The Hoard is a poem by J.R.R. Tolkien given in The Adventures of Tom Bombadil and Other Verses from the Red Book that illumines darker aspects of Elves, Dwarves (Wicked dwarves), dragons, and Men as viewed from Rivendell, Elvish, and Númenórean lore, concerning the heroic days at the end of the First Age. It echoes parts of the tale of Túrin Turambar and Mim the Dwarf.
First stanza[]
When the moon was new and the sun young
of silver and gold the gods sung:
in the green grass they silver spilled,
and the white waters they with gold filled.
Ere the pit was dug or Hell yawned,
ere dwarf was bred or dragon spawned,
there were Elves of old, and strong spells
under green hills in hollow dells
they sang as they wrought many fair things,
and the bright crowns of the Elf-kings.
But their doom fell, and their song waned,
by iron hewn and by steel chained.
Greed that sang not, nor with mouth smiled,
in dark holes their wealth piled,
graven silver and carven gold:
over Elvenhome the shadow rolled.