Lament for Théodred

Non-canon alert
The subject of this article originates from non-canonical sources.
To learn about what is considered "canon", see LOTR:Canon.

Lament for Théodred is the source text for the track "Théoden King" (of the Complete Recordings) in the soundtrack of Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, in which Miranda Otto, as Éowyn, sings a Rohanese lament at the funeral procession of Théodred.

Words[]

The lyrics, written in English by Philippa Boyens and translated by David Salo, are found in the Annotated Score of the film.

Nú on théostrum licgeth Théodred se léofa
hæ´letha holdost.
ne sceal hearpan sweg wigend weccean;
ne winfæ´t gylden guma sceal healdan,
ne god hafoc geond sæ´l swingan,
ne se swifta mearh burhstede beatan.
Bealocwealm hafað fréone frecan forth onsended
giedd sculon singan gléomenn sorgiende
on Meduselde thæt he ma no wære
his dryhtne dyrest and maga deorost.

Éowyn is only heard singing the last four lines of the song, ending with the word Bealo, which in Old English meant "evil" or "harm" ^[1]. The first of those lines ("Bealocwealm hafað...") originates from the epic poem Beowulf, line 2265.^[2]

Translation[]

Now dear Théodred lies in darkness,
most loyal of fighters.
The sound of the harp shall not wake the warrior;
nor shall the man hold a golden wine-cup,
nor good hawk swing through the hall,
nor the swift horse stamp in the courtyard.
An evil death has set forth the noble warrior
A song shall sing the sorrowing minstrels of Meduseld
That noble cousin, who always held me dear
Now is held in darkness, enclosed.

References[]

v • d • e The Lord of the Rings Complete Recordings
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
	Prologue: One Ring To Rule Them All • The Shire • Bag End • Very Old Friends • Flaming Red Hair • Farewell Dear Bilbo • Keep It Secret, Keep It Safe • A Conspiracy Unmasked • Three is Company • The Passing of the Elves • Saruman the White • A Shortcut to Mushrooms • Strider • The Nazgûl • Weathertop • The Caverns of Isengard • Give Up the Halfling • Orthanc • Rivendell • The Sword That Was Broken • The Council of Elrond Assembles • The Great Eye • Gilraen's Memorial • The Pass of Caradhras • The Doors of Durin • Moria • Gollum • Balin’s Tomb • Khazad-dûm • Caras Galadhon • The Mirror of Galadriel • The Fighting Uruk-hai • Parth Galen • The Departure of Boromir • The Road Goes Ever On... • May It Be (End Credits Song)
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
	Glamdring • Elven Rope • Lost in Emyn Muil • My Precious • Uglúk's Warriors • The Three Hunters • The Banishment of Éomer • Night Camp • The Plains of Rohan • Fangorn • The Dead Marshes • Wraiths on Wings • Gandalf the White • The Dreams of Trees • The Heir of Númenor • Ent-draught • Edoras • The Court of Meduseld • Théoden King • The King's Decision • Exodus from Edoras • The Forests of Ithilien • One of the Dúnedain • The Wolves of Isengard • Refuge at Helm's Deep • The Voice of Saruman • Arwen's Fate • The Story Foretold • Sons of the Steward • Rock and Pool • Faramir's Good Council • Aragorn's Return • War Is Upon Us • Where Is the Horse and the Rider? • The Host of the Eldar • The Battle of the Hornburg • The Breach of the Deeping Wall • The Entmoot Decides • Retreat • Master Peregrin's Plan • The Last March of the Ents • The Nazgûl Attack • Théoden Rides Forth • The Tales That Really Matter • Long Ways to Go Yet (End Credits Song)
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
	Roots and Beginnings • Journey to the Cross-roads • The Road to Isengard • The Foot of Orthanc • Return to Edoras • The Chalice Passed • The Green Dragon • Gollum's Villainy • Éowyn's Dream • The Palantír • Flight from Edoras • The Grace of Undómiel • The Eyes of the White Tower • A Coronal of Silver and Gold • The Lighting of the Beacons • Osgiliath Invaded • The Stair of Cirith Ungol • Allegiance to Denethor • The Sacrifice of Faramir • The Parting of Frodo and Sam • Marshalling at Dunharrow • Andúril - Flame of the West • The Passing of the Grey Company • Dwimorberg - The Haunted Mountain • Master Meriadoc, Swordthain • The Paths of the Dead • The Siege of Gondor • Shelob's Lair • Merry's Simple Courage • Grond - The Hammer of the Underworld • Shelob the Great • The Tomb of the Stewards • The Battle of the Pelennor Fields • The Pyre of Denethor • The Mûmakil • Dernhelm in Battle • A Far Green Country • Shieldmaiden of Rohan • The Passing of Théoden • The Houses of Healing • The Tower of Cirith Ungol • The Last Debate • The Land of Shadow • The Mouth of Sauron • For Frodo • Mount Doom • The Crack of Doom • The Eagles • The Fellowship Reunited • The Journey to the Grey Havens • Elanor • Days of the Ring (End Credits Song) • Bilbo's Song