Tolkien Forums - The Mythical world of J.R.R Tolkien
“And thou, Melkor, shalt see that no theme may be played that hath not its uttermost source in me, nor can any alter the music in my despite. For he that attempteth this shall prove but mine instrument in the devising of things more wonderful, which he himself hath not imagined.”
~ The Silmarillion
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TM: Its something from the Hobbit. Once or twice in the book it mentions the 'Dwarves of Yore':
"The dwarves of yore made mighty spells, While hammers fell like ringing bells In places deep, where dark things sleep, In hollow halls beneath the fells."
And also here:
"His crown shall be upholden, His harp shall be restrung, His halls shall echo golden To songs of yore re-sung."
Not sure where it is though. Perhaps something you could research?
All i could find so far was from LoTR (ill be updating if i find something), its from the part where Frodo meets Bilbo in Rivendell: And over Middle-earth he passed and heard at last the weeping sore of women and of elven-maids in Elder Days, in years of yore. But on him mighty doom was laid, till Moon should fade, an orbéd star to pass, and tarry never more on Hither Shores where mortals are; for ever still a herald on an errand that should never rest to bear his shining lamp afar, the Flammifer of Westernesse.
It seems to be talking about Earendil...perhaps the dwarves of yore were the dwarves that lived in the time of yore? Indeed, more research is requiered, unless someone (like Lord Lorien for example) knows the answer =).
Yet another quote, this time from the chapter Lothlorien, after the stream of Nimrodel (i think):
`Do you hear the voice of Nimrodel? ' asked Legolas. 'I will sing you a song of the maiden Nimrodel, who bore the same name as the stream beside which she lived long ago. It is a fair song in our woodland tongue; but this is how it runs in the Westron Speech, as some in Rivendell now sing it.' In a soft voice hardly to be heard amid the rustle of the leaves above them he began:
An Elven-maid there was of old, A shining star by day: Her mantle white was hemmed with gold, Her shoes of silver-grey.
A star was bound upon her brows, A light was on her hair As sun upon the golden boughs In Lórien the fair.
Her hair was long, her limbs were white, And fair she was and free; And in the wind she went as light As leaf of linden-tree.
Beside the falls of Nimrodel, By water clear and cool, Her voice as falling silver fell Into the shining pool.
Where now she wanders none can tell, In sunlight or in shade; For lost of yore was Nimrodel And in the mountains strayed.
The elven-ship in haven grey Beneath the mountain-lee Awaited her for many a day Beside the roaring sea.
A wind by night in Northern lands Arose, and loud it cried, And drove the ship from elven-strands Across the streaming tide.
When dawn came dim the land was lost, The mountains sinking grey Beyond the heaving waves that tossed Their plumes of blinding spray.
Amroth beheld the fading shore Now low beyond the swell, And cursed the faithless ship that bore Him far from Nimrodel.
Of old he was an Elven-king, A lord of tree and glen, When golden were the boughs in spring In fair Lothlórien.
From helm to sea they saw him leap, As arrow from the string, And dive into the water deep, As mew upon the wing.
The wind was in his flowing hair, The foam about him shone; Afar they saw him strong and fair Go riding like a swan.
But from the West has come no word, And on the Hither Shore No tidings Elven-folk have heard Of Amroth evermore.
Yet again from LoTR:
I: initially before another vowel has the consonantal sound of y in you, yore in Sindarin only: as in Ioreth, Iarwain. See Y.
This quote i found seems to prove some things: Etymology: Middle English, from yore, adverb, long ago, from Old English gEara, from gEar year -- more at YEAR : time past and especially long past -- usually used in the phrase of yore
The of yore we can also see in all the quotes we've had...
According to the last quote it would all make sense... In the dwarves: ...the dwarves of long ago... In the Earendil quote: ...in the years long ago; in the Nimrodel: for old in age (or something close to that meaning). And as its from Old English it would seem logical as Tolkien used it...
-- Edited by Olorin/Gandalf at 22:27, 2007-03-30
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