world's rim.}<TE-NC {Idril and Earendel see} Tuor’s boat {dropping}[dropped] into the twilight{ and a sound of song}.>{His} [Great was his] passion of tears upon the shore.> {, and} [And Tuor] came no more into any tale or song.

VE-08<*PoME After apprenticeship to Círdan, and ever with his advice and help, Eärendil built> Vingilot'{ he built}, fairest of the ships of song, the Foamflower; white were its timbers as the argent moon, golden were its oars, silver were its shrouds, its masts were crowned with jewels like stars. In the Lay of Eärendil is many a thing sung of his adventures in the deep and in lands untrodden, and in many seas and many isles.<LotR Form gnashing of the Narrow Ice where shadow {lies}laid on frozen hills><LT2 - Outline E{He searches for Elwing and is}he was blown far to the South.><LotR{from}From nether heats and burning waste he turned ><LT2 - Outline C{Driven south. Darkregions. }Fire mountains{. Tree-men. Pygmies.}/ he saw and Ents he encountered/><LotR, and roving still on starless waters far astray{ at last} he came to Night of Naught >{Ungoliant'}/. There/ in the South he {slew, and her}[defeated the] darkness{ was destroyed}, and light came to many regions which had yet long been hid.<LT2 - Outline E{He escapes}Eärendil escaped eastward{. He goes}/, but he went/ back westward[, while]{ But} Elwing sat sorrowing at home.

According to Aiwendils reluctance to allow Ungoliant here, I did remove her, but the ambiguous since in Eärendil was a Marinerand Sil77 we have darkness mentioned that he defeated I did stick to that.
I removed the Drûgs as update of the Pygmies. I have found in Parma Eldalamberon 14 in The Creatures of the Earth the entry:

C. Earthlings
ulbandi wood-giants
taulir mountainous-giants
nautar dwarves
pilkir pygmies

Also there is a commentary from the Editors (Patrick Wynne and Christopher Gilson):

… The placement of the pilkir ‘pygmies’ in section C “Earthlings” rather than section F “Children of Men” indicates that Tolkien’s ‘pygmies’ were probably intended as beings akin to the earth-elements of Paracelsus rather than to the modern Pygmies of Africa and Southeast Asia.

Thus the pygmies are as dwarves and giants a race of sinister folk during the period of the Lost Tales. The pygmies of Paracelsus were creatures that could move through the earth as fishes can through water. But the only save way to deal with them in our case is not to add them to our text.

VE-09 Eärendil found not Tuor nor Idril, nor came he ever on that journey to the shores of Valinor, defeated by shadows and enchantment, driven by repelling winds, until in longing for Elwing he turned him homeward toward the East. And his heart bade him haste, for a sudden fear was fallen on him out of dreams, and the winds that before he had striven with might not now bear him back as swift as his desire.
Upon the havens of Sirion new woe had fallen. The dwelling of Elwing there, where still she possessed the Nauglamír and the glorious Silmaril, became known unto the remaining sons of Fëanor, {Maidros} [Maedhros] and Maglor and {Damrod} [Amrod] {and {Díriel} [Amras]}; and they gathered together from their wandering hunting-paths, and messages of friendship and yet stern demand they sent unto Sirion. But Elwing and the {folk of Sirion} [Lothrim] would not yield that jewel which Beren had won and Lúthien had worn, and for which Dior the Fair was slain; and least of all while {Eärendel} [Eärendil] {their lord} was in the sea, for them seemed that in that jewel lay the gift of bliss and healing that had come upon their houses and their ships.

