Concerning Maeglin

[the phantom]

Legolas said-

I don't think the "greatest" there is linked to "the princes of the Noldor" - it is referring to Maeglin being the greatest "save one in the most renowned of their lands"

SPMan said-

The second part of the quote does not, I believe, refer back to the "princes of the Noldor", but simply says that he was the greatest save one in Gondolin.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

Legolas and SPMan win a prize!

The book says-

..and greatest save one in the most renowned of their realms.

"Greatest" is part of the same thought as "in the most renowned of their realms"!

They go together!

It doesn't say "..he was the greatest save one, and by the way he lived in the most renowned of their realms."

There is no break in the thought. No comma, period, or hyphen. He was the second greatest in the most renowned of their realms, in other words the second greatest Noldorin prince in Gondolin.

In Gondolin!

There, I'm done ranting now.