Ilu Ilúvatar en kárẹ eldain a fírimoin

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The title of this article is conjectural. While the content of this article is based on official information, the actual name of the subject is conjectural, and is yet to or cannot be officially named.

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The canonicity of this subject is uncertain. The precise canonical status of this article's subject is unclear. To find out about what is considered "canon" see LOTR:Canon.

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Ilu Ilúvatar en kárẹ eldain a fírimoin is the first line of an unnamed Quenya poem written by J.R.R. Tolkien in 1936 or 1937. Tolkien originally included it in The Lost Road, a novel that he left unfinished. The song is sung in that story by a fair Númenórean maiden named Fíriel of the household of Elendil.

Poem excerpt

Quenya

Ilu Ilúvatar en kárẹ eldain a fírimoin
ar antaróta mannar Valion: númessier.
Toi aina, mána, meldielto - enga morion:
talantie. Alkar Mardello lende: márie.
…
Man táre antáva nin Ilúvatar, Ilúvatar
enyárẹ tar i tyel, írẹ Anarinya qeluva?

Modern English

The Father made the World for Elves and Mortals
and he gave it into the hands of the Lords. They are in the West.
They are holy, blessed, and beloved: save the dark one.
He is fallen. Alkar has gone from Earth: it is good.
…
What will the Father, O Father, give me
in that day beyond the end, when my Sun faileth?

History

Sometime shortly after the early encounters between the Edain and the Eldar, some unspecified Men made "an even-song" in Quenya. Sometime well after that, in Númenor, Elendil and his son Herendil were approaching their house when they heard Fíriel, the daughter of Orontor, singing that same song with a sad tone from a high window. Her song ended with the question "O Ilúvatar, give me in that day beyond the end, when my Sun faileth?" Immediately afterwards, Elendil added "E man antaváro? What will he give indeed?" On the contrary, however, Herendil complained about such songs, saying that people now sang that Melko would come back and give them the Sun forever, but his father despised this.

Background

Tolkien originally write the whole poem and the English translation in the first manuscript of The Lost Road. In a revision, however, Tolkien omitted everything except for the first two lines. Helge Kåre Fauskanger explains that the language of this song could be called "near-LotR-style" Quenya, or late "Qenya".

Updated version

Quenya

Ilu Ilúvatar carnë Eldain ar Fírimain
ar antanéses mánnar Valaron: ëaltë Númessë.
Naltë ainë, mánë ar meldë - hequa morion:
alanties. Melkor Mardello lendë: nás mára.
Carneltë Eldain Isil, Hildoin Úr-anar,
yar nar írimë. Ilyain antaneltë lestanen i annar
Ilúvataro. Ilu ná vanya, fanya, ëari,
i cemen, ar ilya ya ëa taissë. Írima ná Númenor.
Nan lá ëa sére indonyan sinomë tennoio,
an sinomë ëa tyelma, ar euva metta ar i :narquelië,
írë ilya nauva nótina, ar ilya hostaina, i mettassë:
ananta úva tárë fárëa, úfárëa!
Mana tárë antuva nin Ilúvatar, Ilúvatar
enyárë i metta pella, írë Anarinya queluva?

Modern English

The Father made the World for Elves and Mortals
and he gave it into the hands of the Lords. They are in the West.
They are holy, blessed, and beloved: save the dark one.
He is [/has] fallen. Melkor has gone from Earth: it is good.
For Elves they made the Moon, but for Men the red Sun,
which are beautiful. To all they gave in measure the gifts
of Ilúvatar. The World is fair, the sky, the seas,
the earth, and all that is in them. Beautiful is Númenor.
But my heart resteth not [lit. there is not rest for my heart] here for ever,
for here is ending, and there will be an end and the Fading,
when all is counted, and all numbered at last,
but yet it will not be enough, not enough.
What will the Father, O Father,
give me in that day beyond the end when my Sun faileth?

External links

• Choral rendition by Martin Romberg