VE-10 And so came in the end to pass the last and cruellest of the slayings of Elf by Elf; and that was the third of the great wrongs achieved by the accursed oath. For the sons of Fëanor came down upon the exiles of Gondolin and the remnant of Doriath and destroyed them. Though some of their folk stood aside, and some few rebelled and were slain upon the other part aiding Elwing against their own lords (for such was the sorrow and confusion of the hearts of {Elfinesse} [Elvenesse] in those days), yet {Maidros} [Maedhros] and Maglor won the day. Alone they now remained of the sons of Fëanor, for in that battle {Damrod} [Amrod] {and {Díriel} [Amras]} {were} [was] slain; but the folk of Sirion perished or fled away [led by Gil-Galad], or departed of need to join the people of {Maidros} [Maedhros][.] <FG Egalmoth was [the] {‘}lord of the house of the Heavenly Arch{‘}, and got even out of the burning of Gondolin, and dwelt after at the mouth of Sirion, but was slain in {a} [that] dire battle {there when Melko seized Elwing}.> {, who claimed now} [Maedhros now claimed] the lordship of all the Elves of the Hither Lands{. And yet Maidros} [and yet he] gained not the Silmaril, for Elwing seeing that all was lost and her children Elros and Elrond taken captive, eluded the host of {Maidros} [Maedhros], and with the Nauglamír upon her breast she cast herself into the sea, and perished as folk thought. <QS77 Too late the ships of Círdan and Gil-galad the {High }King came hasting to the aid of the Elves of Sirion; and Elwing was gone, and her sons. Then such few of that people as did not perish in the assault joined themselves to Gil-galad{,} and <FG Galdor {'was} that valiant {Gnome} [Noldor] who led the men of the Tree in many a charge and yet won out of Gondolin and even the onslaught {of Melko} upon the dwellers at Sirion's mouth {and went back to the ruins with Eärendel}.> went with {him} [Círdan] to Balar; and they told that Elros and Elrond were taken captive{, but Elwing with the Silmaril upon her breast had cast herself into the sea}.>

VE-11 But Ulmo bore her up and he gave unto her the likeness of a great white bird, and upon her breast there shone as a star the shining Silmaril, as she flew over the water to seek {Eärendel} [Eärendil] her beloved. And on a time of night {Eärendel} [Eärendil] at the helm saw her come towards him, as a white cloud under moon exceeding swift, as a star over the sea moving in strange course, a pale flame on wings of storm. And it is sung that she fell from the air upon the timbers of Vingelot, in a swoon, nigh unto death for the urgency of her speed, and {Eärendel} [Eärendil] took her unto his bosom. And in the morn with marvelling eyes he beheld his wife in her own form beside him with her hair upon his face; and she slept.
But great was the sorrow of [Eärendil] and Elwing for the ruin of the havens of Sirion, and the captivity of their sons; and they feared that they would be slain; but it was not so. For Maglor took pity on Elros and Elrond, and he cherished them, and love grew after between them, as little might be thought; but Maglor's heart was sick and weary, with the burden of the dreadful oath. Yet [Eärendil] saw now no hope left in the lands of Sirion, and he turned again in despair and came not home, but sought back once more to Valinor with Elwing at his side. He stood now most oft at the prow, and the Silmaril he bound upon his forehead; and ever its light grew greater as they drew unto the West. Maybe it was due in part to the puissance of that holy jewel that they came in time to the waters that as yet no vessels save those of the Teleri had known; and they came to the Enchanted Isles.<LT2 - isolated Note (xii)The Sleeper in the Tower of Pearl was awakened by {Littleheart's gong:}[them]/. He was/ a messenger that was despatched years ago by Turgon and enmeshed in magics. Even now he {cannot }could not leave the Tower and {warns}warned them of the magic. Thus they{ and} escaped their enchantment<. Later the Elves made a song in his memory:
><LT2 - The Happy Mariners (Version of 1940?)

I know a window in a Western tower
that opens on celestial seas,
from wells of dark behind the stars
there ever blows cold a keen unearthly breeze.
It is a white tower builded on the Twilit Isles,
and springing from their everlasting shade
it glimmers like a house of lonely pearl,
where lights forlorn take harbour ere they fade.

Its feet are washed by waves that never rest.
There silent boats go by into the West
all piled and twinkling in the dark
with orient fire in many a hoarded spark
that divers won
in waters of the rumoured Sun.
There sometimes throbs below a silver harp,
touching the heart with sudden music sharp;
or far beneath the mountain high and sheer
the voices of grey sailors echo clear,
afloat among the shadows of the world
in oarless ships and with their canvas furled,
chanting a farewell and a solemn song:
for wide the sea is, and their journey long.

O happy mariners upon a journey far,
beyond the grey islands and past Gondobar,
to those great portals on the final shores
where far away constellate fountains leap,
and dashed against Night's dragon-headed doors
in foam of stars fall sparkling in the deep!
While I look out alone behind the moon
Imprisoned in the white and windy tower,
you bide no moment and await no hour,
but go with solemn song and harpers' tune.

You follow [Eärendil] without rest,
the shining mariner, beyond the West,
who passed the mouth of night and launched his bark
upon the seas of everlasting dark.
Here only long afar through window-pane
I glimpse the flicker of the golden rain
that falls for ever on those outer seas
beyond the country of the shining Trees.

>{; and they}And Eärendil and his companions came into the Shadowy Seas and passed their shadows; and they looked upon the Lonely Isle and there they tarried not; and at the last they cast anchor in the Bay of Elvenhome upon the borders of the world; and the Teleri saw the coming of that ship and were amazed, gazing from afar upon the light of the Silmaril, and it was very great. But [Eärendil], alone of living Men, landed on the immortal shores; and he said to Elwing and to those that were with him, three mariners who had sailed all the seas beside him, and Falathar, Aerandir, and Erellont were their names: Here shall none but myself set foot, lest you fall under the wrath of the {Gods}[Valar] and the doom of death; for it is forbidden. But that peril I will take on myself for the sake of the Two Kindreds.'
And Elwing answered: 'Then shall our paths be sundered for ever. Nay, all thy perils I will take on myself also! ' And she leaped into the white foam and ran towards him; but {Eärendel} [Eärendil] was sorrowful, for he deemed that they would now both die ere many days were past. And there they bade farewell to their companions and were taken from them for ever.
And {Eärendel} [Eärendil] said to Elwing: 'Await me here; for one only may bear the messages that I am charged with'; and he went up alone into the land, and it seemed to him empty and silent. For even as Morgoth and Ungoliantë came in ages past, so now {Eärendel} [Eärendil] had come at a time of festival, and wellnigh all the Elvenfolk were gone to Valinor, or were gathered in the halls of Manwë upon Taniquetil, and few were left to keep watch upon the walls of Tirion.
These watchers rode therefore in great haste to Valmar; and all the bells in Valmar pealed. But {Eärendel} [Eärendil] climbed the great green hill of Túna and found it bare; and he entered into the streets of Tirion and they were empty; and his heart was heavy, for he feared that some evil had come even to the Blessed Realm. He walked now in the deserted ways of Tirion, and the dust upon his raiment and his shoes was a dust of diamonds, and he shone and glistened as he climbed the long white stairs. And he called aloud in many tongues, both of Elves and Men, but there were none to answer him. Therefore he turned back at last towards the shores, thinking to set sail once more upon {Vingelot} [Vingilot] his ship and abandon his errand, and live for ever upon the sea. But even as he took the shoreward road and turned his face away from the towers of Tirion one stood upon the hill and called to him in a great voice, crying: 'Hail {Eärendel} [Eärendil], radiant star, messenger most fair! Hail thou bearer of light before the Sun and Moon, the looked for that comest unawares, the longed for that comest beyond hope! Hail, splendour of the children of the world, slayer of the dark! Star of the sunset, hail! Hail, herald of the morn!'
And that was the voice of Eönwë herald of Manwë; and he came from Valmar and he summoned {Eärendel} [Eärendil] to come before the {Gods} [Valar]. And {Eärendel} [Eärendil] went to Valinor and to the halls of Valmar, and never again set foot upon the lands of Men. There before the faces of the undying {Gods} [Valar] he stood, and delivered the errand of the Two Kindreds. Pardon he asked for the Noldor and pity for their great sorrows, and mercy upon unhappy Men and succour in their need. And his prayers were granted.
Then the host of the Valar prepared for battle, and the captain of their host was Eönwë to whom Manwë gave his sword. Beneath his white banner marched also the Vanyar, the Fair-elves, the people of Ingwë <BT, just moved a half-sentence, and Ingwion his son {of Ingwë} was their chief.>{; and among} Among them were also those of the Noldor of old who had never departed from Valinor, and [Finrafin] son of Finwë was their chief. But remembering the slaying at the Swan-haven and the rape of their ships, few of the Teleri were willing to go forth to war; but Elwing went among them, and because she was fair and gentle, and was come also upon her father's side from Thingol who was of their own kindred, they harkened to her; and they sent mariners sufficient to man and steer the ships upon which most of that army was borne east oversea; but they stayed aboard their ships and none ever set foot upon the shores of the Hither Lands.
And thus it was that Elwing came among the Teleri. {Eärendel} [Eärendil] was long time gone and she became lonely and afraid; and she wandered along the margin of the sea, singing sadly to herself; and so she came to Alqualondë, the Swan-haven, where lay the Telerian fleets; and there the Teleri befriended her. When therefore {Eärendel} [Eärendil] at last returned, seeking her, he found her among them, and they listened to her tales of Thingol and Melian and the Hidden Kingdom, and of Lúthien the fair, and they were filled with pity and wonder.
Now the {Gods} [Valar] took counsel concerning {Eärendel} [Eärendil], and they summoned Ulmo from the deeps; and when they were gathered together Mandos spoke, saying: 'Now he shall surely die, for he has trodden the forbidden shores.' But Ulmo said. "For this he was born into the world. And say unto me: whether is he {Eärendel} [Eärendil] Tuor's son of the line of Hador, or Idril's son Turgon's daughter of the Elvenhouse of Finwë? Or being half of either kindred, which half shall die?' And Mandos answered: 'Equally was it forbidden to the Noldor that went wilfully into exile to return hither.'
Then Manwë the Elder King gave judgement and he said: 'To {Eärendel} [Eärendil] I remit the ban, and the peril that he took upon himself out of love for the Two Kindreds shall not fall on him; neither shall it fall upon Elwing who entered into peril for love of {Eärendel} [Eärendil]: save only in this: they shall not ever walk again among Elves or Men in the {Outer} [Hither] Lands. Now all those who have the blood of mortal Men, in whatever part, great or small, are mortal, unless other doom be granted to them; but in this matter the power of doom is given to me. This is my decree: to {Eärendel} [Eärendil] and to Elwing and to their sons shall be given leave each to choose freely under which kindred they shall be judged.'
Then {Eärendel} [Eärendil] and Elwing were summoned, and this decree was declared to them. But {Eärendel} [Eärendil] said to Elwing: 'Choose thou, for now I am weary of the world.' And she chose to be judged among the Firstborn, because of Lúthien, and for the sake of Elwing {Eärendel} [Eärendil] chose alike, though his heart was rather with the kindred of Men and the people of his father.
The {Gods} [Valar] then sent Eönwë, and he came to the shore where the companions of {Eärendel} [Eärendil] still remained, awaiting tidings. And Eönwë took a boat and set therein the three mariners, and the {Gods} [Valar] drove them away East with a great wind. But they took Vingilot, and they hallowed it, and they bore it away through Valinor to the uttermost rim of the world, and there it passed through the Door of Night and was lifted up even into the oceans of heaven. Now fair and marvellous was that vessel made, and it was filled with a wavering flame, pure and bright; and {Eärendel} [Eärendil] the mariner sat at the helm, glistening with dust of elven-gems; and the Silmaril was bound upon his brow. Far he journeyed in that ship, even into the starless voids; but most often was he seen at morning or at eve, glimmering in sunrise or sunset, as he came back to Valinor from voyages beyond the confines of the world.
On those journeys Elwing did not go, for she had not the strength to endure the cold and pathless voids, and she loved rather the earth and the sweet winds that blow on sea and hill. Therefore there was built for her a white tower upon the borders of the outer world, in the northern region of the Sundering Seas; and thither all the sea-birds of the earth at times repaired. And it is said that Elwing learned the tongues and lore of birds, who had herself once worn their shape; and she devised wings for herself of white and silver-grey, and they taught her the craft of flight. And at whiles, when {Eärendel} [Eärendil] returning drew near again to earth, she would fly to meet him, even as she had flown long ago, when she was rescued from the sea. Then the farsighted among the Elves that dwelt most westerly in the Lonely Isle would see her like a white bird, shining, rose-stained in the sunset, as she soared in joy to greet the coming of {Vingelot} [Vingilot] to haven.
Now when first {Vingelot} [Vingilot] was set to sail on the seas of heaven, it rose unlooked-for, glittering and bright; and the folk of earth beheld it from afar and wondered, and they took it for a sign, and they called it Gil-Estel, the Star of high hope. And when this new star arose in the West, {Maidros} [Maedhros] said unto Maglor: 'Surely that is a Silmaril that shineth in the sky?' And Maglor said: If it be verily that Silmaril that we saw cast into the sea that riseth again by the power of the {Gods} [Valar], then let us be glad; for its glory is seen now by many, and is yet secure from all evil.' Then the Elves looked up, and despaired no longer; but Morgoth was filled with doubt.

The addition in the first §§ of this overlong section are not finally approved. Especially the Song of the Happy Mariner needs still to be discussed.

To be continued in the next post.

Respectfully
Findegil